“Yep. The crew. The whole town.” He nodded toward the pub. “Whatever it takes to convince you.”
I gaped at the crowd and slapped his arm. “I can’t believe you!”
“Too much?” he asked seriously.
I smirked. “No, but just wait. I’m going to get you backso hard.”
“Promises, promises.”
A promise I intended to keep, though maybe not in the way he expected.
I hadn’t forgotten Damon’s request to bottom, our first night together. He hadn’t brought it up again. I’d thought at first, maybe he’d just changed his mind. But I’d realized at some point, he was waiting for me to be ready for it.
I’d let Damon fuck me without a second thought. But sinking into his body, knowing I was the first to do so? It had seemed more intimate. I hadn’t wanted to be his first, if he was only going to move on to a second and third.
But now, seeing how far he would go to reassure me—because this wasn’t just a prank, it was a statement—I suddenly wanted nothing more than to pin him down, sinkinto his heat, and introduce him to all the pleasure he’d been missing in his life.
The applause died off, and we started toward our table. We didn’t make it far before Iola, Lula, and Paula intercepted us.
“Hello, boys,” Iola said. “Looks like you’re ready to offer a testimonial for our service now.”
“Matchmaking Mamas works!” Lula called out loudly enough for the pub to hear. “We’re taking new signups!”
“You didn’t really—” Damon started.
I squeezed his hand, and when he looked at me, shook my head. Telling Iola she wasn’t the architect of our love story was a bad move. These ladies were the queen bees of our little town. They traded gossip like currency, and you didnotwant to get on their wrong side.
“Without Matchmaking Mamas, I’d never have dated the right man for me,” I said carefully. “I found my perfect match in Damon.”
Iola smiled triumphantly. “Lovely, dear! We’ll be sure to use you as a featured couple on the website!” She lowered her voice. “Hunter and Clark are great, but they’re old news now that they’re married.”
I bit down on a laugh. Selling out her own grandson for better marketing? Iola was a more savvy businesswoman than anyone credited.
She turned to Damon. “Do you have anything you’d like to add to the testimonial?”
Damon glanced at me. “Maverick is amazing. I just want to be the kind of man he deserves.”
“Aw, so sweet,” Lula said. “You make a great couple.”
“Of course they do,” Iola said with a sniff. “I matched them up!”
Damon rolled his eyes, and I elbowed him. He quickly nodded instead.
“Thanks, Iola,” I said. “I think we’re going to find a table and sit down…”
Hint, hint.
Iola moved aside, but Paula leaned in eagerly. “Before you go, would you consider a testimonial for that Sensual Secrets toy you bought? So many people are too shy to say anything!”
“Imagine that,” Damon muttered.
With a smirk, I glanced at him. I did owe him payback, after all. “What do you think, Damon? Do you have anything to say to Paula about the toy I bought for you?”
He turned red. “Uh, you know, I just really need a drink right now. I’ll go order us something.”
He spun and made a beeline for the bar.
Paula’s expectant smile fell. “Darn it. I really wanted to represent a queer man.”
