Then it hit me. “You seem happy.”
“I am.” He intertwined our fingers and grinned wide at me. “Feels like a big step to be invited to dinner at your parents’. I’m excited. I love your mom and dad, and I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
“You crossed my mind a few times too.” I beamed at him, loving how he rolled his eyes and pulled me toward him.
“You’re wearing my old shirt.” His nostrils flared, heat in his gaze. “You look really good in it.”
A part of me wanted to seduce Connor, entice him to do more than just kiss me. It was driving me wild that he’d kiss me, get me hot, and then leave. He loved seeing me in his shirts, he always had, and a whoosh of anticipation made me feel warm.
He ran his hand down my side, digging his fingers into my waist as his lips parted. “Laney—”
“Hey, Connor! My man! My son-in-law! My neighbor!”
My dad interrupted the moment. My dear father wore an ugly Christmas sweater with my mom’s face all over it. He had had it custom-made last year and thought it was the funniest thing ever.
“What can I get you to drink? Beer? Wine?”
“Hi, Mr. Whitfield. Good to see you.” Connor held out his hand, and my dad eyed it like a bomb.
“Give me a hug like family, fool.” Then my dad wrapped his arms around Connor. My husband’s gaze found mine over my dad’s shoulder, and he seemed amused. He patted my dad’s back, trying to escape the hug while my dad lingered.
We were lingerers. A hug could last two seconds or thirty, depending on the day.
“Okay, leave the poor guy alone,” I chimed in.
“I missed him. I wanted a hug.” My dad winked at me. “Now, drinks?”
“Beer would be great, thank you.” Connor immediately moved next to me, his cologne and body heat soothing me. “Honey, you want something?”
“I’ll stick with water.”
Connor frowned. “You still not feeling well?”
“This morning was better, but I want to play it safe.” I hated throwing up. It was the worst, and I really didn’t want to throw up again. “I might even have tea.”
“I’ll make it for you.” Connor’s frown deepened, and he kissed the top of my head before disappearing into the kitchen, leaving my dad alone with me in the front hallway.
“You can’t divorce him, Laney.”
“Wow, what happened to supporting me?”
“Of course, we will, but that man is in love with you. Wild about you. It’s easy to see. Are you… feeling better about things with him?”
“I think so, yeah.” I chewed my lip, not expecting my dad to ask me this with Connor in the house. “Could we talk about this later, maybe when he’s not here?”
“Oh. Right.” My dad flinched. “I just like seeing you two happy. That’s all. With you both here in town for so long, it’s been nice hanging out and spending time with you.”
My eyes prickled. I nodded and gave him a quick, two-second hug. “Thanks for being such a good dad.”
“I charge by the hour.”
I chuckled, relieved from the tension that had been building in my shoulders. While I was mostly secure in my feelings about Connor, we still hadn’t discussed work or the fact that I wanted to live here—two hurdles that would be very hard to overcome.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CONNOR
Dinner was amazing. I couldn’t remember the last time we spent time at Laney’s parents’ house, enjoying a nice meal, playing cards, and laughing. Her parents were a complete hoot and kind. A stabbing, guilty feeling ached in my gut over my relationship with my dad, but I refused to let anything ruin this moment.
