She cocks her head as if that’s even a question. “Look at that girl. Do you honestly think she doesn’t? My big sister is smitten.”
I search for Collie on the dance floor, finding her pretty blues already on me. She blows me a kiss behind Jones’ back, and my eyes close softly, feeling overwhelmingly taken aback by my love for her.
“She adores you, Easton.”
I know she does. I feel it.
“I want you to know I’m in no rush, Capri. I’m not going to ask for your blessing yet, but please know I will be when the time comes. You and Mr. Meadows. I want us to take our time together. Learn everything there is to know about being in love. True and genuine love. Even the love that requires sacrifices. We’ve got our whole lives for marriage. Besides, our girl has a fitness studio to run.”
“I admire that. It’s comforting to be another world away, knowing she has someone in her life who has her best interestat heart. After everything her boss put her through, Collie deserves a win.”
“And I’m gonna help her make that happen.”
Capri pulls me into a tight squeeze before releasing me. “Let’s go find the lucky fuckers.”
My laughter sneaks up on me. I was waiting to see a bit of Collie pull through Capri.
There it is.
“I must say, Mr. Voss, you look quite dapper in that suit. Navy blue is very much your color.”
I’ve spent all day being polite and carrying on conversations with Collie’s family, but right now, all I want is her lips on mine.
“Can I kiss you, Collie?”
Her face lifts as I hold her close. I tuck her blonde locks behind her ear and use one hand to cup the side of her perfect face. “Joy Of My Life” by Chris Stapleton plays softly from the speakers, the last song of the night, and it couldn’t be more perfect for this moment between us.
She is the infinite joy of my life.
“Gimme those lips, Ranger.” My mouth links with hers in seconds, our souls syncing for the world to see. This connection right here is worth every tribulation I’ve ever faced.
We don’t make a show of it, just kiss each other with the softest passion. The world stops when we touch. When we let our bodies express what words struggle to articulate.
Collie pulls back, eyes fluttering open to peer into mine. “Did you ever tell them how great a kisser I was?”
I smile big, placing one soft kiss on the tip of her nose. “Only so many times they asked to test you out for themselves. Pieces of shit,” I groan.
Her head falls back in laughter, and I want so badly to kiss up the length of her neck. “I bet you loved that, huh?”
“Had to teach my boy Suede a lesson about keeping his lips away from my girl.”
“I want to meet your friends.”
“You will. They want to meet you. So do my parents. And Sydney. And Palmer,” I murmur at the top of her head, her cheek resting at the center of my chest as we dance. “We’ve got time, baby.”
“You leave in two days.”
I know she’s anxious, and I hope to do everything I can to ease her worries. I’ll make it my life’s mission. “Just trust me, okay?”
“Okay.”
39
EASTON
“Keepthose eyes shut or no sexting for a week.”
That’s a pretty legit threat. The blindfold around my eyes is so tight, my circulation feels threatened. “No threats when you still owe me a date for my last win, beautiful. Nice try. But I’ll behave.”
