“We need to talk. First play, but then talk.” His brow furrowed. “Or we can wait until after dinner. When our guests have gone home.”
The reality of tonight hit my square in the chest. “Maybe—” I blinked. “—maybe we can just cuddle?”
He scratched my scalp. “Yes, pup. Of course. But maybe not on the floor?”
I scrambled off him as carefully as I could. “Sorry.”
He rose with grace. “No need to apologize. I like that you’re expressing your needs to me. That makes me feel good.”
“Oh.” I frowned, almost as if I didn’t understand. Because maybe I didn’t. “I’m not good at this.”
After moving to the sectional, he organized some pillows in the corner and put a couple of blankets next to them. Then he sat and held out his arms.
I dove into them. I gave him my biggest smile before I tucked myself against his chest. After he pulled the blankets over us, I sighed.
“That’s right, pup. Just relax. Talking can come later.”
Within moments, despite my assertion I was too wired for sleep, I fell into a deep slumber.
A buzzing sound woke me, and I had a moment of disorientation until I registered the solid chest beneath my head.
“I have to get up, pup. That’s the timer for the oven.”
Slowly, I rolled off him and disentangled myself.
Just before I pushed off him, he pressed a soft kiss to my temple. “All’s well, okay?”
I met his gaze. “Yeah. Okay.” With that, I rose. “I want to have a shower.”
“Absolutely. I’ll get the lasagna organized and then make the salad. Our guests will be here in about an hour. No time at all.”
I wrung my hands.
He grabbed them. “You did an amazing job this afternoon. Breaking bread is a tradition as old as time. A way to share a meal and get to know your new family.”
“Yeah.”What I really want is to you to be part of that family as well.Too soon for any of that. Hell, maybe never. He’d said nothing about me staying beyond a few days. Time for me to get to know my sisters, brother, and their families. That thought totally overwhelmed me. Reluctantly, I released his hands and headed upstairs.
Half an hour later, I was downstairs and setting the formal dining room table as the kitchen table only sat four people. I eyed the monstrosity. “How often do you entertain this number of people?” The darn thing sat twelve and was the largest I’ve ever seen in a private home.
Zahir chuckled. “Not often. Never, now Marty’s gone. This room was his domain. I preferred intimate dinner parties with just another couple. In here—with all these people—I struggled to keep up with the various conversations.”
“Shouldn’t be too bad tonight, right? Just the six of us?”
“Yes, we should be fine. Are you ready?”
“Emotionally or physically? I mean, I got through earlier and this is just a continuation. I’m hoping to learn more about Keegan and Alaina. My niece and nephew. That feels weird to say.”
“Because of the fact they’re white or—”
I shook my head. “No. They’re Demetrius and Jai’s children. The rest doesn’t matter. I just meant that, growing up as an only child, Inever thought I’d have a niece or nephew. The kids in Texas are too young to be parents—and I have no interest. I suppose I should reach out…”
“To what end?” Zahir cocked his head. “If they don’t know about you—and it sounds like they don’t—you’ll likely be causing more harm that doing good. They’re likely grieving their father. Why ruin the illusion?”
“That was my thought. Except I would’ve wanted to know.”
He squinted. “True. But you’re also grieving your mother and feeling alone in the world. Perhaps they feel that way, but there’s a good chance they don’t.”
“Right. I suppose Demetrius will have a say now as well.”
