“My sister Gigi. We’re twins.”

“I don’t know that I’ve met her.” Actually I’m certain of it.

“Gigi is—” Ivy begins.

“An acquired taste,” Cara says.

“And she doesn’t like new people?” I knew I shouldn’t expect everyone around here to be okay with me just showing up out of the blue.

“Gigi has no filter,” Ivy says diplomatically.

“She talks about nothing but sex,” Cara explains on a whisper. “She’s not really first-party-introductions material.”

The woman in question gives me a bright smile and a little wave when she sees me looking at her.

“Is that your dad?” I ask, seeing the older man standing beside her.

“Kincaid is our dad. That’s Jameson. Her husband.”

My smile fades and I jerk my head in my sister’s direction.

“No,” she says quickly. “It’s nothing like that.”

“What?” Ivy asks, stiffening when Cara gives her a pointed look. “Oh, God no! She’s not, gross, that’s not… she loves him, wants to be with him. She pursued him, not the other way around.”

Cara nods in agreement. “That poor man probably didn’t stand a chance, and they’re actually perfect together. He keeps her grounded.”

Warmth wraps around me, and I sink back into Nate’s side when he shows back up, but he doesn’t tuck me into him because his hands are full.

I take the offered plate, discovering I’m much hungrier than I realized. He holds a bottle of water for me while I stuff my face. Finger foods have never tasted so good. Nate coughs a warning when I groan at the taste of one of the tiny sandwiches, and I grin at our little secret.

I look up and see both Cara and Ivy smiling and realize it’s not much of a secret. Cara is the first to look away, but Ivy looks the most embarrassed. She has an innocence to her that I think is going to make her a very good friend, or at least someone safe to be around.

“So… umm… Do you have plans this summer?”

I tilt my head to the side, a little confused. “I’m… I mean—”

“I know this is your party and everything, but Cara mentioned that you’re going to want to look for a job soon, and there are several positions for paraprofessionals at the high school. We lost a lot because we have a great school, but we don’t have the funds to pay very well. A lot of our people have moved away.”

“Paraprofessionals?”

“Like a teacher’s aide.”

“I don’t have a degree.”

“Don’t need one. All the training is done on campus,” Ivy explains.

I look over at Nate, and his wink seems like approval.

“I’d love to,” I say with a huge smile.

“Perfect. When you fill out the application, just make sure to put me down as a reference. I’ll let my principal know to be on the lookout for your paperwork.”

“Thank you,” I tell her.

Ivy drifts away, and eventually Cara goes back to Javier’s side, and the love I see in his eyes for my sister makes me want the same thing.

Nate trades my empty plate for my bottle of water, putting that to the side after I take a long sip. We finally have a minute to ourselves, and he doesn’t waste a second turning to face me. His fingers brush my cheek, and I find myself leaning into the soft touch. I feel crazed, starved for attention, and I’m going to soak up everything he’s offering.

My back is pressed to the wall, and he’s leaning over me. It’s an intimate gesture, and as I look up into his bright blue eyes, I wonder if he’s going to kiss me again.

I’m focused on him. He’s focused on me. It’s like we’re the only two people who exist right now.

A throat clearing stops him before he lowers his mouth fully to mine. He pauses, still looking down at me before heaving a sigh and turning to face the intruder.

Legend is smiling at his friend like he’s actually proud to interrupt our moment. Nate slips in behind me, his front pressed to my back, and his hand goes to my lower belly. It’s the first time he’s touched me like this, and I can’t tell if it’s a possessive hold or if he’s acknowledging the life growing inside of me. I place my hand over his on my stomach and drop my head back against his chest.

If this is what dating my husband is going to be like, I’m a willing and happy participant.

Chapter 18

Apollo

“You seemed to relax a little out there,” I tell her as I struggle to pull my left boot off.

I watch her eyes dart to the pile of gifts in the corner of the room. “I’m overwhelmed. Do you see all of that?”

“I do, but Cara said she’d help you.”

She hums, a sound I don’t have a chance of understanding. Man, I thought I knew so much about women. I’m finding that isn’t even close to being true.

Tags: Marie James Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net