He raises a brow.
“Was?”
“After tomorrow, you may be running back to the airport.”
“Stop it. Your family is lovely, and like I said, I’ve already met them. Everything is going to be just fine.”
“Yeah.” I chew my lip and stare at the last piece of bacon, which is calling my name with evil glee. So I snatch it. “Just know that I warned you. And if you decide that you don’t want to go, I totally understand. We could go somewhere else like Iceland. Or Alaska.”
“Only cold places?” He peels the covers off of me and kisses my naked chest, just between my breasts. “What about Brazil?”
“Too many bugs,” I reply, then gasp when he nibbles my navel. “I’ve heard Montana is nice.”
He looks up at me and grins. “Those rumors are true. It’s even better when a certain beautiful woman is there as well.”
“Oh?” I bury my fingers in his hair as he kisses his way down to the promise land. “Tell me more.”
“Words are overrated, love. I’ll show you.”
***
“Is it just me, or is the way Simon says billiards the sexiest thing ever?” Callie asks later that night.
I’m sitting with Callie at her rooftop bar in The Odyssey enjoying a glass of wine while Declan and Simon are downstairs playing pool. We decided it would be good for us to get out of the house for the evening, and I’m glad we did. I love Callie, and this bar.
“Oh, just about everything he says is the sexiest thing ever,” I reply and lean my elbow on the back of the red couch, looking into the gas fire in the middle of the table in front of us. “And the sex might be the end of me.”
“Really?” Callie grins and holds her glass out to clink mine. “Do tell.”
“We can’t keep our hands off of each other,” I reply and then laugh. “This, of course, is not a bad problem to have. But we came out tonight to hang with you guys just to take a break.”
“How do you find the time to do anything else?” Callie asks and crosses her long legs. She’s in a short denim skirt with fishnet stockings, a black tank, and sleeveless denim jacket. Her blonde hair is hanging in curls. Her ink is bright and bold, just like her makeup and deep red lipstick.
Callie is a fucking knockout.
“Don’t tell me you and Declan didn’t fuck like rabbits when you were first together.”
“Of course we did,” she replies with a satisfied smile. “We still do. That better never change.”
“I’m sure it ebbs and flows, right? I mean, how in the world can people have this much sex for their whole lives?”
“Your parents didn’t have six kids just because they enjoyed conversation,” Callie reminds me. I wrinkle my nose.
“Ew.”
“So, the sex is good. And I’m glad. But is that all it is?” Her voice is casual as she takes a sip of her martini.
“I don’t think so,” I reply softly. “I thought so in the beginning, but now, I think there’s more to it.”
“That’s great.” Callie squeezes my shoulder.
“I don’t know if it’s great,” I reply. “I mean, how in the world do we make this work?”
“One day at a time, friend. That’s how we all make it work.”
I nod and sip my drink, thinking that Callie might be one of the smartest people I know.
Chapter Seventeen
~Charly~
When Simon and I pull up to Mama’s house the next day, I can tell that we’re the last to arrive.
“Sure, they all choose today to be early,” I mutter and stay in my seat when Simon cuts the engine. “We really should have driven separately so you can make a break for it when it all gets to be too much.”
“Stop fretting, love,” Simon says and kisses the back of my hand. “I’m not worried about this in the least.”
“That’s because you haven’t seen this shit show in action.” I turn my gaze to his, memorizing his face. “Remember me fondly.”
“Oh good lord.” He rolls his eyes and opens his door. “Come on, drama queen.”
“He calls me a drama queen now,” I mutter to myself, “but I give it twenty minutes before he’s high-tailing it down the road.”
“I can hear you, you know,” he says when he joins me on the sidewalk.
“I won’t hold it against you if you turn to me at any point in the next two hours and say, you’re so not worth this.”
He cups my face, and right here in front of God and everyone, lays a kiss on me that would make the gods weep. “Yes, you are. Let’s go.”
