I’mnota single guy. I’m a singledad. Big difference.
I shower quickly, washing away all traces of all the different ways I had Gina Bradford on my body. A tinge of regret twists in my stomach, but I can’t dwell on it.
Stepping out of the shower, my jaw clenches when I notice a spot on the top of my chest. I can’t wash away a hickey.
We were stone-cold sober last night, and we were ravenous for each other. I remember all the places I marked her with my mouth.
My dick rises when I think of all the places she marked me with hers. Looking down, I see another spot on my lowerbelly, below my navel. I remember her knees beside my ears in a sixty-nine position… Fuck, that was hot.
I scrub the towel over my head and face, doing my best to shove those memories away. I guess it’s a good thing we had a marathon night of sex. Now I’m sated for a little while.
Who am I kidding? I’d do it all again tonight if Gina asked me. If I didn’t have other commitments, that is. Tonight, I’m back on Dad duty.
I pull on a pair of jeans and a fresh T-shirt, scoop up my bag of sweaty clothes, and head down the stairs just in time to hear Shania Twain say, “Let’s go.” It’s followed by the strains of a guitar, and Ladybird immediately joins in, howling at the top of her lungs.
Maddie starts to sing the lyrics to “I’m Gonna Getcha Good” along with Shania, and Ladybird almost sounds like she’s trying (and failing) to hit the notes as well.
My eyes go like a laser to Gina, who is on the couch with her hands clasped in front of her face laughing. Maverick stands behind the couch, laughing as well.
Spanky dances around in front of his friend, lifting his front feet off the floor and seeming confused by all the howling.
Heather stands beside the fireplace with Haddy, who must’ve walked over while I was in the shower, and the two of them are fawning over Baby Lucy.
I pause on the stairs to take in the scene. They’re all so happy together. They fit… the same way Gina’s body fit with mine. Something moves in my chest, but I rub my palm over my forehead. Clearly, I’m letting the psychic mess with my mind.
These are all likeable people. Of course, they get along. It doesn’t mean matrimony.
The song ends, and my daughter hops off the couch to hug Ladybird.
“You have a beautiful voice, LB!” she cries, and our dog responds with a firm lick across her face, which makes her fall back laughing.
Gina gives her a warm look before going to where my sister is standing with her cousin.
“Owen told us you’re a tarot reader,” Haddy says, blue eyes wide. “You’ve got to read Gina’s cards!”
“Okay…” I don’t like the conspiratorial tone in my sister’s voice. “I’d really like that.”
Gina breaks in. “What we’vegotto do is finalize these wedding details, Haddy. We’re running out of time.”
“Sounds like I got here just in time,” Heather teases. “You want that reading now?”
“Let’s put a pin in that,” Gina says, then she explains how she tried to get a venue booked, but they wouldn’t budge on their schedule.
“Why don’t we just do it in Newhope?” Maverick calls from where he’s standing behind the couch. “You can do it on the bluff where your parents got married… sorry, where they renewed their vows.”
My sister frowns, looking at her new friends, and Haddy quickly explains. “They got married here in LA at the Justice of the Peace. Then they went back and did it again with the family. That’s actually not a bad idea, Mav… Do you think we could?”
Gina looks like she just swallowed a goldfish. “You’re trying to kill me.”
Haddy’s brows rise, but she grabs her cousin’s arm. “Clint can help us… and all the aunts will pitch in. You know they’d love it.”
“Who’s Clint?” Heather asks, blinking from one to the other.
“He’s our uncle Craig’s husband, and one of the best wedding planners on the Eastern shore,” Haddy explains.
“What about Gavin’s family?” Gina’s voice is strained.
“Newhope is closer than LA,” Haddy says. “Just see what Aunt Dylan says.”
