27. Shiloh #3
I lean back and he looks up at me, still pensive.
I smile taking his hat off his head and dropping it onto my own. His eyes flare, and I grin mischievously at him.
“Don’t test me, criminal. You have another thing coming if you don’t think I won’t lay you out right here, my family none the wiser.”
I snort and he slides me down his body so we’re face to face. “I’d like to see you try,” I whisper across his lips.
He sets me on my feet, and I take off.
It doesn’t take him long to catch up to me, and he dips his shoulder, picking me up and throwing me over it. I shriek with laughter and he slaps my ass.
“I think you just love the chase,” he says, turning back to the main house.
I pinch his butt, and his steps falter. “Ow!”
“What if I do?” I ask him.
“Good thing I’ve been working on my cardio,” he says.
My heart aches, and I hold on to him as we approach the house. What I wouldn’t give to have him, to have this kind of family. But we’re temporary, so his family is too.
He climbs the stairs on the porch, placing me on my feet and grabbing my face within his enormous hands, and plants one on me. I love this mouth. I love the way he’s so gentle with me, but I can feel his control slipping.
“What was that for?” I ask him, still a little dazed.
“Because I wanted to,” he rasps and opens the front door for me.
I stash my gun from young hands and follow Ledger into the living room.
Everyone is chatting, and the girls are hanging out in the kitchen. While the guys are in the living room with a game on.
Pushing the last bit of nervousness out of my body and feeling oddly confident from that kiss. I leave Ledger in the living room and find the girls in the kitchen.
“Hey Shiloh, do you want something to drink? I brewed a fresh pot of coffee,” Mrs. Hayes asks.
“That would be great, whatever y’all are having. Thanks, Mrs. Hayes.”
She smiles and shakes her head. “You can call me Dixie,” she says.
“Oh, okay.”
She nods and pours me a cup of coffee and hands it to me.
“So how long have you been married to my son?” she asks.
“Mom, come on, give her a second,” June chides her mother.
I take a burning sip. “It’s okay, really. It’s a fair question. It all happened really fast,” I say and glance at Ledger. I’m not sure what he told them, and I don’t want our stories to be different.
“I broke up with Grey and needed a place to stay because the alternative was my car. Ledger saw me and offered. And then we fell hard and fast, I guess.”
She nods.
“I see, and you’re in love?”
I find Ledger again, and he’s not talking to the guys or looking at the game. He’s watching me.
“Yes, we are,” I tell her, despite the rocks in my stomach. For some reason, I want his mom to like me. I want another hug.
June sighs. “What she’s trying to say, Shiloh, is that she wants to make sure Ledger doesn’t get hurt because she’s very protective of her kids.”
I nod and take another sip. “I totally respect that, and I would do the same. You have raised a wonderful man,” I tell Dixie, looking her in the eye, but I can’t read her.
She nods once and turns to Tatum. “How’s the morning sickness?”
Tatum groans and rubs her stomach as if she’s about to puke again. “I really hope it’s almost over because I can’t take it anymore.”
Dixie smiles. “I’m pretty sure Fletcher was the worst of them.”
Tatum huffs. “Of course he was. Why does that not surprise me at all?”
“Mae, how is the shop? Did you get those wedding contracts?”
Mae says something, but I tune them out because I’m busy admiring Ledger in the living room. He’s not staring at me anymore. He's watching the game while stacking small Legos with Naomi, building a structure.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and pull up his contact.
Shiloh: I wonder if you’d like to use those nimble fingers on me tonight.
Ledger pulls his phone out of his pocket and opens it. He goes still and slowly drags his eyes from the phone to me.
I grin at him as he struggles to keep his composure. His tongue dips out over his lower lip, and he starts to type.
Mr. Serious: I’d like to use a lot more than my fingers, criminal.
I read the message and look up at him, shocked he responded at all.
With a knowing smile, he slips the phone back into his pocket. And while he goes back to Legos with Naomi, his gaze doesn’t leave mine.
“I know y’all think you’re not being obvious, but we can all tell you’re eye-fucking each other,” Mae whispers.
I cough trying not to choke on the coffee, and look at Mae. She’s so quiet, hearing something like that come from her is more shocking than the words themselves.
I glance at Tatum and June. June and her mother aren’t paying attention, but the small quirk of Tatum’s mouth gives her away.
“Sorry,” I mumble into my cup.
“Nothing to be sorry for. There’s something about Hayes men.” I huff. “You’ve got that right.”
“We’re glad you’re here, Shiloh,” Tatum says gently, looking at me with careful, practiced eyes.
I nod. “I’m glad I could come and finally meet the family for real,” I rasp.
And for the first time in my life, I let myself feel like I belong somewhere.