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Mama Grace rang the large brass bell that hung on a pole outside the back porch. “Y’all got fifteen minutes,” she hollered.
Damn. Wait, no. This interruption was good. As much as I wanted to worship Aya’s body, I wanted to be able to worship it forever. I had to be strong for both of us.
I settled for a kiss—a lush, loving joining that told her more of what I wanted from her. Leaving those plush lips caused me to ache, and hearing her talk about her years in London as we walked back to the house caused me to burn with jealousy.
But this was how we’d move forward, how I’d convince her to stay with me forever.
At least I hoped it was.
11
Nash
A few days later, I shifted my boots on Mama Grace’s front porch. I was taking Aya out today. On a real date. I’d knocked on the door, just as I had every day this week. Aya and I had been walking around the ranch, holding hands, always touching, kissing, and sharing more of our pasts. She was just as jealous of the women who’d thrown themselves at me as I was of the men she’d dated, but we were managing to talk it out—something we wouldn’t have been able to do all those years ago.
I felt steadier, more grounded, but also more hopeful than I had in years—if I didn’t explode with lust. Celibacy hadn’t bothered me nearly as much as this waiting to take Aya to bed again.
Footsteps pattered across the worn oak floors, and Jenna opened the door.
“Hey, Nash,” she said. Her hand rested over her expanded belly in an unconscious, protective gesture. “Come in. Your girlfriend’s just finishing getting ready.”
I stepped into the air-conditioned coolness with a long sigh of relief. Texas summers could boil blood, and today already scorched my skin. We’d hit triple digits before ten—not really conducive to creating romance if Aya and I were both dripping sweat.
As a native, I kept a running mental tab of all the local places with cool interiors, which was most of them. And I was taking Aya to one of the best options.
“Where are you off to today?”
“I’m taking her to Becker Winery.”
“Oooh,” Jenna clapped her hands together. “I love this idea.”
“I’m glad. Let’s hope Aya does. I rented the place out for the day. We’re doing lunch and wine tastings—well, for her.”
She raised her eyebrow. “And you’ll have your full security team with you?”
I nodded. No way would I take chances with Aya’s wellbeing.
Jenna grunted her approval. “You’ll be okay around all that temptation?”
I couldn’t be upset because I knew her concern came from worry. I stepped closer and wrapped her in a hug. The baby in her belly rolled, and I stepped back, unnerved by the sensation.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” I stared at her bump. “Is that normal?”
She nodded. “This boy’s active.”
“That’s…good.” The sentence was lame, but kids, especially innocent little babies, freaked me out. Not the cuteness factor—I liked that. But the helplessness, and the expectation that I could manage to provide a stable, loving environment? That was a big, fat no. After a childhood like mine, I couldn’t fathom bringing a kid into the world.
I heard feet in the room above us, and two female voices drifting down the stairs.
“Kate’s here, too?” I asked.
Jenna cackled. “Like we’d let our girl go out without the full treatment and send-off.”
“You like her?” I asked, my face heating. I felt suddenly…shy.
Jenna clasped my hand in hers. “I do. And you know Mama, Cam, and Chuck do, too. Kate adores her, to the point that I’m worried about losing best-friend status.”
Jenna stepped back as Aya and Kate made their way down the stairs. I took in Aya’s flirty sundress with its ruffled hem that sat a couple of inches above her knee, giving me a fabulous view of those toned thighs and calves. The deep V afforded by the wrap design showed off more of Aya’s delicious, tanned skin.
