“But it didn’t work?”
“Nope. It backfired big time, actually.” Mitch grinned at the memory. “Jordan snuck into Zeke’s bedroom—because of course, it had been Zeke’s idea—handcuffed him to the headboard, doused his sheets in perfume, left a bra and panties on the floor, and shut off his alarm, so his mother found him that way the next morning when she came in to wake him up for breakfast.”
“Oh my God, that’s awesome,” Paige said with wide eyes.
“Jordan and Fletcher were eighteen. Zeke and Zander were only sixteen. And already, troublemakers. Zeke knew he would never have been able to convince his mom that Jordan, the daughter she’d never had, would do something like that. And that was in part because he hadn’t wanted to explain what he’d done to prompt her retribution.”
Paige was laughing now.
“Then he found a note on his car seat the next morning that said simply, Don’t fuck with me. —J.”
Paige looked out onto the dancefloor at Jordan and Fletcher. “I want to be her friend. For sure.”
For her and Jordan to be best friends, Paige would need to be here.
He could make that happen.
If he would just fucking chill. But if he told her everything he was feeling and asked her to stay, she’d probably pack her stuff and hit the road tonight.
Dammit.
Instead of saying anything at all, he cupped the back of her neck and brought her in for a kiss.
A hot, deep, sweet kiss.
When he let her go, her cheeks were flushed. “What was that for?”
“Just… happy.”
“Me too.”
“I’m glad.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. Then Paige said, “Can we go out to the truck?”
Fuck yeah, they could.
But they had to make a detour on the way to the door.
17
Mitch tugged Paige toward where his dad was seated.
“Hey, everybody,” he greeted the table. He looped his arm around Paige’s waist. “Dad, I wanted to introduce you to Paige.”
“Well, hello, Paige.” Sean gave her a big smile and extended his hand as he came to his feet.
She took it. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Landry.”
“Oh, God.” He laughed, shaking his head. “There’re way too many Mr. Landrys around here. It’s just Sean.”
“Nice to meet you, Sean.”
“And great to meet the girl who’s been making my son so happy.”
That was exactly the kind of thing that would spook Paige. Dammit.
Mitch squeezed her waist and said, “We’re on our way out for some air. Just wanted to say hi,” before Sean could say anything more. And before Paige could react. “See you later.”
He turned and steered Paige toward the door. She went along willingly, but as they stepped out into the cool night air, she said, “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Do what?” He kept walking. His truck was parked around the back and several yards from the building.
“Whisk me off just as your dad was starting to tell me how happy you are.”
He looked down at her as they crossed the packed dirt parking area. “That’s the kind of stuff that freaks you out, and I need you to not freak out.”
He really needed her to not freak out. He wanted her to stay. She’d said she’d stay until August, but he also knew that promises weren’t her strong suit. She didn’t want people to hold her to everything she said all of the time. So he knew that August was a general idea in her mind and that it could change at any time.
He wanted her as long as she’d stay. Even past August. He just needed to chill. About everything.
They stopped by the truck, and he opened the passenger door for her. She climbed up with a boost from him, but before he could shut the door and go around to the driver’s side, she tugged on his hand. He turned back.
“I’m not freaked out by that.”
Her skirt was bunched up on her upper thighs, she was on the edge of the seat, and he was standing between her knees. She was still holding his hand and put her other hand on his shoulder.
“I like making you happy,” she said, her voice softer now.
Their clasped hands rested on one of her thighs where the skirt and bare skin met.
“Well, you do,” he said simply. “Things are good.”
She nodded. “They are. Really good.” She wet her lips. “And you make me happy too. I hope you know that.”
His heart beat a little faster. Paige being happy here, truly happy, with him, because of him, because of his family and hometown and the things she’d been able to do here, mattered more to him than anything he could remember. He knew his laid-back, whatever-happens-happens attitude was one of his best character traits. People valued that in him. That it could be exactly what Paige needed was amazing. He put himself out there for the people he cared about. He was there for them, whatever they needed. But with Paige, it felt different.
He wanted to want things from her, but he was able to be patient and take her as she was. That was important to her, and he loved the idea that he could be what she needed, exactly as he was.
He knew she’d been discontented for a long time. Misunderstood too. Her family had expectations that she couldn’t or didn’t want to meet, and he knew that frustrated her.
“I’m really glad,” he told her sincerely. He leaned in and kissed her.
The kiss was soft and sweet. They’d come out here, presumably, to have some hot front-seat sex. He still had her thong in his pocket. But this didn’t feel hot and lust-filled and needy. This felt… familiar. As if he’d been kissing this woman all his life. And more, that he would be kissing her for the rest of his life. And that kissing would be enough in some moments.
He needed to Chill. The. Fuck. Out.
Mitch pulled back. He was pleased by the satisfied, happy look on her face from the kiss. “Maybe we should head home and have some hammock time,” he said, brushing her hair back.
The hammock was a place she seemed so contented. They would just lie there together and rock. Sometimes they’d talk. Sometimes they didn’t. But it was just peaceful and sweet.
He was going to have to take the hammock down when she left. He’d never be able to be in there again without thinking of her. And never with anyone else. But the moments with her out there were worth it.
“We can’t leave the reception,” she said. “I love being here with everyone.”
“Oh.” He had to admit he hadn’t expected that. He knew she’d enjoyed the wedding planning and seeing it all come together. He knew she genuinely liked and cared about Tori, Maddie, and Juliet, and the guys. But he’d figured by now she’d be over all the wedding stuff and the massive number of people and the noise.
Paige tipped her head. “You’re surprised.”
“I am.” He shrugged. “There’s a lot of people and noise and bullshit and crazy in that building.”
She nodded. “Yep. But… I’ve gotten used to it. I guess I understand the noise now.”
“Understand it?”
“The noise is about love and belonging and celebration.” She moved her hand from his shoulder to his neck, stroking up and down. “Even on a regular Tuesday at lunchtime, it’s about celebration. Celebrating being together. Celebrating the life everyone here values. Even when they’re bitching or arguing, it’s still a celebration of having people in your life that will listen and will care enough to argue with you.”