He tucked his hands in his pockets and grinned at me. I took that as a yes. I also memorized the sight of him standing in his kitchen in a blue t-shirt and faded jeans with his hands tucked in his pockets and his feet bare.
It was an image I wouldn't mind seeing regularly for the next forty or fifty years. Or maybe forever.
"Thanks for an amazing weekend, Brody," I said, still backing toward the front door.
"I thank that's my line," he replied.
"You talk about yourself in the third person?" I asked. "That's kind of weird."
"If you want to make it out that door, you'd better stop looking at me like that. And stop being funny."
My only reply was to laugh and slip out the front door. I hadn't even made it to the edge of the porch before the front door flew open and Brody grabbed me. He pinned me against one of the posts that supported the porch and kissed the daylights out of me.
"I'm walking you to your car," he said, both of us breathing heavily.
"Okay."
Brody stepped back and put his hand on the small of my back. He literally walked me to my car and opened the door for me.
Once I'd sat down and started it, I looked back up at him. "Bye, Brody."
"Bye, Cam."
He shut the door and watched me from the sidewalk as I pulled away from the curb. I knew better than to fall into a serious relationship in such a short amount of time, but it was so difficult to resist the temptation.
I knew I wouldn't be doing myself or Brody any favors by jumping into this with both feet. He had a little girl to consider. And I had to be smart. Brody meant a lot to my entire family, not just me. If we got hot and heavy too soon, we'd be asking for trouble.
* * *
I had totally forgottenabout Sunday lunch with my parents. For the first time in years, I didn't show up without making previous plans.
I was in the middle of a shower when my cell phone rang. It hit me then. It was Sunday, well into mid-afternoon. And I hadn't gone to Sunday lunch with my parents.
I slipped getting out of the tub and nearly faceplanted on the floor of the bathroom. Cursing, naked, and soaking wet, I scrambled to the counter where my phone sat. Sure enough, my mother's name was on the screen.
I hesitated before I picked it up. She wasn't going to be happy with me. But any irritation she felt now would only be amplified if I ignored the call and returned it in a half-hour.
I took a deep breath and released it before I picked up the phone.
"Hey, Mom. I'm sorry about today."
"I'm guessing you spent the weekend with Brody since he didn't show up today either."
I bit my bottom lip. "Um...."
"Cameron, you are a grown woman. I'm not going to take you to task for having a boyfriend. Or spending the weekend with him. Though I would ask that next time, you let me know in advance so I don't make enough food to feed eight people and then have only three show up."
"I won't."
"And please, for the love of God, tell me you're using protection."
I sighed. "Yes, Mom."
"Don't take that tone with me, Cameron Diana McClane."
"Sorry."
"Should we expect both of you next week?" she asked.
