Because the kiss made me feel as if I was precious to him…
I stare at him unsure of what to say. In the end, it doesn’t matter. It’s Adam who breaks the silence.
“Wait till I tell River his uncle kissed my mom,” he says, sounding way too proud about it.
Blue laughs, reaches down, and tousles Adam’s hair.
“Get that salad we made out of the fridge, buddy. Let’s get your momma fed.”
“Sure thing, Blue.”
“Salad, too?” I laugh.
“Greens are good for you, baby,” he murmurs quietly.
“Thank you for today,” I tell him, feeling better than I have in a long time—not physically but emotionally.
“You won’t believe me, but today was my pleasure, Doe. I’ve enjoyed it. In fact, I’m kind of hoping you’ll think I deserve a reward.”
“What kind of reward are you talking, Moonie?”
He grins at the ridiculous nickname. God, I’ve missed that grin in my life. I know my resolve against Blue is weakening, but what woman in her right mind would be strong enough to turn her back on him.
“Saturday night. You and me and a real date.”
“Blue, things are complicated. I can’t get away easily. There’s the shelter, Adam, and Mom—”
“Let me handle all that. All I need from you is a yes.”
“C’mon, Mom. Say yes,” Adam encourages.
“I’m starting to feel like I’m getting ganged up on,” I mutter, shaking my head.
“Is that a yes or a no?” Blue says and the funniest thing happens.
For the first time in my life, I can read Blue as if he was an open book.
He’s nervous.
Another wall comes down, and I don’t even try to stop it.
“If I say yes, can I eat? I’m starved.”
“Doe, if you say yes, I’ll hand feed you.”
I laugh. “I’ll settle for just a plate of food, but you could always rub my feet on the couch while we watch television with Adam.”
“Done deal,” he says.
“Then, yes, Moonie. I’ll go out with you Saturday.”
“Yay!” Adam cheers, and I raise my eyebrow at Blue and he just grins.
I’m in real trouble.
Chapter 30
Blue
“You’re proud of yourself, aren’t you?” Meadow asks. I look over at her for a second before turning my eyes back to the road.
“You’re going to have to be more specific, Doe. I mean, I’m proud I got all my hay cut because it’s hard to catch it between the rain right now. I’m proud I have the prettiest woman in Texas sitting beside me. Oh, and I’m definitely proud she’s carrying my baby.”
I’m not watching, but I’d lay money down on the fact that she’s rolling her eyes at me right now.
“I meant about the way you wrapped everything up so I could go out tonight.”
“You didn’t think I could do it, did you?” I laugh as I turn down the road that leads to my house.
“Not especially, no. Getting Allen to stay with my kid was a stroke of genius though. This way, Adam doesn’t realize he has a babysitter and neither does my mom.”
“I was rather proud of that one. It lets Adam and Leddie both feel independent.”
“How did you talk Allen into it?” she murmurs, still studying me.
“I have my ways,” I wink. Allen is older with girls on his mind. It’s amazing what you can get a boy to do when you wave money in his face for dates. I don’t explain that to Doe. Some secrets a man has to keep.
“Why are we going to your house? Did you forget something?” she asks.
Considering I’m about to turn into my driveway, I figure she’s known for a while that we were headed to my house. She didn’t say anything to stop me, and I’m taking that as a good sign. So, I just give her the truth.
“I wanted to be alone with you.”
The light in the cab of my truck sucks, but I find myself wondering if she’s blushing. After I make it up to my driveway, I shut off the truck and wait.
“You mean you wanted to have sex.”
“That’s so not what’s on my mind. I want time alone with you. That’s it.”
“Yeah, right,” she snorts.
“I’m not going to lie to you. I always want you, Doe. Fuck, if there was a way for me to go through the day while still have my cock deep inside of you, then that’s exactly what I would do.”
“That could get embarrassing when you go to all those cattle meetings and things,” she says quietly. I can hear the humor in her voice though, and it makes me smile.
“I’d be balls deep in my favorite place in the world. I wouldn’t give a fuck.”
“That’s something I’d forgotten about you, Moonie. You’re such a romantic.”
“If you want romantic, I can give that to you.”
“You can?” she laughs.
“You doubt me?”
“Well, I’ve never seen that side of you,” she reasons.
“What about that time I brought you flowers to school?”