I have every intention of inviting him to not just come in after bringing me home, but to stay the night as well. I want to sleep with him wrapped around me.
It may be silly, or foolish even to feel this way about a man I just met, but I can’t control it. What’s the line?Matters of the heart don’t make sense?Something like that.
Apparently, this is a matter of the heart. Who’d have thought that the man I met on the dating app I was more than reluctant to download would turn out to be somebody I have an actual interest in.
Both Abby and Jenn are going to lose their minds.
It’s interesting to see Link’s dessert choices. While I went for the chocolate cake and a few macarons, he opted for cheesecake, pumpkin pie, and some peanut butter cookies.
And he packs it all away pretty quickly, on top of the large plate he had for dinner. He must work out because he’s quite fit. That, or he has a metabolism that’s incredibly fast and jealousy making.
While I’m beyond ready to get out of here, I can’t be the first to leave. I have no excuse, as everybody knows there’s no work for me tomorrow and I don’t have kids to get home to bed. But thankfully, the cousins all decide it’s time to get their littles home within ten minutes of finishing their dessert.
They basically eat, drink their coffee, and stand to gather their kids, many of whom are napping off dinner in the living room.
I’ve never been so thankful for them in my entire life, and at one point, I considered each of them my best friend.
I force a yawn and stand, pulling down my skirt to hide the tear in my tights that’s continuing to pull down my leg.
“Actually, Gram. I think we’re going to get going too. I think poor Link here has suffered enough at the hands of the Andersons. I should let him get home.” I walk over to her with Link right behind me.
“You make it sound like we’re a pack of hungry wolves.” She wraps her arms around me as she talks.
I lean back to look at her. “You ladies are a pack of hungry wolves when it comes to me bringing a guy home. He’s the first in years, and while I’m sure you were kind, there are many of you who ask questions.”
She tenses briefly, and I know she gets my message, and not just about what happened at dinner.
“Okay, but don’t be a stranger. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen you, pumpkin. It’s not a far drive for you to come see your dear old gram on the weekend.”
Guilt wraps around my ribs. It has been too long. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
She quickly lets go of me and pulls Lincoln to her. He has to bend to reach her, and she squeezes him tightly. “You take care of my granddaughter now. I may be old, but I’m a tough broad, and I don’t have many fears left in this life.”
“Yes, ma’am…Gram…uh, I will.” It’s quite amusing how flustered Gram seems to make him.
As we’re leaving the house, Link helping me into my coat, he leans into my ear. “No presents? This seems like the sort of family that would go big.”
I look over my shoulder to answer him, leaning back into his chest slightly as his hands run up and down my biceps. “We don’t for the adults anymore. There are too many of us. Just the kids, and they did that earlier before we got here. It’s mostly for Gram’s sake and the aunts.”
A nod and simple ‘hm’ is all I get in response.
Turning in his hold, I push up on my toes, my hands resting on his shoulders as I whisper in his ear, “I’ll give you your present when we get back to my place.”
That seems to get his attention as he straightens, and as I lower to my feet, a darkness overtakes his eyes.
Just as we’re about to make our exit, Gram walks into the foyer and shoves some Tupperware filled with leftovers into my arms, and then hands a few to Lincoln.
“For you both. Pumpkin, call me this weekend, let’s discuss.” She doesn’t need to share more of what she’d like to discuss. Lincoln and I both know it’s this quasi-fake relationship that seems to be becoming a real one.
“Thanks, Gram. I will.” I give her one curt nod and hug the Tupperware closer to my body.
“And you, young man, you are welcome here any time. Take good care of my granddaughter and drive safely.”
“I will, Gram. Thank you for having me in your lovely home. And thank you for the food.” He raises the containers as he says it and puts one hand in his pocket.
She disappears without saying another word, our sign we’ve been dismissed, and Link ushers me out the door.
Once we’re safely in the Mercedes, he leans across the console, taking my chin in fingers and brushing his lips across mine.
