I rubbed her butt affectionately as I stepped behind her, pressing a kiss to her cheek as well.“No pressure, of course.”
But it was impossible not to see the way her eyes lit up with pure excitement when I said how I hoped Sam’s mother would fall in love with me too.Because that was the truth.Yes, this was new, and I was still dealing with a bit of guilt over caring for someone besides Erin.But, I also knew that what Danica and I had was good.It was rare, and it was wonderful.And Erin would want me to be happy.She said so before she passed.Just like I would want the same for her.So even though I still had some guilt to work through, I wasn’t going to let it muck up what had the potential to be something truly amazing.
And that was Danica St.Claire and her incredible daughter.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Danica
“I’mfine,Mom,”Samsaid Sunday night after all the dinner dishes were cleared and we were sitting around Gabrielle’s table with full bellies from such an amazing Easter dinner.“It’s the start of spring break anyway.No school tomorrow, remember?”
I snapped my fingers.“Right.I totally forgot.”
She rolled her eyes.“Go have your sleepover.”
My cheeks grew warm as eyes around the table fell on Tom and me, sitting next to each other, his arm draped casually around the back of my chair.He’d periodically play with my hair, and I loved it.
I had yet to get over the surrealness of the entire thing.Mewith a boyfriend.And not just any boyfriend; a handsome, caring, compassionate, patient man who gave me orgasms like it was his sole purpose in life.
“I don’t have to,” I said again.
“Just go.But remember to come back and get me tomorrow.I promised Raven and Midnight I’d be back tomorrow.”
Damon, Gabrielle’s son, snorted.“I don’t think they’ll know.”
Sam faced her cousin, eyes serious.“Oh, they’ll know.And I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Most of the adults chuckled.
The kids excused themselves from the table, and the men all went into the kitchen to tidy up.It was actually really great sitting at the table with my cousins while Tom, Maverick, and Jagger joked and chatted between themselves as they washed and dried.It was male bonding in such a normally female-dominated environment, and we were all really happy just to sit back and spectate while drinking our wine.
“Guess you haven’t had much need for that package that arrived on your doorstep on Friday, huh?”Gabrielle asked, her amber eyes glittering with mirth.“Considering you’re over there every morning forhispackage.”
I gave her a look.“Keep your voice down.”
“They’re busy talking away in there.”She waved her hand to dismiss me.
“And we’re all adults,” Raina added.“Adults who were sexually repressed for way too many years, and are now making up for lost time.”
“Except me,” Naomi chimed in.“I’m not making up for lost time.”
“Because you have your friend with benefits and have for a few years,” Gabrielle replied.
Naomi shook her head.“Nope.Not anymore.He left in June last year and moved to the mainland.Remember?”
We all shook our heads.
She was, of course, referring to the eleventh grade science teacher at the high school, Killian McIntosh.He and Naomi had a very casual affair for a couple of years.It was all about scratching itches with none of the feels.Or so Naomi said.And I was inclined to believe her, because if there’d been any feelings involved, she would have told us it had been over ten months since she last saw him.She wasn’t one to normally keep that stuff to herself.
“Nobody new floating your boat?”Raina asked.
Naomi frowned.“Nope.”
“Well, now that Danica’s with Mr.Moneybags in there, we need to work on finding you a man.”Raina sipped her wine.“Slim pickings on the island, I’m afraid.Danica grabbed the last eligible bachelor, and Gabs had to go with an import model.”
“We can hear you, you know,” Maverick said with a smirk in the kitchen, a tea towel slung over his left shoulder.“Though, I’m fine being compared to a car.As long as it’s something sexy like an Audi or a sleek BMW.”
My cousins and I all rolled our eyes.
