“The decision will always be up to him. Whatever he decides, we’ll support him. The more people he has in his corner, the better. I might not have real family of my own, but I know the meaning of family. He’s mine now, and there is nothing I won’t do for him. Whatever he needs, whatever he wants.”

She gave me a sad smile and wiped another tear away. “You really do love him, don’t you?”

“More than anything.”

She looked away, blushing the same way Anson did sometimes. “It’s their loss.”

I frowned. “Whose?”

“Your parents. It’s their loss, and I’m sorry they can’t see that. You’re good to my son. There’s a light inside him now. I see it, and I didn’t know it had been out before. But you lit it, and I thank you for that. You’re good to him, and you’re a good man.”

“I…” Nothing else would come out. What did I even say to that? I’d met her once, and she’d shown me more love, without meaning to, than my own parents did. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll be honest, I still don’t think he should come out this year. It’s maybe the biggest year of his career. This is also… It’s still something I’m going to have to get used to. I’m sorry if that’s the wrong thing to say or feel, but I will try because I love him, and he loves you.”

It was actually the most perfect thing she could say. “I appreciate your honesty, Ms. Hawkins.”

“Please, call me Cheryl. Now, let’s do these dishes so we can get out to those boys. I’m sure Anson is losing his mind by now.”

I chuckled. “Oh, I’m sure he is too.”

We did the dishes, then went out and played basketball with Anson and Elias, even Cheryl. And it wasn’t perfect, but it was better than I’d thought possible. I didn’t know if she’d meant to, but Cheryl had given me hope.

Chapter Forty-One

Anson

It was killing me not to know what Mom said to West in the kitchen, but I was also slightly nervous to find out. Mom and West joined Elias and me, and the four of us shot the basketball for a while, then hung out and had sweet tea on the patio. We didn’t stay long after that. West didn’t have much more time in Atlanta, and I wanted to share as much as I could with him.

We were quiet on the drive home. My body was jittery, and my thoughts were spinning—that this had even happened, that I’d told Mom and introduced her to West, and, of course, concern over what they’d talked about. Still, I definitely didn’t want to have the conversation in my SUV. West seemed to recognize that, but then when we got home, I found myself saying, “I’m going to take a shower.”

West frowned. “Okay.”

Normally, I would have asked him to join me, but I needed to get my thoughts together, needed to prepare for what he might say after his discussion with my mom.

“I’ll get us some water,” West said.

I nodded and headed for my room. Once I had the shower going, I stripped out of my clothes and stood under the spray, letting it cascade down my body. I washed up, still trying to sort through the changes in my life, the metamorphosis I’d gone through since West had sat beside me in that bar. I wanted more.

I got out and dried off. With a towel wrapped around my waist, I went into my room. West was in bed, shirtless, the blanket pulled up to his waist, his back against the headboard, his laptop on his thighs.

“You’re supposed to be on vacation.”

West cocked a brow. “Who said I was working?”

I knelt on the bed and reached for his computer. He let me take it, which I took to mean it was okay to close it, and set it on the nightstand. “I know you.” And fuck, I did. This man had let me inside him in ways I knew he didn’t with anyone else.

“You do, do you?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose this is where we talk?” Nerves bit at him. I knew because I recognized them in the tone of his voice and the worry in his eyes. In the way he licked his lips, not seductively, but with an edge of concern to it.

“No.” I straddled his thighs. When I did, my towel dropped open, and I was already half-hard at just the thought of what I was about to tell him. “This is where you fuck me.”

West growled in response, a low, deep sound vibrating from his chest as he tugged me to him and our mouths collided. He kissed me hard, hungrily, like a predator I would gladly surrender to, and then he flipped us. I went easily, lying on my back with him on top of me. He looked down at me, raw need burning in his gaze. “You’re gonna give me your ass, Bashful?”

Tags: Riley Hart Atlanta Lightning Romance
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