He takes my hand as we walk up to the front door. Before I can reach for the knob, Sam flings the door open.
“We all saw that,” he informs us, and tosses his baseball up in the air, catching it easily in his mitt. “Just sayin’.”
“Thanks.” I ruffle his hair. “If Maman catches you throwing that ball in the house, you’ll be dead meat.”
“She won’t.”
“I saw it,” Mama says and gives Sam the stink eye. “You know what happens to little boys who throw their ball in my house?”
“They don’t get dessert,” Sam says, hanging his head. “It was an accident.”
“Right.” Mama kisses his head and smiles at us. “Go throw that ball around outside. And take your uncles with you.”
Sam runs back toward the kitchen as Mama enfolds me in a big hug. She’s petite. My sisters and I all got our frames from our mom. And I notice that as she gets older, she’s more fragile, which makes me a little sad.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she says and then kisses my cheek.
“And you, young man, need to come down here. You’re too tall for me.” Simon leans down to kiss her cheek. “Welcome.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Boudreaux.”
“Come on back, you two. As soon as you came to the door, everyone ran back to the kitchen. They were spying on you, of course. Not me, I was busy slaving over the stove.”
My parents’ house is large, but no mansion. Daddy always taught us that just because we were wealthy, didn’t mean we lived lavishly. Mama usually had a housekeeper because with a family our size, it would have been difficult for her to keep up with all of us. But she’s always enjoyed cooking herself.
“And so it begins,” I say, smiling sweetly at Simon.
“I hope you have a thick skin, Simon,” Mama says just before we reach the kitchen.
“Hi, everyone,” I say and wave. “You’ve all met Simon.”
I’m surprised to find that not only are all my siblings here, but Rhys has flown in with Gabby, and even Ben is here as well.
The whole gang is accounted for.
Great.
“Hey, Simon,” Eli says, “we were just about to go out and toss the ball with Sam. Why don’t you join us?”
I start to interject, wanting to keep Simon close by so I can defend him against my overprotective brothers, but Simon just squeezes my hand and replies with, “Sounds great. I’m in.”
“Good. All of you boys out of my kitchen.”
“You always make the boys help,” I remind her with a frown, but she just shrugs and returns to stirring the collard greens on the stove.
“I want to chat with my girls this afternoon.”
I see Callie and Kate exchange a grin, and I’m immediately suspicious. When the boys have all filed out to the backyard, I turn to Van.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” she replies with wide eyes.
“You don’t lie well.”
“We just want to talk to you,” Gabby says and shoves a carrot in her mouth. She wanders over to the back door and grins. “Simon is already throwing the ball with Sam.”
“So, we hear the sex is out of control,” Kate says. I whip around and stare at Callie.
“You told them?”
“What?” She holds her hands out to her side. “You didn’t say it was a secret.”
“There was alcohol involved,” I hiss. “Anyth
ing said when alcohol is involved is not to be shared. You own a bar; you should know that.”
“Oh please,” Van says and rolls her eyes. “Like you wouldn’t have told me that if the roles were reversed.”
“Don’t waste time,” Gabby says, waving at us and staring out the window. “Oh my gosh, Eli just got real close to Simon’s face and he looks serious. Go on, tell us about the sex.”
“My mother is right there,” I point out, desperate for this conversation to not happen.
“I’ve had sex, darlin’,” she replies with a smile. “A lot of it, actually. I have plenty of children to show for it.”
“Let’s not talk about Mom’s sex life,” Van says. “Ever.”
“Agreed,” I reply. “Let’s not talk about sex at all.”
“Now Beau pushed Rhys,” Gabby says, pressing her face against the glass. “What the hell did he do?”
“I wonder if they’ll get into it and take their shirts off,” Callie says.
“My brothers have to keep their clothes on,” Van says.
“No, they don’t,” Callie counters. “I’m not related to any of them. They can all get naked.”
