“I love it here. I love your family.”
“They loved having you here too.”
“Austin,” she whispered.
“Yeah, darlin’?”
“Do you think we’ll see each other again after this weekend?”
I flattened my palm against her back, holding her tighter. “I sure as hell hope so.”
Chapter Thirteen
Makenna
I’d had moments of regret in my life. Everyone had something they wished they’d never done or said. But I could never imagine Austin Moore being thrown into the regrets column of my life. He’d been nothing but kind and even sweet at times, something I never would’ve expected when we first met.
I crossed my legs, placing my hand on my stomach as it growled for the third time in less than five minutes. The house smelled like heaven. When he said his grandmother was a good cook and we’d get a great meal out of the trip, I wasn’t expecting something like this. There were dozens of bowls and pots filled with different sauces, pastas, lasagna, sausage, meatballs, and things I’d only seen in restaurants.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Izzy said as she stood near me, James practically glued to her. “Ma’s been cooking all day.”
“She didn’t have to go to all this trouble,” I told her, my eyes moving across the kitchen counter where there wasn’t a spot not filled by something to eat. “It’s a lot of work for someone her age.”
Izzy’s eyebrows shot up. “Her age?” She laughed, covering her mouth.
“You better not let her hear you say that,” Austin whispered at my side. “Gram may be older, but she can whip everyone’s ass in this room with a single glance.”
“Is she like a mental ninja?” I chuckled, finding my sense of humor funny, but no one else laughed.
He placed his hand on my leg, squeezing my knee. “She’s the queen bee and the one in the family you don’t cross.”
I slid my hand up to my chest. “I wasn’t crossing her. I was just saying…”
He lowered his head, getting close to me. “She’s older. We know it. She knows it. But for the love of God, do not tell her that.”
“What are you talking about?” his grandmother said as she walked into the living room, standing next to Izzy and James. “It got quiet in here real quick.”
“We’re just talking about how hungry we are,” Austin said, smiling up at the beautiful older woman. “I’ve been waiting for this meal for a year.”
The kind woman, the one he called hisgrameven though they weren’t related, smiled down at him with so much admiration and love. “I cooked all your favorites, baby.”
“You spoil me,” he told her, reaching for her hand and kissing the top. “I’ve missed you the most.”
She laughed and then swatted his hand away from hers. “You’re smooth, but a liar too.”
He chuckled, shaking his head as she marched back into the kitchen, towel thrown over her shoulder.
Izzy wrapped her arms around her middle across James’s where he held her. “She has your number, Austin. Always has.”
“She loves me.” He beamed.
“We all do for some odd reason.” Izzy turned her head, gazing up at her handsome husband. “Is the other surprise here yet?”
She looked at him like he was the only man on earth. The same way my mother stared at my father. There was nothing but love between them, and it showed to everyone who was looking.
“Any minute, Iz. Everything’s in place.”
The smile was still on her face when she turned back to face us. “The day is going to be even better.”
