Chapter 4
Chapter four
Hayes
This is the best day of my life.
I stand at the open bar watching Sara at the table with her family.
The grin on my face hasn't wavered since we got here.
The Peters family is a laugh-riot, and extremely grateful to me for coming this weekend.
Sara's Grandma Grace went to high school with Betty, so she's been regaling me with stories about their days at Duhring Park High, and from everything I've gathered, Betty hasn't changed a bit.
Sara's dad and Grandpa Bob are big into fishing, and I've already been invited on the next guys' trip to the lake this summer.
Sara keeps reminding all of them that I'm a fake date, but it isn't stopping them and I'm thrilled.
"Shirley Temples."
I thank the bartender and grab our drinks. I may have offered to take the floor tonight, but I intend to make sure we are both as sober as church mice in case Sara changes her mind about sharing the bed.
As I head back to the table, her sister Greta whispers something to Sara, who glances at me. Sara rolls her eyes as she stands up and heads over to sit by her grandmother, but her cheeks are pink. Greta winks at me and then motions me over to sit by her.
"So, tell me the truth, Hayes. Was that kiss on the sidewalk really the first time you met Sara? Or are you some kind of stalker?"
I chuckle, leaning back in my chair before responding. "And what? I was just waiting for her to jump out and kiss me? I'd like to think I'd be a better stalker than that."
Greta fights a smile and shrugs. "Or maybe you're a stalking genius, and Sara has no idea what she's gotten into with you."
I eye Greta, realizing she could be an ally for me in Operation Make Sara Mine.
"This afternoon was the first time I ever laid eyes on your sister," I say sincerely. "But I've gotta be honest with you. If Sara were to tell me right now that she never wants to see me again, I'd have to resort to hanging out in her trees or something. She's funny and smart. She's gorgeous–"
"Her family is amazing," Greta interjects with a tip of her drink.
I nod and grin. "Her family is amazing," I repeat in agreement. "Look, this probably isn't helping my case to prove that I'm sane and your sister's in good hands, but I intend to be in her life for a very long time."
Greta narrows her eyes at me thoughtfully, her lips pursed as she assesses me and my mental state. I stare back at her in an attempt to show her I have nothing to hide.
After a long moment, Greta takes a sip of her drink and then continues as if I didn't just spill my heart out to her.
"Betty says you're with DP Construction. You're the group with the penis in their logo?"
I chuckle, surprised by the turn in the conversation.
"Our foreman, Jameson, would beg to differ on the ownership of that logo, but far be it from me to ever argue with Betty's account of things."
Greta grins.
"I like you, Hayes. I hope you convince my sister you're worth it."
"Me too, Greta. Any pointers in that area?"
"Nope. You'll have to win her on your own." She eyes me over her glass, and I give her a nod of understanding. I don't have any siblings, and I'm not close with my parents, but my friends are like brothers to me, so I understand her loyalty. "Besides, I think you're doing a pretty good job."
Greta nods over at Sara, and I turn to find her eyes on me. She looks away quickly when I catch her, but I can't help thinking about getting her back to the room as soon as possible.
"And you certainly have gotten Kyle to back off, which is worth all the points in my book."
The second I walked into the restaurant with Sara, he scampered off with his tail between his legs.
He's been sitting in the corner with a scowl, texting on his damn phone the whole night.
Both sides of the family are avoiding him like the plague, which makes me think the relationship with Sara is the least of the issues.
"Guys like him think it's fun to manipulate women. They love having that power. Because the truth is, when they get in front of someone who actually intimidates them, they act like scared little boys. The Kyles of the world couldn't have an intimate relationship if their life depended on it."
Greta nods, giving me a thoughtful look before she responds.
"Sara's pretty good at avoiding the Kyles of the world.
It's why she's been so rattled by the fact that she dated him at all.
But she had his number early, and she pushed back a lot.
I think a lot of women get trapped in that loop for years. "
"What are you telling my boyfriend about me?
" Sara's voice says loudly behind me. I look up with a grin, thrilled she's claiming me so publicly, but she darts her eyes over to the corner, and I spy Kyle watching us closely.
I don't care about that guy, but Lord help me, I'm grateful he's given me an in.
I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her onto my lap so fast that she doesn't have a chance to protest or dance away.
"Got you a drink," I say, nuzzling her neck as I whisper into her ear. Her smooth skin is like a drug, and I kiss her neck softly. The combination of her sweet scent and the little shiver that makes her tremble has me hard immediately.
"What is this?" she asks, taking a little sip from the glass I hand her. "It's sweet."
"Shirley Temple," I respond in a low voice, acutely aware of my cock thickening between us and desperately hoping I don't scare her.
"I love these!" Sara glances at me over her shoulder and pops the cherry into her mouth. The way her lips suck the soft red ball has me fantasizing about having her do something else with her mouth. She smiles, biting into the small fruit with a knowing smirk as she squirms on my lap.
"You keep wriggling like that, and your family is about to get to know me much more intimately," I growl, my cock painfully hard as her soft, curvy ass puts pressure on my growing erection.
"Oh, my god, I'm sorry." Sara's sexy voice is breathy.
She wiggles again as she tries to scramble off my lap, and I bite off a moan. I grab her hips, forcing her to stay put, and she throws her arm around my neck to look at me as she sits sideways.
"Wait, don't move."
Sara freezes, letting out a little gasp as my cock thickens between us. Her gaze bounces to my mouth and then back to my eyes, and I hope that when I kiss her again, she tastes like cherries.
"We're headed up." Her grandma's voice startles us out of the moment. Sara glances at me quickly, and I nod, keeping her in front of me when we both stand to say goodnight.
"We'll see you at the wedding tomorrow," Sara says, giving her grandpa a quick kiss on the cheek.
"At least there will be cake," he says, winking at me.
Grandma Grace leans in and whispers loudly, "We don't love weddings."
"No?"
"Grandma and Grandpa eloped. So did Mom and Dad," Greta informs me, taking Grace's arm and gazing at her fondly. "Courthouse and then a weekend away for the honeymoon."
"Why waste money on a wedding?" Grandpa Bob says, throwing his hands out to show he thinks it's nonsense.
"Truthfully, we didn't want to wait to start our lives together. It takes time to plan these things." Grace pats Greta's hand and shrugs. "We bought your parents dinner and a cake to celebrate when they got back from their honeymoon."
"And gave us money toward our first house instead of paying for a wedding," Sara's mom adds. "It helped us start our life together."
"To each their own," Grandma Grace says, looking around at the impressive setup tonight.
And this was just the rehearsal dinner.
Sara turns to me after everyone heads off for bed and glances down pointedly at the front of my pants. "Have you got that thing under control?"
"Not possible around you." I grin when she blushes. "Ready to go up?"
Sara shakes her head slowly, but then I hear a soft, "Yes."
Bedroom floor, here I come.