I just lean on the breakfast bar and pinch the bridge of my nose, willing the headache starting to go away.
“Awww, Simon is giving Sam a piggyback ride,” Gabby says and looks back at us with heart eyes. “He’s really good with kids. Does he want kids, Char?”
“I hope so,” Mama says. “I need more grandbabies.”
“We haven’t talked about it,” I reply, feeling slightly sick. “Why would we talk about it?”
“Oh, don’t be a pain in the ass,” Van replies with a roll of the eyes. “You’re crazy about each other, and the sex is amazing.”
“Oh God, Ben just took his shirt off.”
We all stop talking, look at each other, and rush to the door to press our noses to the glass.
“Holy sweet merciful Jesus,” Mama mutters to all of our surprise. “Don’t look at me like that, I may be old but I’m not dead and that boy is fine looking.”
Boy, is she right. Except, he’s no boy. He’s one fine man.
I haven’t seen Ben shirtless since high school. I had no idea he had so much ink now. I glance over at Van, whose eyes have glassed over.
“Did you know he had that many tattoos now?” I ask her.
She shakes her head wordlessly and swallows hard just as Ben glances over and a slow smile spreads over his handsome face. He winks, aimed right at Van.
“He has a thing for you,” Kate says to Van. “It’s painfully obvious.”
“It’s been obvious since he was sixteen,” Gabby replies, earning a jab in the ribs by Van.
“Whatever,” she says and walks back to the breakfast bar. “Mom, your pot is going to boil over.”
“Oh! Thank you.” We all peel ourselves from the door. Well, everyone except Gabby.
“What are you, the lookout?” I ask.
“Something like that. We don’t want Simon to walk in when we’re in the middle of talking about your sex life.”
“For Godsake, I’m not discussing our sex life with you.” I prop my hands on my hips and glare at my sisters and sisters-in-law.
“Callie gets to have all the fun because she has liquor,” Kate says with a pout. “Will you at least tell us if you’ve said the L word yet?”
NO. No. No. No.
But I just casually shake my head. “It hasn’t come up.”
“That’s not what I hear,” Gabby says and then giggles at her own joke. “Holy shit, Beau just took a swing at Declan, and he rolled away, dodging it. That martial arts crap really works. And if they weren’t my brothers, I’d say it’s hot.”
“I’ll say it,” Callie says with a smirk. “It’s hot. Almost as hot as Charly’s sex life.”
“You know, I thought it was Simon that was going to get the third degree today. Not me.” I glare at them all. “You’ve betrayed me.”
They simply laugh their pretty little heads off.
“No, this is just new, Char,” Van says and pats me on the shoulder. “You’ve never introduced us to anyone before. You’ve told us stories about men you’ve met or been with, but this is more, and we’re so happy for you.”
Shit, now they’re going to make me cry.
“We just want to know more,” Gabby says, nodding and watching whatever is happening outside.
“All I know for sure is, he’s not like anyone I’ve ever known before. He’s thoughtful, and affectionate, and yes, we’re compatible in bed. But you know what’s even better?”
They’re riveted to me now, listening with wide eyes.
“The conversation. He’s so fucking smart—sorry, Mama—and he makes me think. He listens to me. When he messes up, he apologizes, rather than pinning the blame on me and making me feel guilty. He can admit when he’s wrong, and he does his best to make it up to me.” I bite my lip and twist my fingers together, thinking about the man who’s come to own my heart.
“I don’t know where it’s going to go, or if it’ll go anywhere at all, but I like him. I respect him. I love that it’s his life’s work to help others, and it’s not just for the money. He genuinely wants to make a difference in women’s lives.”
“He’s already made a difference in yours,” Kate says with a watery smile. “I’m so happy for you, Charly.”
“Me too,” Callie says. “I’m sorry I told them about our conversation, but I was so happy for you, I was ready to burst. And this room of people is who we all trust the most.”
