I don’t have long to dwell on it before Aunt Rosie butts in. “Darcy, there’s a real cute boy in there looking for you. Real helpful fella, and so handsome too. Dreamy, even.”
My eyes flare and I’m struck speechless. Unless Caleb took me up on my invitation, Jake showed up anyway.
“Handsome, cute, and dreamy?” Mom cracks. “I’ve got to see this.”
She pulls me by the elbow to the kitchen and there he is.
I guess I never officially rescinded Jake’s invitation to my family barbecue, and being the ever-reliable guy he is, he’s here.
He’s here getting grilled by my aunties while he washes dishes at the sink. His broad shoulders fill out a t-shirt, and he sports some chino shorts and his signature glowing skin. The charming sun damage strikes again.
“And you said you’re in school at Marshall?” Aunt Sally asks, employing the extremely courteous voice she reserves for people she doesn’t know well.
“Yeah, getting my master’s in engineering. Robotics.” Jake shoots Sally a polite smile that shows those fucking all-American dimples.
“Oh, I bet your girlfriend is very proud of you,” Aunt Susan presses.
Jake lets out a “heh heh” of a laugh, the nervous kind that only boys being interrogated by matriarchs can produce. “Nope, no girlfriend.”
And this is where I need to cut in and save him from auntie hell. I cross the room to stand next to Jake.
“Hey, Aunt Susan, I see you’ve met Jake. Jake, Susan’s son Eli goes to Marshall too. And that Sally over there. Her kids are around here somewhere.”
Jake salutes to greet the freshly introduced inquisition team and turns to me with a delighted smile. “Hey! Been looking all over for you.”
He bends to hug me, holding his hands out behind my back so he doesn’t drip soapy water on me. Mid-hug, he pulls back and kisses my cheek.
Naturally, my face is on fire. Sure, I kissed this guy in public a few days ago. Sure, just the scent of him makes every organ in my body do some sort of dreamy sigh thing. Sure, I’ve had this guy’s privates in my mouth and his most personal of bodily fluids smeared on my body, but I have not gotten affection from him in front of my family.
And certainly not after he pissed me off.
“Wow, didn’t think you were actually coming today. Thought you’d be catching up at the lab,” I try.
“I went early. No one was there so I got a lot done.”
“Oh, okay. Good.” I’m still recovering, breathless and stunned that he’s here. Not just here, but making himself useful. Which he always does, and in this moment, that’s devastatingly hot. “I guess you met my family?”
“Yeah, some of them. But you weren’t kidding. There are a lot of you,” he says conspiratorially. My aunts titter at that. Of course, he’s charming the ever-loving shit out of them.
“Jake sure seems to know his way around the kitchen,” Aunt Rosie adds, and it’s a statement and a question simultaneously.
I give a weak laugh. “Um, yeah, well, he lives out here and the team takes turns making lunches.” I need to get out of this situation and bring him with me. “Jake, did you get something to eat, or did they just put our guest straight to work?”
“Oh, honey, he just jumped right in and started helping. Wouldn’t take no for an answer. A real fine boy,” Aunt Susan says, practically devouring Jake with her eyes. Jake just shrugs.
“Let’s fix you a plate,” I say, handing Jake a towel for his hands before pulling him to the sandwich buffet.
“Nice meeting y’all!” Jake calls as I drag him away.
“I am so sorry about them.” I square him up in front of me. “Good god, you’ve got lipstick on your cheek.”
Jake pats his cheek, a bemused smile on his face. I snatch the towel from his hands, holding it up. “Can I?”
“You’re welcome to touch me any way you want, darlin’,” he grins. “And it’s not my fault I’m auntie catnip.”
I huff at him and he laughs. “You missed my pesterin’. Admit it.”
I squish his cheeks together and wiggle his chin. “I didn’t miss shit.” I throw the dish towel over my shoulder and turn for the kitchen. “Make yourself a plate and meet me outside. Blow a whistle if you get trapped in the ten seconds I’m gone.”
