We talked a few more minutes about Laura and the rest of the party. I thought I was home free until Stacyee asked, “Veronica, did you at least get your midnight kiss?”
“She got a kiss alright,” Brooklyn murmured. When I glared at her, she shrugged. “What?”
“No comment.” I stood. “Let’s go eat.”
Without another word, I made my way to the massive dining room. Scanning the area, I marveled at my family.
To my right, Jordan’s grandparents were setting up the dessert table. Kennedi’s Aunt Anny was adjusting the table settings. On the far end of the room, Parker and Carter were on kid duty. Kennedi strolled into the room holding a punch bowl and Bryson was right behind her with bottles of wine.
“Oops.” Brooklyn picked up the box of flatware sitting on the table. “I guess we should have been here sooner.”
“I better help bring the food out.” Jordan rushed into the kitchen.
Stacyee moved toward the table. “And I’ll just sit and get ready to eat.”
“Veronica?” Bryson motioned to the table. “Sit. It’s still your birthday.”
“I can help,” I told him.
“Not today.” He winked and poured wine into a glass. “We got this.”
In that moment, emotion threatened to spill over as tears filled my eyes.
Before my father died, I could count my family on one hand. Now, I had brothers, sisters, sisters-in-love, a brother-in-love, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends who were more like family. The people around me didn’t judge me or make their problems my problems. They just loved me.
“Are you okay?”
I jumped, turning to find Juke standing next to me, a smile in his eyes. My gaze dropped to his lips. “Hi,” I breathed. “I’m okay. Just thinking about how different my life is.”
He searched my eyes. “I hope that’s a good thing.”
“It is.” I gave him my bestI’m-not-really-cryingsmile. “I almost have everything I’ve ever wanted. And I feel extremely blessed.”
One tear spilled from my eyes.Dammit, I’m crying.
He brushed the tear from my cheek and ran his thumb over my chin. “I get it. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. All of this family, all of this love.”
I tilted my head and studied him. His Granny had passed away several years ago. I knew from our many conversations that he didn’t have much family, other than a few cousins scattered across the country and a brother he didn’t talk to at all. Just like me.
“Overwhelming in a good way?” I asked.
Nodding, he agreed. “Exactly.”
The concern in his gaze quickly morphed into something else. Heat. And I felt it all over me, from the crown of my sore head to the tips of my toes. Slowly, I exhaled to center myself, to prevent any unfortunate mishaps, like me trying to kiss him again and him… planting another forehead kiss on me.
With his eyes on mine, hypnotizing me with their intensity, he leaned forward. “Ronnie, can we talk?”
“Alone?” I blurted out loudly. I glanced around the room to see if anyone had caught that. When I noticed that no one was even paying attention to us, I turned back to him. “I mean… now?”
“Ronnie?” His voice was a low rumble, a soft plea that pierced my heart.
And my heart wasn’t the only thing affected by him. My body was buzzing with desire and need, something I hadn’t felt in… ever.
“Please?” he whispered.
That last word did me in. Because I wanted to go with him. Iwouldgo with him anywhere. Even though I still was low-key irritated with him for that non-kiss, even though I knew we probably needed to have a conversation about it, even though I wanted to know more about Laura and that entire scene at the bar.
“I—”
