Clearing her throat, she turns her full attention to Everett. “We haven’t really talked through what this thing between me and Blake is, but I know this must be awkward for you.” He opens his mouth to say something, but she continues before he can refute anything. “If you feel uncomfortable with me staying, I can go. I completely understand.”
Everett sighs. “I’m not going to lie, it’s weird as fuck seeing you together.” He grunts when Emily’s elbow connects with his side. “That’s my truth,” he defends. “But I want to see both of you happy, and if that’s with each other, then I’ll deal with it. Youarewelcome here, Juliet. It might just take me some time to get used to it.”
“That’s fair,” she says. “You’ve done so much for me and Tinsley. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable in your own home.”
“You don’t,” he assures her.
I wrap my arm around her waist, and this time, she relaxes into me as we hear Tinsley’s little feet on the stairs.
Moments later she appears in the entry, dressed in her Frozen pyjamas.
“Rett, will you and Emily read me the next chapter of the Enchanted Forest?” she asks, hopeful.
“Did you brush your teeth?” he asks.
She nods vigorously.
“Okay, pipsqueak. Say good night and let’s go.”
She runs over and wraps an arm around me and her mum. “Night, Blake. Love you, Mama.”
“Love you, too, princess.”
“Sleep tight, Sprout.”
When we’re alone, I tilt Juliet’s chin so she’s looking at me.
“Are you okay staying here?”
Her expression softens, and she nods.
I lean in and kiss her, a firm press of my mouth to hers.
“This has been fast,” I murmur against her lips, “but I’m so gone for you, pixie. I’m not letting you go.”
She fists my shirt, holding me close. “Family drama and all?”
“I’ll take everything if it means I get to keep you and Tinsley. I’m all in.”
Her breath hitches. “Me, too.”
Forcing myself to pull away from her before I do something reckless like take her right here on the couch, I reach over and grab the remote, lining up an episode ofCriminal Minds. She settles into my embrace, our fingers tracing mindless patterns over each other, getting more and more daring when we realise halfway into the next episode that the house is silent, and Everett and Emily have no plans to come back downstairs.
Juliet’s hands trail over the ridge of my stomach, moving lower to toy with the waistband of my jeans, and she whispers, “So, when are you showing me your bedroom, striker?”
I grin, knowing I’m completely done for, and not giving a shit. This woman could ask me for anything, and I’d move Heaven and Earth for her.
Chapter 26
Juliet
The door to Blake’s bedroom is barely closed behind us before his lips are on mine, his tongue pressing into my mouth. His intoxicating scent overwhelms me, and I surrender to him.
Thankfully, we’re at the opposite end of the house from the other two bedrooms, with a bathroom and a small living room separating us.
That doesn’t stop Blake from murmuring in my ear, “You’re going to need to stay quiet, pixie.” His warm breath against my feverish skin causes me to shiver.
I know what we’re doing is reckless, but hearing him say he’s all in with me and Tinsley, regardless of what that entails, sets me alight. This man has been through his own traumas, but he’s determined to face his demons for us, and if he can do that, so can I.
