Delicate Promises (Southern Bride 2)

I drew my brows in. “That’s why we’re going slow, and also he’s never meant to hurt me. I know that in the depths of my heart.”

“Are you sure about that?” he asked, concern laced in his voice.

I could hear Miles greeting my mother. Their cheerful voices moved closer to the house.

My father sighed. “I just don’t want to see you hurt…again.”

“He’s not going to hurt me. He loves me and I love him.”

Our conversation left me with an odd sensation that my father knew something I didn’t. Or he still doubted my relationship with Miles. Both ideas left me feeling off.

My mother and Miles walked into the kitchen. Daddy reached his hand out and shook Miles’s. My stomach dropped, and a warm feeling moved within my chest. Miles looked around until his eyes found mine. He smiled, and I felt my own smile erupt over my face. My body had ached to be with him again since the moment I walked out of his little cabin earlier today. To feel his touch and get lost in his kiss. Miles walked up and placed what looked like homemade bread on the table, then made his way over to me.

My heart raced, caused my breathing to pick up. Dear God, he had a look on his face that said he was going to claim me right here, in front of my parents, and he didn’t give a damn what they thought.

Well, this was going to make my mother happy. My father? Not so much.

Miles stopped in front of me. “I missed you,” he softly whispered before leaning down and gently kissing me on the lips. The instant zap of energy nearly jolted me. I wanted to grab him and bring him in for more. At least one of us was in control, because all I could think about was how many ways he could make me come.

“I missed you, too,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady and not full of need.

His brow lifted before he smiled even bigger. Then he gave me a sexy wink that made my insides melt. “You look beautiful, and I fully plan on taking you back to your place and having my way with you.”

Heat built in my cheeks as images of Miles doing naughty things to me raced through my mind. Then he took a step back, and I instantly missed the heat of his body. My eyes went past him to my folks. They had been busy getting things ready for dinner and hadn’t noticed our little exchange.

“Miles, I made you my lasagna. And for dessert, Steve made you your favorite, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.”

Miles placed his arm around my waist. He acted as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do. I, on the other hand, stiffened before relaxing. Why in the world was I so nervous? Miles and I had been friends forever. He’d spent countless days and nights in this kitchen. Of course, he had never whispered naughty things to me or put his arm around me. He’d never kissed me in front of my parents. This was all so new, yet it felt so right.

Wasn’t it? The way my father was studying Miles…I felt rattled.

“Miles, are you glad to be back in Hunt?” Daddy asked.

I grabbed the cookie sheet, allowing Miles to walk over to my father.

“Yes, sir, it feels really good to be home. I’ve missed everyone, missed working on the farm.”

“I’m sure your brother is glad you’re home, since you pretty much left it up to him to work the farm while you left.”

I nearly dropped the tray of cookies I had taken out of the oven. “Daddy!” I said. Where in the hell had that come from?

“Steve, what in the world? I’m so sorry, Miles,” my mother instantly said.

Miles grinned, but I could see the anger behind his eyes. “I’m sorry you feel that way, sir, but if I hadn’t gone into the Marines, there wouldn’t have been a farm for Rich to work.”

“Miles,” I softly said, placing my hand on his arm.

“It’s okay, Kyns. If this is how Steve thinks of me, now is as good a time as any to clear the air.”

My father had the decency to look embarrassed.

“Had I not left my family and everyone I loved behind, my mother would have lost the farm. My father left her so far in debt she could barely make ends meet. He didn’t give two shits about us or the farm. I did what was best for my family…sir.”

“Daddy, if you can’t treat Miles with the respect he deserves, we can leave.”

“That won’t be necessary, will it, Steve?” my mother said, with a harsh tone.

“I just don’t understand why the boy was gone for so long and strung our daughter along like he did. Was there another woman in the picture?”