I chuckle, which drags me dangerously close to slipping out of her. “I think I could eat, too.”
She hesitates. “Was that okay? Like I said, it’s been a really long time for me.”
“Haze.” I kiss her head and stroke my hand down the length of her hair. “It wasn’tokay. It was perfect.”
“Okay.” Her lips curve again. “Good.”
I know I need to get up before we make a mess all over Hazel’s bed, but I don’t want to break the connection. Not yet. So instead, I mention one of the other thoughts that’s been floating around in my head.
“I was thinking,” I say, “about the holidays. We do Thanksgiving Day here, but I go to my parents’ for the weekend. It’s just easier for my sister and brother-in-law, with their work. And I was wondering… would you like to come with me? Meet my family?”
Hazel sucks in a breath.She goes still in my arms. After a long pause, she asks, “You would want me to meet your parents?”
“Of course. They’ll love you. And I might be biased, but I think my family is pretty great. Embarrassing at times, and I’m sure my mom will make you look at all my old baby pictures. But great, just the same.”
“What about… Well. Wouldn’t it be dangerous? For them? If I go?”
“I’m sure we’ll have everything worked out by then. And if not, they’ll come here, instead.”
“Alec. You can’t ask your family to come here for Thanksgiving just because of me.”
I hug Hazel to me and kiss her head again. “Yes. I could. And I would. Because I want you to meet them. And trust me. My mom’s already thrilled that we’re dating. So?—”
Hazel jerks her head up, nearly smashing me in the chin. “You told your mom about us?”
“I did. Is that okay?”
She nods. “It’s okay.”
“I told her how great you are,” I explain. “How smart and sweet and beautiful and brave you are. And how much I like you.”
“Alec.”
“She can’t wait to meet you. Wherever it is. Boston. Bliss. Alaska. Siberia. Trust me, she’s so thrilled I’m with you, she’ll go anywhere. And my dad and sister will be happy to make the trip, too.”
A belated thought strikes me. “Unless you’d rather not go back to Boston. With all the memories. Wecan have Thanksgiving at my place instead. That’s not a problem.”
Hazel stares at me for a few seconds. Her eyes go damp.
Shit. Did I make her cry?
Panic surges through me.
Shit. We just had sex—amazing sex—and now I’m ruining the moment by making Hazel cry. “Sorry,” I hurry to add. “We don’t have to. If it’s too soon?—”
Her chin wobbles. Then she kisses me hard. “I would love to meet your family, Alec. I can’t wait.”
Oh.
Turns out my mom wasright, after all.
CHAPTER 13
HAZEL
“We’re not makingenough progress on Hazel’s case.”
Alec’s features are like stone as his gaze sweeps around the conference table. A muscle in his jaw ticks and I can practically hear his teeth grinding. “What happened last night is unacceptable,” he continues. “We need to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
