Southern Pleasure (Southern Heart 1)

“McKinley, oh, give me a hug. It’s been too long,” Carol says. She’s got Lexi in her arms.

“Hey, Carol,” I say, giving her a one-armed hug. As soon as Lexi sees me, she grins big and holds her hand out. It’s almost like she’s reaching for me, but I know she’s not. When I step back from the hug, Lexi begins to whimper.

“It’s okay, sweet girl. Grandma’s got you,” I say, stepping close to her and placing my hand on her back. She again holds her arm out and I want to take her, like I know she wants, but I can?

??t. Carol needs time to bond with her as well.

Evan steps close and places his hand on the small of my back. “She loves you,” he whispers in my ear. I fight to not break out in tears. I love her too, so much more than I ever thought possible.

Lexi is still fussing and just like me, Evan can’t handle it. He reaches out and takes her from his mom. “She just needs time to warm up to this,” he says gently.

“Oh, by bedtime I’ll have her used to me.” Carol grins. “Let’s get you inside. Everyone is dying to meet her and see both of you.” I don’t miss how she includes me.

With Lexi in his arms and his hand on the small of my back, Evan guides us to follow his mom into the house. Carol leads us into the living room where his grandparents are both sitting in matching recliners and his dad is sitting on the couch looking more frail than I’ve ever seen him, his feet propped up on a pillow on the table.

“Is that my granddaughter?” he asks. His voice is husky.

“Hey Dad. Yeah, this is Lexi.” I expect him to drop his hand, but instead, he guides me to the couch. The three of us are now standing in front of his father. “Have a seat, babe,” he says to me.

I sit next to his dad and gently touch his arm. “Good to see you, Jeff.”

“McKinley, girl, it’s been ages,” he says, patting my hand.

Evan kneels in front of us. “Dad, this is Lexi. Lex, this is your grandpa.” Lexi is watching Evan’s dad just as she did Carol. She doesn’t crack a smile, her tiny face so serious. Evan sits her in his dad’s lap and leans back on his heels. I can see what this moment means to him. He’s worried about his dad, the cancer eating away at him. I know he was scared this moment would never happen, worried his children—Lexi—would not get to meet his dad. Evan confessed that before the “wedding” talk started, he was trying to work up the nerve to ask me to take this trip with him.

Lexi holds her arm out for me and I slip my finger into her tiny hand. “Who’s got you, Lex?” She babbles at me, telling me all about it. I keep talking to her, letting her hear my voice. Once Evan see’s she’s going to be okay with his dad, he takes the seat next to me on the couch. His arm goes around the back and he angles his body toward us, so he can talk to his father and take in the sight of him holding his little girl.

“She’s a beaut, Evan,” his dad comments.

“Yeah, she is. I told Kinley she’s not dating until she’s thirty,” he laughs.

“Oh hush, you,” his mom joins the conversation.

“Don’t be hogging all the loving, son,” Evan’s Grandpa Lexington chimes in. “I need to meet the angel who carries on the family name.”

Just as he says the words, Lexi lets out a shriek and leans into me. Instinctively, I grab her and pull her into my arms. Her chubby little hands grab at my face as she smiles and shrieks again. Evan rubs her back as he chuckles, and to anyone watching us, we look like the happily little family we’re about to be, but for how long?

Tonight has been . . . overwhelming. I never thought I would be an emotional sap seeing my parents with my daughter. When Mom held her, I got choked up, but when Dad held her, yeah, I had to bite my damn tongue to keep the tears at bay. Mom made dinner, and the rest of the night was spent passing Lex from one person to the next. That is up until about ten minutes ago when she decided she was done. I took her from Mom, who hasn’t stopped smiling since we pulled in the drive.

“I’ll make her a bottle,” Kinley offers and scurries off to the kitchen. I watch her go, because, well . . . she’s gorgeous.

“You’re smitten,” Mom calls me out.

You have no idea. “She’s been there from the beginning. I owe her everything.” I try to deter the conversation.

Dad laughs. “Evan, you look at her like I still look at your mother. You sure this is a good idea?” he says hesitantly.

Is this a good idea? Hell if I know. Do I want to marry her? Yes, without question. Is it just to keep my daughter with me? No, it’s not. Can I confess that to them? I’ve always been close to them, but this . . .”No reservations,” I tell them.

“Does she know?” Mom asks.

I look at the door leading to the kitchen, watching for her. I don’t want her to hear this and make what we’re about to do awkward. “No.” I pretty much just lay it all out for them in that simple word. My parents are smart and can read between the lines. This is more for me.

I’m fucked!

They don’t get the chance to say more as Kinley walks back into the room. Lexi is snuggled up on my chest, eyes wide as she watches my parents. At the sound of Kinley’s voice, she lifts her head. “Here you go, baby girl.” Kinley hands the bottle to me.

I settle Lexi into the crook of my arm and she begins to eat. Her arm reaches out and Kinley doesn’t hesitate to offer her finger for Lexi to hold on to. Lexi goes back to eating, never letting go of Kinley. Her other hand is grabbing at my chin, so I offer her my finger as well. She locks on tight and settles. Kinley’s eyes find mine and she smiles my smile.