Page 78 of Talk Wicked to Me

“That’s because Ashley told him not to tell you,” his mother said.

“That sprite had you all wrapped around her little finger,” his grandfather said.

Baz laughed softly. “Yeah, she sure did.”

Emerson put her hand on his leg. She’d done that a few times during dinner, and he ate up that touch, just as he’d soaked in every time she’d initiated any other touch or kiss over the last few days. He hadn’t been sure she’d feel comfortable being openly affectionate at dinner with his family, and man, he was glad she was. He covered her hand with his and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Might as well push the envelope.

She blushed, but her smile told him she didn’t mind.

“Emerson, what’s this I hear about cookies, and why haven’t you made me any yet?” his grandfather asked.

“Pops, you can’t have sugar,” his father reminded him.

His grandfather made an irritated sound and leaned forward, speaking low. “Don’t listen to him. You sneak me some cookies, and I’ll tell you more family secrets.”

“How about you tell me those secrets, and I’ll make you sugar-free cookies that will blow your mind?” Emerson suggested.

His grandfather scoffed. “You’re just like all the others, trying to pull one over on me.”

“I’m not pulling anything over on you,” Emerson said. “It’s no skin off my back if you don’t want to try my mom’s famous sugar-free salted caramel snickerdoodles.”

His grandfather’s eyes widened. “Did you say salted caramel?”

Everyone laughed, and the rest of the evening passed with lighthearted conversation. When Brennan stirred and Emerson got up to get him, she knocked her drink over, soaking her shirt. “I’m so sorry.” She reached for napkins as his mother said, “It’s just juice,” and grabbed a dish towel. His father scooped up Brennan, and Baz took off his shirt, holding it out for her. “Here, darlin’. Go put this on. I’ll clean up.”

“That’s one way to get your man’s clothes off,” his grandfather said.

Baz was just about to admonish him for making fun, when Emerson said, “Well, it’s only fair, since he took my pants off the first day we met,” inciting more laughter.

She was fucking unreal, and he was dying to show her how much he adored her.

After she changed her shirt and nursed Brennan, his family took turns loving up her little boy, and man, that did things to his emotions.

When his grandfather carried Brennan into the living room, Baz started to follow, then thought better of it and stayed back, listening from the threshold as his grandfather doled out life advice far too old for a baby.

“There are four rules you need to know. Be good to people. Unless they’re assholes. Then do whatever the situation dictates. Treat girls with respect. They’re smarter than us, and they figure things out way before we do. They’ll one-up ya every time, and that can be embarrassing. Best just to listen to ’em. Now, this is important, so don’t you forget it. Be good to your mama. I know you’re gonna rile her up throughout the years, and that’s okay. But before you put that little head of yours on your pillow at night, you make peace with her. You hear me? You never know how many tomorrows either of you have left, and mark my word, she’ll spend every minute of her life checking on you, making sure you’re a’right. You give her that peace of mind to sleep at night. Do it for me. The fourth rule is a big one, so listen carefully. I might not be around when you get old enough to be a real rabble-rouser, but you stick with Baz and the boys. Listen to them. They’ll always steer you in the right direction. You’ll think you know best, but you take Great-Grandpa Mike’s advice, and heed their words.”

A dull ache formed in Baz’s chest at the prospect of his grandfather not being around. It was inevitable, the cycle of life and all that. But as much as it wasn’t something he wanted to think about, knowing his grandfather took the time to tell Emerson’s boy the same things he’d told Baz over the years, buffered that ache.

Half an hour later, as they got ready to leave, his grandfather tugged him into a hug. “You putting a ring on her finger before you take off in September?”

“Let’s not rush things, Gramps.”

“A woman like that only comes around once in a lifetime.”

Tell me something I don’t know.

After hugs and goodbyes, as they drove away from his parents’ house, Emerson said, “That was fun. Your family is so easy to be around, they reminded me of what dinners with my parents were like.”

“I’m glad, baby.” He knew how grief could sneak in when least expected, and he was glad she’d found comfort in his family.

“I love the way your family talks about Ashley. I never thought I was missing out by not having siblings until after I lost my parents, when I was alone with my memories. Gwen knows a lot about what my parents were like, and it helped to talk with her, but she didn’t live with us. It’s different.”

How many hours, days, months, years, had he and his brothers talked about Ashley? Too many to count. “It is different, and I’m so sorry you didn’t have siblings.” He reached across the seat and took her hand.

“It’s okay. I dealt with those feelings in therapy, but it was so nice to hear your family’s stories, it made me wish I knew some of the little family secrets and behind-the-scenes information about my parents. Like you guys do about Ashley. How Tank knew the girls had painted the cat condos and how you knew your grandfather left you those sticks and nails.”

His heart ached for her. “How’d you know I knew?”