Page 34 of Kiss Me Forever

“Is she your girlfriend?”

I blinked. “No. She’s my coworker.”

“Okay. Do you have a girlfriend?”

“You know, we’ve had how many days now alone, and you’re just now asking the twenty questions?”

“So the answer is yes?”

“No, Bella. I don’t have a girlfriend. You are the only girl in my life.”

“That’s pretty sad.”

I looked at the front of the house and realized that we had an audience.

“Not to worry you, but my parents and my brothers are all in the window staring at us. I have no idea what they did to hold my mother back from running out here and just pulling you out of the car and hugging you.”

Bella’s face paled. “She’s a hugger?”

I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile. “I’m sorry, kid. I think we all are.”

“Oh well. The Montgomerys are huggers too.”

That made me burst out laughing as I opened the door.

“Don’t even get me started on the Montgomerys.”

“I didn’t realize there were that many kinds of cheese.” She laughed with me as we jumped out of the truck. Apparently, the Foxes could not hold my mother back anymore.

“Well, that’s a good sound to hear. Hello, Bella, I’m Reece’s mother.”

Mom moved forward but didn’t reach out and hug Bella. Although with the way that she gripped her hands together, I knew she was practically seething inside at not being able to.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Hello, son,” my mom said, then went to her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.

“Hello, Mom. You’re doing good,” I whispered.

“So are you,” she said, not bothering to whisper. “My name’s Katherine, and I don’t know if you’re ready to call me Grandma yet, but you’re welcome to call me Ms. Kathy if you like.”

“Mom,” I put in, but my mom just held up her hand and waved me off.

“Go inside and make sure there’s room for Bella to get into the house. Your brothers are annoying me.”

Bella’s eyes widened, and I just snorted.

“Welcome to the family, Bella,” I grumbled.

“Ms. Kathy’s nice. I like your name.”

Bella sounded as awkward as I felt, and I was sort of grateful that I wasn’t the only one in this situation.

“I love your name as well. Now come inside and meet your uncles. I want to apologize now on behalf of whoever raised them.”

“Wasn’t that you?” Bella asked. My mother gave me a look even as her eyes danced.

“Yes, but as any good mother does, all of their bad traits come from their father.”