He angled his head. “But?”
“But I wouldn’t mind getting a glimpse into your life, what it’s like to be surrounded by a warm and loving family.” Her brows scrunched and her gaze pinned to his. “Is that crazy?”
“Maybe, maybe not,” he responded, eyes narrowing on the incredible woman before him. “But taking you home feels right somehow. Having you here in my hometown. It feels really, really right.” He leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers.
“You two can’t keep your hands off each other, huh?”
Holy hell. A.J. set his forehead to Ana’s, and he felt the soft rumble of a chuckle escape her body when they both should’ve ducked for cover. But he gave in to the laughter, too, because why not?
“This ain’t a dream, is it?” he whispered into her ear. “I’m not still unconscious in the woods by Old Man Shaw’s cabin?”
“Now you know better than to go near his place. That man will shoot you,” his mom warned, somehow overhearing his hushed words.
A.J. stopped himself from bellowing out another “mama” and pulled away from Ana, part of him wishing they were going to stay at Grant’s and make love instead of having lunch with his parents. “Just lunch,” he gave in, facing his mom with a hand in the air, hoping she wouldn’t protest because heaven help him, she always won.
His mom winked and tucked her shotgun under her arm. “We’ll see.”
“Maybe dessert, too?” Ana smiled. “I heard you have some of the best pies in Alabama.”
And now Ana was in trouble. His mom would never let her go.
But that wasn’t such a bad thing since he had no intention of running this time.
Chapter Twenty-Four
A.J. had opted to take his own vehicle and followed his mom to the Hawkins Ranch. The last thing he wanted was to be trapped into staying there all day. He wasn’t sure if Ana had deliberately distracted him during the short drive with all of her flirtatious shenanigans, but there’d be payback later regardless.
He’d nearly sent them careening into a ditch when she’d spread her legs and snuck a hand beneath the hem of her skirt as though she might dare get herself off. Who knew there was a little vixen beneath all those layers she began shedding since her arrival in Alabama?
“Nice view.” Ana’s hands were set on the granite counter in his mom’s kitchen as she observed a good portion of the Hawkins Ranch from the large picture window. She stood on her tiptoes and angled her head, trying to take it all in.
His mom had stepped out of the kitchen to fetch Ana an apron from the laundry room. She’d hosted a girls’ baking party the previous evening and her collection of University of Alabama aprons were all in the dryer.
A.J. hooked an arm around Ana’s waist from behind and set his chin on her shoulder, joining her to take in the view. He pointed out the pasture lands, then the stable off in the distance. “I’ll take you on a tour after lunch.”
“That sounds nice,” she murmured, then surprised him by wriggling her ass against his crotch.
He bit down on his back teeth and ordered his hands to stay on her waist . . . no roaming. He’d already been caught in the act of groping her once by his mom. “Be careful, sugar, you keep on provoking me, and we’ll be skipping that dessert you’re looking forward to,” he growled against her ear.
She gave him a saucy look over her shoulder. “What will you do?”
“I grew up on a ranch, and I’m a sailor, which makes me damn good with knots. I might just have to bind your wrists and torture you with my tongue if you keep at it.” He could play the tease game, too.
“And there you two go again,” his mom said, crushing the moment. No wonder I never got away with any bullshit as a kid. She has ninja skills. A.J. sighed in frustration but stepped back and unhanded Ana as his mom continued to talk. “I remember those days with your father.”
“We were discussing Ana’s lack of cooking skills.”
“Oh, you can’t cook, my dear?” Deb handed Ana a red apron, which had a giant white A at the center, then put on a matching one. “I can teach you a few things. But don’t worry, A.J. can cook for you, too. I raised my boys not to expect women to wait on them.” Her expression suddenly changed to one of mild shock, and she clutched her imaginary pearls. “You’re not an Auburn or Tennessee alum, are you?” This was part jest, part serious on his mom’s part. He just never knew which way she was leaning at any given time.
“Mama,” he said, delivering a warning flavored with a little love.
“No, ma’am. I assure you I’m a newly proud Bama fan.” Ana’s lips tipped into a broad smile. Her cheeks were a soft pink, still flushed from having been caught in the act with A.J. again.
“Glad to hear you have good sense,” his mom replied as A.J. helped Ana tie on the apron.
She pulled her hair up into a high ponytail, which was a shame since he was loving the relaxed version of Ana, her auburn hair tumbling over her shoulders in soft waves. She’d let it air dry today, which enhanced her naturally wavy hair, making it look like she belonged on a beach, not on the run from the FBI while chasing down Russian spies.
“Where is everyone?” he asked while his mom busied herself with washing her hands in the farmhouse sink.
She dried her hands on her apron. “It is Wednesday. We don’t all have wild hours like you. But Caleb will be in soon for lunch. Dad had to run some errands. And Ella and McKenna are around here somewhere.”
“Why aren’t they in school?” he asked before turning to Ana. “McKenna is my niece, and Ella’s my sister. She’s a teacher.”
“It’s summer, or have you forgotten? And you know Ella helps Beckett by entertaining McKenna while he’s at work.” His mom tipped her chin at A.J., and he got the message. Go find Ella and apologize about the “bachelor” party.
The fact his sister had yet to call A.J. and yell at him meant she was still too angry to talk to him.
“I need to go find my sister.” He looked at Ana for permission to leave. “You’ll be okay?”
“She’s in good hands,” his mom answered for Ana, and Ana shooed A.J. away. Her body more relaxed. Already fitting in. She’d make a great Alabama woman, wouldn’t she?
And did he want to move back home someday? He sure did miss his small town and family.
A.J. raked a hand through his hair as he wandered out of the kitchen in search of his sister. This was all a bit strange. He really was beginning to wonder if he was fast asleep in the forest, and Mrs. Shaw was playing some mind tricks on him.
He shook off his doubt, or nerves, whatever it was, while checking the rest of the house. After finding it empty, he made his way outside. He snatched his shades from where they hung on his shirt to protect his eyes from the glaring June sun.
Ella stood outside the white and green horse stable with McKenna off in the distance. As he strode their way, McKenna spotted him and trotted her colorful, spotted Appaloosa closer to Ella and dismounted.
He cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, “Yo!”
Ella spun around in surprise, her cowboy boots kicking up dust, and shielded her eyes with her hand beneath the brim of her straw cowboy hat. “What in blazes are you doing back here?”