“Because Thursdays are poker night,” Presley recited, laughing. “You’ll have a blast with the ladies.”
“I will.”
I was grateful for the invitations. When you were single, holidays could be tricky, but the Diamonds had taken me in for the past two years. I was grateful and yet ever aware of being the odd girl out. Always.
“Let’s get to the wedding details,” I said, having chomped down two cookies. They’d gotten me through the topics I was less comfortable about. I was more than ready to talk about the subject I was confident about. “Have you checked out those photographer websites yet?”
Chapter Nineteen
Luke
Wednesday night was the first opportunity I got to see Magnolia again. The week so far had nearly driven me out of my skin with wanting to see her, touch her, reassure myself that last weekend was real, but not surprisingly, my busy life had other things to say about that.
I’d kissed Addie good night, told my dad I was going out, and driven straight to Magnolia’s apartment. I wasn’t ashamed to admit I’d been here less than five minutes when I had her naked and under me. She didn’t protest.
We’d both just come apart simultaneously, telling me we were perfectly in tune with each other. I rolled sideways and pulled her into me as I caught my breath.
“That was quite a hello,” Magnolia said with a satisfied grin.
I laughed. “So how’s your week been, since we skipped the small talk earlier?”
“Better now. Yours?”
“So much better now, and I’ve had a decent week so far as it is.”
“Yeah?” she purred lazily, running her finger back and forth over my chest.
“West and I got all the drywall finished last night. Wiring’s done. Water line is run. I need to paint and do a dozen other tasks, but we’ve got complete walls.”
“That’s exciting, Luke. How does it look?”
“Not like my old barn,” I said. “In a good way.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“Come out anytime.”
“I just might. But does your family know about us?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I didn’t want to jump the gun.”
She nodded. “I told Presley, because I tell Presley almost everything. She won’t talk though.”
“Are we a secret?” I asked.
“Not on purpose. It wouldn’t take much for someone to see your truck outside and figure it out. It’s different when it comes to your family though.”
“Right. I’ll have to figure out when and how to let Addie know. I haven’t dated much.”
“That’s your call,” she said. “I can handle being hidden away for a while if you want to protect her.”
I shook my head. I didn’t want to hide Magnolia away, not for any longer than necessary. I believed I could talk to Addie and set her expectations so she wouldn’t jump ahead to me getting married or her having a stepmom. I’d let Jessie know I was introducing our daughter to someone I cared about, just to be transparent, but I didn’t expect her to object. My bigger hesitation was Magnolia herself.
Though we’d texted every day since Saturday, we were in that awkward period where it was too early to call it a relationship. Not without a conversation first. As ready as I was to jump in with both feet, I was doing my best to take it one day at a time as we both made the mental adjustment from hating each other to sleeping together.
“We’ll play it by ear,” I said, determined not to overthink it. “I’ll be right back.”
I headed for the bathroom. When I came back, Magnolia had crawled under the blankets and held them up for me to join her, giving me another view of her body. That’s all it took for me to want her again, but just like I could be an adult and enjoy dinner before jumping to dessert, I could spend time with Magnolia without ravishing her. Well, at least for a few minutes and after I’d had my way with her once, I thought with a grin.
