“Pastor Avery, thanks so much for stopping by. I’m glad you were able to have a meal with us at the B & B,” she said sweetly as she walked the man to the door. “I know you must get to your next appointment. So, I’m not going to keep you any longer.”
He barely had a chance to say goodbye to everyone before her mom practically shoved him out the door.
Cree chuckled. Her mother hadn’t mastered the art of being subtle, and clearly, she had changed her mind about him and Cree hooking up.
“Tristan, I hope you’re hungry,” Virginia said when she strolled back into the kitchen smiling. “Let me fix you a plate, and then we can get to know you better. I want to know your intentions for my daughter.”
Cree groaned. Oh no.
Chapter Twenty
“I know I said it before, but I’m sorry about my mom and her intrusive questions,” Cree said as they strolled down the hallway that led to her condo.
She lived in Hyde Park, a neighborhood in Chicago, and Tristan was looking forward to seeing her living space. Before leaving his place earlier in the day, she had suggested he spend the night with her. Of course, he agreed.
“I had no idea she’d ask about your dating life,” Cree continued. “And please don’t feel like you have to set up a time for her to meet your family. We’re not kids, and she doesn’t need to vet the people I associate with. I think she forgets her children are grown, and she’s just… she’s a lot.”
Tristan laughed and gave Cree a kiss on the lips when they stopped in front of her door. “I liked your mom. Hell, I enjoyed the whole family. At least the ones I met today. I’m all for our families getting together because I know my parents would love yours. So no worries, but I will say, when your mom started planning our wedding, I did get a little nervous.”
Cree groaned and rested her forehead on his chest. “And you wondered why I didn’t want a big wedding years ago.” She lifted her head. “It wasn’t just because I was your agent and wanted to keep our nuptials quiet. No, it also had to do with my mother. I know her. She gets an idea in her head and runs with it, which is what she’d do if we ever decided to have a big wedding. Which I don’t want by the way.”
“Well, when that day comes,” and Tristan hoped it would be sooner than later, “we can exchange vows however you want. My number one goal is to make sure my woman is happy.”
Tristan backed her against the door before kissing her again. This time, it wasn’t just a little peck. This lip-lock was hot, sexy, and a prelude to things to come tonight. They’d touched, hugged, and even stole a few kisses while at her parents’ house, and all it did was make him long for more.
When he ended the kiss, Cree was slow to open her eyes, and a sweet smile covered her luscious lips as she did.
“Damn, you’re a good kisser,” she said before turning to unlock the door. Once inside, she told him to make himself at home, and Tristan planned to.
He glanced around the lavishly decorated space as Cree went about turning on lights. The large, open floor plan gave a view of the high-end kitchen, as well as the dining room and living room to his right. The walls were light gray and covered with colorful, abstract paintings. A white sectional dominated the living room, and a glass table with six, high-back chairs filled the dining area.
After a quick tour of the main floor, they headed upstairs. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom condo was definitely larger than he first realized, and he could see why Cree loved the place.
Tristan followed her into the master bedroom, and the moment he stepped into the room, he inhaled Cree’s intoxicating scent. It was one thing to smell the fragrance on her body, but it was a whole different experience to be surrounded by it. The combination of lavender, vanilla, and something spicy drew him farther into the space.
Like the rest of the place, it was beautifully decorated with a gray and white color scheme that captured Cree’s personality. Sophisticated. Soft, and the purple, leather headboard with pops of deep purple scattered about the room added a little edginess to the space. It was inviting and made him want to curl up with his woman right after he made mad, passionate love to her.
“I’ll be right out,” Cree said before entering the ensuite bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Tristan set his duffel bag in the chair near the window and yawned. He couldn’t be tired. The night was still young, and he had big plans for his beautiful woman. He was also looking forward to testing out her bed.
He sat on the edge of it and made quick work of getting out of his shoes, socks, shirt, and pants. Which he tossed into the chair with his duffel. That left him in navy blue boxer briefs, but maybe he should lose those too. The way Cree had been flirting with him on the way to her place let him know they both wanted the same thing tonight—each other naked.
Another loud, noisy yawn poured from him, and Tristan dropped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. What a day. As he thought about the events of the last twelve hours, a smile kicked up the corners of his mouth. It was hard to believe he and Cree had reconciled. They were a couple again, and he was thrilled because deep down he knew they’d make it this time.
Tristan just had to try not to rush everything. He wanted them to remarry, find a house, have a few kids, and then live happily ever after. It wasn’t an inconceivable dream, but Cree was not one you could rush. Even if she felt the same as he did, she’d want to take things slow and ease back into their relationship.
As he settled deeper into the comfortable mattress, his eyes drifted closed. All the busyness of the day faded away, and a calmness settled over him. It was as if the quietness, the amazing fragrance in the room, and the bed were lulling him into a state of tranquility that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Yeah, he’d just lie there for a few minutes and soak it all in until…
“Tristan?”
He slowly opened his eyes, then lifted onto his elbows. What he saw had him blinking several times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.
“Wow,” he whispered, taking in the angel standing before him. And by angel, he really meant the most alluring supernatural being on this side of heaven.
Was he dreaming? Maybe he had dozed off. Either way, if this was a fantasy, he didn’t want to wake up. Ever. Playing professional football over the years, he’d been approached by his share of gorgeous women, but no one compared to Cree.
