The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing #3)(38)

“I don’t gossip,” he said.

“I met my husband when we were both in school. He was a medical student, poor, so I worked while he studied. That was our arrangement and I was happy to do it. The moment he finished his residency, he left me. He said he hadn’t been happy and he’d been with someone else. I had no idea. I fell apart. I’m sorry that you have to be on the receiving end of this, but the fact is, I might never trust a man again. But over a year later, I’m not sure I want to live my whole life without one, either. There it is—if you have expectations, you could be very disappointed. You might do better with Alyssa or Neely.”

He put an arm around her and pulled her a little closer. “That’s not gonna happen. I’m sorry about the husband, Sid. I get it. Someone left me suddenly—I had no warning, either. It was hell.”

“You weren’t married, though,” she said.

“No,” he confirmed. “It was still terrible. But I don’t have any expectations for us. A few hopes, maybe...”

“What is it you hope for, Dakota?”

“Lots of laughs,” he said. “Fun. Honesty.” He paused. “Nudity.”

A spurt of laughter escaped her and she turned her head to look up at him. “A man of simple needs,” she said.

“Sid, you’re pretty and I like talking to you. I now realize I like kissing you. I’m not looking for a woman to have my babies. Actually, I’m not planning on babies, so that’s a problem you don’t have to consider. I think the best-case scenario is we have some fun together and I have someone besides my brother or sister to knock around with. And, of course, the nudity.” He lifted her chin with a finger and put a soft kiss on her lips. “And you sound like a woman of simple needs, too. I will be trustworthy even though you aren’t planning to trust me.”

“I never lie,” she said. “Actually, it’s a problem sometimes. People don’t really always want the truth.”

“It beats the alternative,” he said. “Let’s get in the back seat.”

“Okay,” she said. “But just for a little while. I have an early morning and so do you.”

They got out of the SUV and reentered in the back seat. He immediately filled his arms with her. “What do you have to do in the morning?” he asked.

“Get the boys off to school. Some days I drive them. Rob works late so I let him sleep. Then there are chores, maybe errands, work at—”

He’d had enough of her schedule and swept down on her mouth, hushing her and enjoying the minty fresh taste of her, pulling her tight against him. She wriggled herself closer still and no doubt was aware of his excitement. He thought it was promising that without even the benefit of groping he was hard as a bat. But of course he was thinking about the groping to come. And he was a little uncomfortable, bent in his jeans, sucking the hell out of her mouth.

Dakota knew if he suggested anything more she would say no so he just made the most of the closeness, the kissing, the squirming. Then she broke away from his mouth, a little breathless. “I’ve never kissed a man with a beard before.”

“How do you like it so far?” he asked.

“I think I like it.”

“You’re going to love it later,” he said. He slid a hand over her breast.

“I think you’re getting a little ahead of me,” she whispered, but she dropped her head back and sighed.

“You’re so controlling,” he said.

“I know. You’re going to love it later,” she said. “Sunday is the wedding.”

“Yes, I think it’s going to be a total of nine or ten people,” Dakota said. “Immediate family, some flowers, dinner. How late are you allowed to stay out?”

“I’m thirty-six, Dakota,” she answered with a laugh.

“Okay, how late are you willing to stay out?”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it,” she said.

“Oh, boy,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “Possible nudity!”

*

Tom Canaday felt as though he had a significant part of his life returned to him when he found Lola Anderson. She felt like part of him, like the other half of him. She was gentle and good, and whether they were in bed together or sitting out on her porch like now, being with her was the way to intimacy.

“I’ve never had anything like this before,” he told her, holding her hand.

“Well, I certainly haven’t,” she said with a short laugh.

“We were both married,” he said. “We both loved our spouses. And yet...” He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “We need to be married. Is that even possible?”

“It depends on the kids,” Lola said. “Trace and Cole are on to us—they know we’re serious. Cole asked me straight out if I’d found my forever man and I told him I believe I have.”

“He did? He asked you that?”

“Haven’t your kids asked you?”

“No, they skipped that part and went straight to teasing me.”

She laughed, that low, earthy sound of hers. “That’s an even better sign,” she said.

“I have to tell you some things. Before I ask you if you can see a life with me, even if we have to wait awhile on account of all these kids between us. Private stuff.”