“I missed you,” I said, spreading my legs further and pulling her closer, so our bodies were flush. She moaned and squeezed me back before letting go and tracing her hand down my beard.
“I missed you too, but we should try to keep the PDA to a minimum. I got the impression your mom was hoping we’d start officially dating, and I don’t want to give her the wrong impression. Your family is freaking amazing. I’d hate to hurt them when I’m out of the picture.”
She leaned up and gave me a quick peck on the lips before trying to sidestep me. I grabbed her hand and tugged her back. She stopped and smiled, putting a hand on her hip and waiting.
“Wait, a sec. I got you something.”
I reached around and picked up a tiny air plant and handed it to her. “I know you said your day wasn’t great, and that probably meant you lost a patient. I went to that nursery you like, and a guy there said you could keep this plant in a drawer, and it won’t kill it. I’ve never heard of a plant with no roots, but I hope you like it.”
I leaned forward and grabbed the back of her neck, pressing her forehead to mind. “Since I can’t make you feel better by licking your sweet pussy tonight, the least I could do is bring you a plant you could carry around in your purse.”
She took the plant and turned it around in her hands, feeling the fuzzy green leaves, then looked at me with shiny eyes and a bright smile. Her hand reached for my face, and I leaned down and kissed her, trailing both my hands up her arms. Her mouth tasted like the fruity wine she was drinking, and I swiped my tongue across her lips, longing for one more taste before we subjected her to a night with my brothers.
She caressed her tongue with mine, then pulled away and took a step back, pressing a hand to her stomach. She clutched the air plant, and I smiled, hoping it brightened her day.
“Thank you so much, Mark, truly. A plant is exactly what helps me after a hard day, but you’re confusing me with these sweet gestures. Let’s get through tonight, okay? Oh, and remember I’m taking Phoebe in the morning for her spay surgery.”
Jenna reached out and rubbed my arms, then stood up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips to mine again. “You’re a good man, Mark. This made my day. You made my day. Come on, big guy.
She picked up her wine and tray, then headed to the patio like she hadn’t just told me to keep my hands to myself.
I leaned against the counter and picked up the beer, cracking it and taking a long pull. She was right, of course.Was I hoping to pull her on my lap and hand feed her dinner tonight in front of my family like a possessive Caveman?Probably not.
But was I perfectly ready to eat one-handed so I could keep one hand firmly clasped in hers? Where it belonged?Fuck, yes.
I shook my head, grabbed the stuff we needed, and made my way to the porch, opening the door with a groan.
What the fuck’s the matter with me?
I’m the one with the relationship hang-up, and I’m the one that can’t keep my hands to myself.
Maverick was manning the grill, and he held out one hand with a nod as I passed over the plates. Mom stood beside Maverick and headed over to the large Amish wooden picnic table my parents got on a trip to Pennsylvania years ago. My dad customized it by drilling a hole through the center and putting in a huge umbrella, so the patio was comfortable even in the summer heat.
The table sat ten, with mom at the head and dad’s side empty. Miller and Jenna were on one side, and Magnum sat smugly on the other.
Fuck it.
I walked around and sat down beside her, gripping her thigh tightly before letting go and putting both hands on top of the table, like a respectable, single gentleman.
“Oh, Mav,” Mom said, gesturing to a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and daffodils tied together with twine and sitting on a table beside two oversized lounge chairs. “I thought Autumn would like those.” He looked at the flowers and grunted, then focused on the grill like turning the burgers was the most essential task in the world.
“Mom, are those the sunflowers that Cam destroyed? You know, there’s a fine line between a prank and harassment. I’m just a phone call away. Cam should know better than to start shit with you, especially with me being a cop.”
“A traffic cop,” Miller whispered with a grin. I was just about to make a comment about his dick size when a hamburger bun sailed across the table and bounced off his head. Jenna nudged me in the arm and winked. Miller picked up the bun and tore off a bite, stuffing it in his mouth with a mumbled ‘thanks.’
“Well done, Jenna, and that’s not necessary, Marcus. I was the one that started it, I think. I might have lobbed rotten vegetables over the fence. I don’t remember,” Mom said, shrugging her shoulders and passing the burgers over to Miller, who took one and put it on his half-eaten bun.
Jenna smiled and looked at Bev, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. “Okay, Bev. Unless you want me to gross everyone out with my thrilling day of surgeries and appointments, you have to share the name story. Oh,” she said, raising her hand and taking another sip of wine. “And I need to know why your youngest has the only normal name. No offense, guys.”
“None taken,” came the response from my brothers as Mom spoke up.
“Oh, Marcus has a name just as unique as the rest. He’s just the only one that’s lucky enough to shorten it,” Mom said, taking the first burger from Maverick and passing it down the table.
It got to Jenna, and she put lettuce, cheese, and tomato on it, then passed it to me without a second thought, all while keeping her eyes on Mom. I stared at the burger, and Jenna pushed the condiment tray toward me like it was the most natural thing in the world for her to make my burger before she made one for herself. Nothing escaped Mom, it seemed, and her lips turned up in the smallest of smiles as she started talking again.
“When I was pregnant with Maverick, something convinced me I was going to have a girl. Sorry, my favorite,” she said, reaching over and patting him on the shoulder as she passed another plate to us. “Martin knew better—he always knew better. He made a bet with me. He said, if the baby was a boy, I could name him the most outlandish name I could think of, and if the baby was a girl, we could name her after Martin’s mother, Rose.”
Bev smiled and passed another plate. “Naturally, I took the bet because I knew the baby would be a girl and wanted to honor Martin’s mother. I said we would name the baby Maverick because we were watchingTop Gun,and there was no way I was wrong.”
