Lincoln kisses my cheek. “Sounds great to me.”
“As long as Ivy is there, I’m in,” Darcy says.
Simon reaches over with a napkin. “Darcy, don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“I don’t think your family can take any more of me,” I joke. But honestly, as long as I never see this house again, I’ll go wherever they want.
Wherever Lincoln is, is home now.
“I bet Lincoln is making a valiant effort on behalf of us all,” Reed says.
My face heats so fast I’m glad I’m sitting down, because I’m pretty sure there’s not enough blood to make any of my limbs work.
“But I’m hoping to see more of you,” he adds. Of course he would know about the job offer.
I slip my fingers into Lincoln’s, as solid and certain in my hand as my decision to say what I do next. “Then I guess I’ll be seeing you in the office, boss.”
After the congratulations die down, I open a text from Mom.
The Great and Powerful Mom: I love you always, my beautiful girl. I know I can be tough, but I’m always proud of you.
Me: Love you too. Call you tomorrow after we get back. Also, I want you to visit so I can introduce you to my boyfriend.
The Great and Powerful Mom: I’ll need a photo first ;) He better treat you like a queen. You deserve nothing less. Talk to you soon. xoxox
Lincoln returns to the seat beside me, his arm draped around my shoulders. That’s better. “Everything all right?”
“Better than all right,” I say, kissing him.
“Now…” Reed stands. “If anyone else in this family has a secret, I’m going to need you to take it to the grave. Or wait until next year. Lincoln, you’re not allowed another for at least three years.”
Lincoln stares deeply into my eyes. “Then I guess I’ll have to propose now.”
My heart cuts out while I remember how to breathe.
“Don’t even joke about that,” Reed and I say at the same time, and then his brother adds, “Good god, man, at least do it properly.”
I smile up at Lincoln and cup the growing stubble on his cheek. He looks sexy and messy in my favorite jeans and a loose white T-shirt. I want him this way, and every other way I can.
Everything goes kind of soft and fuzzy as I realize what we have ahead of us. More of this. Each other. “You heard your brother,” I tell him as he kisses my palm. “If you’re really going to ask, you better make it good. My last boyfriend once promised me an entire theater.”
“What happened to the little things?” Lincoln asks, gray eyes sparkling.
“I guess I’m greedy.” I reach up and twist a strand of his hair around my finger, knowing everyone in this room can see the way he lights me up. It’s impossible to hide now that I know this is real. “I want everything you can give me, grand and small.”
“Good.” In his eyes is everything I’m feeling returned tenfold, and I know I don’t want to be anyone, or anywhere, else.
DOWN ON MY KNEES
IVY
SHORTLY AFTER
“You’ve never sucked a man’s cock before?”
I blink up, wide-eyed, from where I’m kneeling on the floor, then shake my head.
Lincoln and I love each other, but that doesn’t stop us from finding new and exciting versions to fall for every day.
