Preston laughed. “Why can’t your new boyfriend go with you?”
“You know my father, Preston. He will not be expecting a new boyfriend, he will be expecting you.”
“Sherry, you are so full of shit I can smell it from across the room.”
Smiling, I took both plates and made my way out to the small dining room that was off the living room. I was pretty
sure Preston and Sherry were still in the living room.
Rounding the corner, I walked to the table and set the plates down.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Sherry said, “Fine. Daddy needs an endorsement from the Boston Fire Department and if his daughter shows up with a firefighter boyfriend, then—”
Clearing my throat, I leaned against the table. Sherry spun around and stared at me with her mouth hanging open.
“Breakfast is ready,” I said with a smile. The smile that spread across Preston’s face caused me to smile bigger.
“Harmony? What are you doing here?” Sherry’s eyes moved over my body as her mouth dropped open. Spinning around on her heels, Sherry looked at Preston. “Are you sleeping with her?”
Preston looked between Sherry and me as he walked over to me. Pulling me into his arms, he winked at me and said, “Yes, Sherry. Harmony and I have slept together.”
Smiling like a kid in a candy store, I said, “Your eggs are getting cold.” I wasn’t sure why this tickled me so much. I knew what Preston had meant. We had slept together—twice now.
Letting go of me, Preston pulled out a seat and motioned for me to sit down. Then he pushed my chair in and leaned down and pressed his lips against my neck under my ear. “Thank you.”
And just like that, he was gone and I was left breathless again. Picking up my fork, I stabbed my eggs and started to eat while Preston showed Sherry out. Before she left, she got the last word in. “I hope the two of you are happy living in this tiny little house with your stupid paycheck-to-paycheck job.”
My mouth dropped open and I stood up, ready to lay into her ass, but Preston slammed the door in her face.
“Oh my gosh. How dare she insult us like that!”
Laughing, Preston walked up to the table and sat down and began eating his omelet. “She didn’t really, Harmony, because this isn’t our house and we aren’t really sleeping together.”
Chewing on my lip, I slowly sat down. “Your job is more than what she makes it out to be, Preston.”
Giving me a smile that about melted my panties right off, he simply said, “I know it is.”
Preston and I ate in silence. Standing, he took his plate and mine and brought them into the kitchen. “Let me do the dishes really quick and I’ll take you home if you want.”
Slowly standing up, I made my way into the kitchen. Preston moved about, filling up the sink with water and soap while I leaned against the counter and watched his every move.
Turning toward me, Preston leaned against the counter and looked at me. My chest grew tighter as I worked up the nerve to say what I wanted to say.
Letting out a nervous chuckle, I said, “You’re going to think I’m crazy for saying what I’m about to say.”
“Try me,” Preston said with a crooked smile that pulled on my heart.
“Last night was the first night since you stayed with me a few weeks ago that I haven’t had any nightmares. I was relaxed and I felt…” I shook my head and looked away as I whispered, “I felt safe.”
“What do you mean, ‘safe’?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I looked back at Preston as our eyes met. “I don’t know if ‘safe’ is the right word. Relaxed, comfortable, at ease, maybe? All I know is I needed you to be there for me to feel that way and I’m afraid to be alone, Preston, and that is not like me. I don’t know what’s happening but—” My voice cracked as the threat of more stupid tears started to build up.
Preston walked up to me and placed his hands on the sides of my face. “Come home with me for Thanksgiving. I’m leaving today and staying until Friday.”
My eyes widened and my stomach felt like I had been on a roller coaster. “You mean to your parents’? For Thanksgiving? Can you do that? Can you just bring someone home like that without asking them first?”
Smiling, he said, “Yes. My mother would love to have you there. She’s been dying to teach someone other than my baby sister all her recipes.”