“Thank you. I’m Larissa, by the way.” Larissa holds out her hand for Mom to shake.
“Grace.”
“And this is my husband, Easton, and well, you know the girls now.” Larissa laughs.
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Mom tells them.
“I’m Willow.” Willow steps up to Mom, offering her hand as well. “Paisley’s best friend and roommate.”
I’m waiting for her to comment how she’s not been much of a roommate these past few months. We spend most nights we’re in town at my condo instead of hers. We have more privacy there. Don’t get me wrong, Willow is great, but sleeping skin to skin with my girl is something we started, and it’s easier if we’re in the condo alone.
“Paisley, let’s go race go-karts!” Peyton grabs each of her sisters by the hand and begins to move toward the go-karts.
“Wait for us,” Larissa calls out. She links arms with my mom and Willow, and follows after the girls.
“This is a good thing you did, Cameron,” Easton says, his eyes on the women walking away.
“She was missing her family. I thought the laid-back environment would be good to introduce you and Mrs. Monroe to my mom.”
“Easton and Larissa. You’ve earned that right.”
I nod. I want to toss my fist in the air and pound on my chest that I finally got her father’s approval, but instead, I go for cool. I wait several seconds before speaking. “So, who do you think is going to win?” I nod toward the go-kart track.
“My girls are all competitive. And Willow, that girl loves to win.” He laughs.
“My mom was both Mom and Dad growing up. She’s not a newbie to the go-kart scene.”
“I guess we better get over there and cheer them on.”
Together, we make our way to the track and do exactly that. We cheer for the girls, which has Peyton coming out as the victor. Easton and I join them on the second ride. And that’s how the day goes. We hop from go-karts to arcade games, to Skee-Ball, to miniature golf, and back to go-karts. It’s a fun day. I feel like a kid again, and everyone seems to be getting along well and enjoying the day.
We have a late lunch, which consists of junk food from the concession. Pizza, nachos, and soft pretzels all around.
“We should get going,” Larissa says, looking at her watch. “It’s about to open to the public,” she tells our group.
I open my mouth to reply when a pair of arms wrap around my waist. Arms I don’t recognize. Looking down, I see Peyton hugging me. “Thank you, Cameron. Today was the best day.” She smiles up at me.
“You’re welcome,” I tell her, hugging her back. I catch Paisley’s eyes, and she’s smiling at us.
“Thanks, Cameron,” Parker says as she too steps up for a hug. “It’s been forever since we got to do something like this with Paisley.”
I hug her back as well, because what else do I do? The hugs don’t stop there. Larissa, Mom, and Willow all take their turns. “Thanks for today,” Easton says once Willow steps out of my hold. Paisley sneaks between us and wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest. A sign of our solidarity, I’m sure, but her dad and I are in a good place now. He knows what she means to me, and as her father, I respect his need to know for sure.
“I’m just glad it worked out, and everyone was able to make it. And no one let the cat out of the bag.” We all turn to look at Willow.
“Hey.” She holds her hands up, laughing. “If she was home more, I might have let it slip, but we made it.” She smirks. That’s a subtle dig that Paisley spends more time at my place than theirs. I knew it was coming. I’m just glad she was inconspicuous with her wording.
After another round of goodbyes and a promise that all of us will get together at the Monroes’ for dinner soon, we head our separate ways.
“I’m not even going to ask if you’re coming to our place,” Willow says when I pull in front of our building. “Not after what lover boy did for you today.”
“The day’s not over,” I tell Willow.
“Stop.” She holds up her hand. “I don’t need to know about your plans for the rest of the day. Paisley, what time do you work tomorrow?”
“We’re on a three-day home stretch.”
“Lunch tomorrow?”
“Definitely.”
Willow looks at me. “No objection?”
“I get her until tomorrow at eleven. No sooner, and we’ll call us even.”
Willow tosses her head back in laughter. “I want details, P,” she says as she reaches for the handle and climbs out of my truck.
Chapter 17
Paisley
Cameron unlocks the door to his place and pushes the door open for me to walk in ahead of him. I walk inside and kick off my shoes. Thankfully, he told me to dress casually and comfortably today. I still can’t believe he organized for both of our families to get together. On our day off. His day off.
As soon as the door closes, I turn to face him. “I don’t know what you have planned for the rest of the day, but I’m going to need you to strip down.”
“What?” He laughs.
“You heard me. Strip.”
“If I’m stripping, it’s only fair that you do as well.”
I hold my hand out for him, and he places his in mine. Turning, I lead us to his bedroom. A room that feels more like ours than just his alone. Pushing open the door, I gasp at what I see. The bed and the floor are littered with red rose petals. There are candles all around the room, and the blackout curtains are pulled tight, blocking out the light of day.
“That’s a fire hazard,” I blurt.
He chuckles as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind. “They’re battery operated.” I turn my head, and he kisses me just below my ear. Our hands are entwined, and the feeling of being home washes over me. It has nothing to do with the location and everything to do with the man who holds me as if I’m precious to him.
I am precious to him.
The feeling is mutual.
“How did you pull this off?” I ask him.
“Willow. She had her sister come over and set this all up for us. It couldn’t be just anyone. I needed someone who wasn’t going to run to the tabloids and exploit either of us, and everyone I trust without question was going to be with us today.”
I turn to face him. He’s dressed in jeans today. They fit him just as well, if not better than his baseball pants. It’s a treat to see him in jeans. He’s wearing a plain white T-shirt that molds to his muscles and leaves his tattoos on display. He has on a black baseball hat, and he’s wearing a smile for me.
The floral scent in the room is a reminder of what he did for me. For us. I don’t need him to tell me to know that this is our moment. The one we’ve both been waiting for but denying ourselves. Well, more Cameron than me. He has Thor’s strength when it comes to not giving in to me. Believe me. I’ve tried. However, today that’s all about to change.
I’m wearing cutoff shorts and a tank top, something I won’t be able to do in a few weeks when the weather starts to turn cool. My hands find their way to the button of my shorts. I don’t take my eyes off him as I shimmy my shorts down my legs. They pool at my feet, and I kick them to the side—next is my tank. I reach for the hem and lift until it’s over my head and somewhere on the floor. I’m left standing in front of him in a sheer black bra and panties.