I shiver hard, drawing away to try to hide it. What’s the matter with me today, huh? Old Ben’s words, the missing pendant, the letters, the onslaught of memories, I blame it all.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, drawing her fingertips over my mouth to my cheek, stroking my jaw. “Didn’t mean to sadden you.”

“You haven’t,” I assure her, catching her hand in mine, kissing her palm. “You’ve been the highlight of my day, the best part.” I find I can smile again. “You always are.”

She’s the one kissing me now, climbing onto my lap and winding her arms around my neck. Oh yeah, the day’s improving. Groaning, I deepen the kiss, and her tongue meets mine, sending electric jolts down my spine, getting me hard in two seconds flat.

Hot damn...

“Stay tonight?” I manage, my voice hoarse, when we break apart.

“I can’t. I promised Dad to help him prepare dinner. He wants to make toasted ravioli from scratch and I think he wants to teach me how.”

“You like cooking?”

“It’s okay. Not my favorite pastime, but I like cooking for my family.”

“I like looking after the people I care for.” She told me that once. Transparent like glass, precious like a diamond. That’s my girl.

And I can’t begrudge her the time with her family, dammit, especially since her dad seems to be so good to her. But I don’t want her to go, and my arms tighten around her. I make a conscious effort to loosen my hold.

“I want you to meet my family,” she mutters, startling me.

“Yeah, sure.” I laugh.

“I’m serious.”

“Luna... I’m not sure about this,” I say cautiously. “Last time I was there, your brother threw rocks at me.”

“I’ll talk to my brother.”

“I’m not the kind of guy you take home to meet your parents.”

“You are,” she says. “Because you are my guy. Dad and Josh will just have to accept that.”

My battered, dented heart gives a lurch. “You sure about this?”

“Yes.” She wraps herself around me so tightly, like she wants to climb inside me. “I am. If that’s okay with you.”

“Damn, girl,” I breathe. “Anything for you. You know that.”

And I mean it.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Luna

“Anything for you.”

My heart pounds whenever I think of his words, the way he said them—low and warm, the emotion vibrating in every syllable, flaring in his eyes.

Am I seriously going to do this, invite him to my home? Will Josh behave? Will Dad be kind? It’s not their fault—they saw how Ross hurt me in the past. They’re protective of me, but they don’t need to be, not anymore. If they reject Ross, it will break my heart.

It doesn’t have to be today, though, I decide, or even tomorrow. I have time to prepare the ground, talk to them more about Ross, convince them he’s worth it before introducing them properly.

I’m going through this plan over in my head as I take the trash out the back door of the diner to the alley, when I see that douche, Ed, talking with Mike again. I stop and stare, not liking this one bit. It comes to me that Mike must’ve been the one telling Dena and probably his other employees that Ross wasn’t paying his bills here at the diner. Ross said it was a lie, and I believe him.

And now Mike seems to be rubbing elbows with the new wannabee king of assholes in town. What gives?

Tags: Jo Raven Wild Men Romance
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