“Hello,” I answer. Luckily, it didn’t go to voicemail. I’m not sure why I hate it, but checking them is the biggest pain in my rear.
“Honey child, what are you doing?” she asks. I smile already knowing she talked to Mom. Those two are sisters and tell each other everything.
“What, no hello?” I volley back.
“I’m pretty sure you know me better than that when I have to get all the gossip from your mother. What I want to know is why I didn’t hear it from your lips first, huh?” Aunt Catherine never had children of her own. It just wasn’t in the cards for her.
“Well, if you must know, Greyson is getting things ready for my next paid partnership in the forest down here, his idea since Samantha is still being worked on. Blasted taillight is taking forever to get in. I haven’t told Mom this, so don’t say anything, but even after it’s done, I think Florida is calling my name.” The longer I’m around Greyson, the less I want to leave.
“Oh girl, tell me something I didn’t already know. You know how it was for Uncle Ron and me. We knew within hours, got hitched the same week we met, and the rest is history. That doesn’t mean I won’t be getting down there tomeet him, and I better be invited to the wedding.” I laugh at that because talk about putting the horse before the carriage.
“I know, and I love you for it. There’s been no talk of marriage, but if there is, you’ll be there without a doubt.” We finish up our talk, say we love each other, and then click off the phone. I’m just setting my phone on the counter, spinning around, when I’m stopped in my tracks.
“We can talk about marriage anytime you want, Serenity. I figured I’d wait at least a week though. Didn’t want you to run off scared.” He prowls towards me.
“How much of that did you hear?” Greyson cups the back of my neck with his work-roughened hand, sending delicious shivers down my spine.
“All of it. You left the door open. I’m putting it out there now. I wasn’t going to let you leave Florida, not without a heavy dose of persuasion. So, I’m glad as fuck we’re on the same page, Red.” The heaviness in his tone has me ready to climb him like a tree.
“Well, this isn’t embarrassing at all.” I’m sure my face is as red as an apple.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about. Pleased as fuck you’re on the same damn page as me. Took you long enough.” I snort, literally like a pig, at his comment.
“Oh my gosh, Greyson. Give a girl some time, will you?” I’m already leaning towards him, on my toes, and kissing a path up from his neck to his jawline. He doesn’t let me tease him for long until he’s taking my mouth. I’m up in his arms in an instant, legs wrapped around him, and on the first flat surface he can find. There is something to be said about being taken care of, even if I have to admit that this is real for me too.
Thirteen
Greyson
The look on her face when we made it to the campground, her phone was out, taking pictures, but the sheer joy that was coming from Serenity, fuck, it hit me right in that living and beating thing inside of my chest.
“Greyson, do you see how beautiful this place is? Who knew Florida had an underwater cave? I can’t wait to explore it. You’ll go down there with me, right?” she asks. As if she could keep me from going with her.
“You in any kind of bathing suit, I’m going to follow you. Hell, I do that now, and you’re clothed when we’re out in public.”
“Yeah, you Tarzan, me Jane, right?” Serenity looks at me, that happy smile on her face beaming through.
“Got that fucking right. Maybe I’ll carry you over my shoulder and let every damn swinging dick know just who you belong to.” I pull into the spot she reserved when we had to switch things up a bit. Sure, we could have brought her Airstream, but it wouldn’t have been smart with a busted back end. That’s just asking for more damage or a ticket.
“Go get done what you need to. I’ll set this up, and then we can figure out what to do afterwards. I’m sure you have a few necessary things to do, but hopefully, we can have a day just to ourselves. Sucks I have to be back at the shop on Monday morning. I wouldn’t mind staying a bit longer,” I tell her. Serenity hasn’t gotten out of the truck yet. In fact, she’s moved and is now crawling over the center console and straddling my lap.