I nod and offer Callie a soft smile. She’s only been in our family for a short time, but I don’t remember what we did without her. She fits. And she loves Declan to distraction.
“It’s okay.” I shrug and look around the room. “I’m scared to trust him.”
“That’s the hardest part,” Mama replies gently. “It’s easy to fall in love. But to trust? That takes time. You’ll get there.”
I nod and wipe one tear off my cheek. “What are they doing now?”
Gabby looks outside and gasps. “They’re coming this way!”
“Some lookout you are,” Van says just as Ben walks inside and catches Van’s eye. He grins and pulls his shirt over his head, catching all of our attention. Van clears her throat and turns away to help Mama at the stove.
“Dinner’s just about ready,” Mama says as all the guys file in. “You have good timing.”
“Did anyone get hurt?” I ask as Simon smiles at me.
“No one threw even one punch,” Sam says, totally deflated.
“Hey, I threw a punch at Declan,” Beau says.
“It isn’t the same,” Sam replies. “You didn’t give him a bloody lip or a black eye. My friend Logan at school got a bloody lip.”
“You didn’t throw the punch, did you?” Gabby asks in horror.
“Not that time,” Sam says and ducks his head.
“But you threw a punch another time?” Gabby asks.
“Maybe.”
Gabby looks at Rhys in horror. “Say something.”
“We’ll have a talk tonight, buddy,” Rhys says and puts his son in a headlock. “No throwing punches.”
Simon sidles up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “You look magnificent,” he whispers in my ear. I lean back and smile up at him.
“Thanks.”
“Didn’t we just talk about this outside?” Beau asks and reaches for a cherry tomato in the salad bowl, only to be slapped by Mama.
“You talked,” Simon replies with a smile. “And I listened.”
Eli sighs. “He makes it hard for me to not like him.”
***
“It wasn’t so bad,” I say later that evening when we return to my house. “Once the girls finished asking me about our sex life, and my brothers were done intimidating you in the backyard—”
“They tried.”
“—it went pretty well, actually.”
“Your mother is an excellent c
ook.”
“She was pleased that you thought so. She likes you.”
“The feeling is mutual,” he says and reaches for his phone when it pings with a text. “It’s good that I’m going home next week.”
My stomach sinks at the thought of him leaving. I don’t want him to go.
“I’m sorry. I know I’m keeping you here away from work.”
“You’re not forcing me to be here,” he says as he types out a response. “I am not complaining. But I do have some work that needs my personal attention.”
“I completely understand.”
I open the dishwasher and begin unloading it, trying to keep my hands busy. I’ve never been the girl who pined away for a guy, wanting to spend every minute of every day with him. Then again, I’ve never known anyone like Simon.
And that scares me a little.
Or a lot.
A lottle?
I smirk and rinse out a wine glass, then place it in the dishwasher.
“What’s so funny?” Simon asks as he joins me, hugging me from behind the way he did at my mom’s. He tucks his face in my neck and gives it a bite, making me squirm.
“I’m just thinking silly things,” I reply and set the glass aside. I turn and hug him tightly. “These past few weeks have gone by so quickly.”
“I know.” He kisses my head. “Come with me to London.”
I pull back and stare up at him in surprise. “What?”
“I know it’s asking a lot, and if you can’t, or won’t, I understand. But I’d love for you to come back with me.”
My mouth opens and closes but no noise comes out. He’s flummoxed me.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No.” I shake my head and hug him again, then pace the kitchen. “That’s not it. Thank you for inviting me. I guess I’m just surprised.”
“I can’t see why, love. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t like being away from you. I would love to show you around London, to take you to my favorite restaurants, show you where I grew up.”
I would love that. I am dying to see the house he grew up in, to meet his parents, to see where he lives now. I’m curious about all of it, and I want to jump at his offer.
“I have a business,” I say, biting my lip.
“You were gone for a few weeks not long ago,” he reminds me gently. “Nothing fell apart then, did it?”