I chuckled and cocked my head. “Of course, it’s okay. It’s my birthday dinner, so I want my two favorite people there.” I turned to glance at Jack’s beaming smile. I wasn’t supposed to play favorites in Scouts, but Jack was special even before I fell for his mother. My own nephew never even regarded me the way Jack did—as though I had the answer to any question he ever had, and he hung on my every word. I got high on that just as much as the way Ellie gazed at me. Now, instead of darting away, her eyes stayed when they met mine, and seared right into me.
“Favorite people? You need to get out more.” Ellie laughed as she fastened her seat belt. “I had no idea what to bring, so Jack and I made you a cake.”
“I wrote your name in icing!” Jack yelled from the back.
Ellie giggled. “Yes, Jack worked very hard on those four letters. Right, sweetie pie?” I spied Jack nodding proudly in the rearview mirror.
Ellie, Jack, and I fell into an easy groove. At the Scout Christmas party last month, we were our own little crew. I shrugged off the whispers and side glances from Susan and her friends. We were together and happy, and I couldn’t give a shit what people thought.
A smile curved my lips as I took Ellie’s hand from the Tupperware container on her lap. I kissed the inside of her palm and pulled out of her driveway. “You guys already made this the best birthday I’ve had in years.” I laced our fingers together and rested our joined hands on my thigh.
She pulled her hand from mine and cupped the back of my neck, then leaned over and pressed a lingering kiss to my cheek. “Wait until later tonight; I may have bought something special to wear for the birthday boy,” she whispered in my ear. Her hot breath on my neck combined with the picture in my head made me hard as a rock.
“How about wearing your birthday suit? Fits the theme, and that would be the best giftever,” I whispered back. Even from the corner of my eye, I noticed her cheeks flush. Those freckles owned me—along with the rest of her.
Ellie let out an audible sigh as we climbed the slush-covered front steps to my sister’s house.
“Stop.” I pulled her back by the hand. “It’s not like you’re meeting them for the first time. And David and Marilyn think highly of you. No need for the frown full of worry, Freckles.” I tapped underneath her chin with our joined hands.
She scoffed and dropped her hand before she turned away. “It’s been a long time since I went to visit my boyfriend’s family for the first time. Let me deal with the knot in my stomach in my own way.”
“Say it again.” I snaked my arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“Say what?”
I leaned over and brushed her lips with mine. “Boyfriend,” I whispered against her lips.
She chuckled and pushed me back. “Jack is waiting for us by the door with your cake. Whether they know me or not, the best impression isn’t to have them watch you paw me all night.”
I growled and pulled her closer. “That sounds like a happy birthday to me.”
“Nicky! Stop with the show and get inside.” My grandmother glared at me as she held the front door open.
I draped my arm around Ellie’s shoulders as we made our way up the stairs.
“Are you in trouble,Nicky?” Ellie nudged my side with her elbow.
I looked into her honey-colored eyes. A small ghost of a smile tugged at her lips. That was my smile, the one she gave to only me.
So yes, I was in a shit-ton of trouble.
“Hi, Mrs. Taylor.” David rushed over to give Ellie a hug once we were inside. Marilyn laughed and shook her head behind him.
“You are more handsome every day, David.”
“Of course, he is. He looks like his uncle.” I ruffled the short black curls on the top of his head. My nephew gave her a sheepish grin. I’d always wondered if he had a crush on Ellie and now that I got to know her, I couldn't say I blamed him. He'd outgrow his, but I had the feeling mine was incurable.
“Just don't get full of yourself like your uncle.” Ellie’s mouth twisted in a smirk.
“Dinner’s ready!” My sister called from the kitchen. The boys raced to the table as I wrapped my arm around Ellie’s tiny waist to pull her back.
“I'm not handsome?” I whispered in her ear and grazed my teeth along her earlobe.
“You're exhausting,” she sighed, turning her head to narrow her eyes in my direction. She probably meant to scowl but couldn’t hide the twitch at the corners of her mouth.
“I believe you said I wasgorgeous.” I raised an eyebrow and brushed my lips against hers.
“I was drunk.” The crinkle of her cute little nose made me laugh.
