“Aye. But I never tire of hearing it.”
And so he made love to me all the while murmuring sex and love words in my ear as he gave me the best lunch hour I’d ever freaking had.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CALLAN
Afew weeks passed. The end of November arrived. We were in the top four in the Pro League standings. Beth and I were better than ever. Things were progressing, slowly but surely, on the deal with Braden. And Gavin hadn’t been in touch since the ban.
It lulled me into a false sense of security.
The Friday before our next game with Perth, I’d joined Beth and her family at one of the restaurants Braden had invested in. It was a Scottish seasonal seafood place that had been around for as long as I could remember. Smart casual. Not too posh. But the food was amazing. Luke and his boyfriend couldn’t make it through from Glasgow, but Elle was there, along with Beth’s parents, grandparents, and her aunt Ellie and uncle Adam.
Adam had been the most difficult of Beth’s uncles to convince I was in it for the long game, and even then, I wasn’t sure I fully had.
We were enjoying ourselves, though.
Conversation flowed easily, and it didn’t surprise me the family got off on teasing one another because that’s how Beth was. If she was gently mocking you, it meant she really liked you.
“You can’t say that, Uncle Adam,” Elle cut into the conversation.
“Say what?”
“You can’t saymasterbedroomanymore. You should know that.”
He’d been talking about a house they were interested in buying in the Highlands as a holiday home.
“I can’t?” He cocked his head in bemusement.
“Nope. It’s primary bedroom now.”
“Did you know this?” Adam asked Braden.
“I did.”
“I can’t keep up with what I’m allowed to say anymore.” He made a face at his wife. “What am Inotallowed to say?”
“Scrotum,” she offered blandly, making everyone choke on their food. Beth’s Aunt Ellie’s lips twitched at our reactions. “What? It’s a terrible word.”
“It’s just a part of the male anatomy.” Elle shrugged. “Scrotum.Scrotum.”
“Why?” Elodie gaped at Joss in despair. “Every time we have a family dinner. Every time.”
Joss looked like she was dying to laugh, and Beth and I shared a look and swallowed our laughter as her mum turned to her wee sister. “Don’t sayscrotumat the table.”
“Aunt Ellie said it first.”
“Moistis a terrible word too,” Beth added, saving her sister.
“Oh, I hate that word,” her aunt Ellie agreed.
“Engorge. I’ve never liked that word,” Clark offered.
“Clark.” Elodie gaped.
“Pustule,” Braden suggested.
Elodie hissed, “We are eating.”
