Do You Take This Man (95)
“My uncle’s place tomorrow for Thanksgiving,” I said. RJ and my uncle were two peas in a pod, and I joked with my sister that I almost believed he liked my girlfriend more than he liked me. She told me there was nothing to worry about and that Uncle Harold definitely liked RJ better. We’d be staying the night at his place to have Aunt Bette’s waffles the next morning. I grinned at the prospect, excited for all the people I loved to sit around that table together.
RJ gave a hum of affirmation. “That will be fun. Harold and I haven’t had the chance to beat you and Caitlin or Penny and Kelly at gin rummy in a while.”
“So cocky. Holidays don’t have to be competitive,” I said, knowing I’d not let her hear the end of it if Caitlin and I won. “But to vacations, we’ll be going to Chicago next weekend.” I traced the edge of her middle finger, feeling the smooth tip of her nail. Her best friend was getting married finally after they’d had to delay the wedding during the worst of the pandemic, and it would be my first time meeting everyone without a video connection between us. “Think it will be weird doing a wedding again? Your pretending-to-believe-in-love skills are a little rusty.”
“None of my skills are rusty.” She reached behind her and tried to poke my side where I was ticklish. “Anyway. I’ve had a change of heart about believing in love.”
“Ruthie,” I said, squeezing her to me. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Shut up,” she said, and I heard the smile in the way she said it. In truth, once RJ decided to let me in all the way, I never had to wonder how she felt about me.
I squeezed her again. “I’m kind of nervous to finally meet all your friends in person.”
RJ’s body was warm and pliant under my arm. “They’re already so shocked I’m bringing a boyfriend, they’ll probably be more interested in you than in me.”
I smiled to myself when she said “boyfriend,” because I’d already picked out a ring with Britta’s help, and I hoped to change my title soon to “fiancé.” “So, there’s Britta and Wes, and then Kat and Del.” I kissed her shoulder, pushing aside the neckline of the worn shirt. “Who else is in the wedding party?”
“Wes’s friends Cord and Pearl, I think, though Pearl moved for a new job, and I’m not sure if she’ll be able to make it back.”
“Didn’t you say she and Cord had a thing?” I didn’t actually need to ask—I’d overheard RJ and Britta trying to figure it out over the phone. I’d heard so much about all her friends, I felt like I knew them. It was a nice feeling.
RJ linked our fingers, sliding hers along mine, back and forth. “I thought so, but Britta said he started dating someone after Pearl moved, so maybe not.” She let out a soft sigh when I kissed the crook of her neck. “Without them to gossip over, you might be the topic of conversation.”
“Think I’ll pass inspection?”
RJ rolled to her side, facing me. “I’m the hardest to impress, and I already like you a lot, so I think you’ll be fine.”
“You are hard to impress,” I murmured, letting my palm slide under her soft cotton T-shirt, feeling the warm, sensitive skin of her stomach beneath. “I keep trying, though. I stocked the pantry with syrup while you were gone, since you’d run out.”
She grinned, sliding her fingertips down my biceps. “You did?”
Her neck smelled like her cocoa butter lotion when I kissed below her jaw, my palm skirting higher to cup her breast like we hadn’t made love in the living room as soon as she’d returned from her trip a few hours before. “Mm-hm.”
“How many bottles did you buy?” Her voice was breathy, and she linked her leg with mine, her skin silky against my calf.
“Twelve.” I rolled her to her back, kissing along her collarbone and nudging her shirt over her head. “I figured that would last you at least a couple months.”
“Color me impressed,” she said, sliding fingers through my hair, her nails grazing my scalp as I kissed down her body. “You’re too good to me.”
“I kind of am,” I said with a grin, hooking my thumbs into the waistband of her sleep shorts. “But you’re pretty good to me, too.”
RJ stroked the side of my face, her expression soft when her gaze met mine. “I plan to be.”
I nudged her knees apart and ducked my head lower, anticipating her first groan. “Me first, though.”
Acknowledgments
DEARLY BELOVED, WE are gathered here at the end of the book to celebrate everyone who made this novel possible.
Love is patient. Love is kind. But writers under deadline are often neither. I am so thankful for my family for keeping me motivated, cared for, and sometimes in check! Travis and Tiny Human—you are my rocks. Thank you, Mom and Dad; Jay and Amanda; Bruce and Jean; Mike and Melissa; Barb; Tim; Allison; Kaitlin; Crystal; Aretha; and all my aunts, uncles, and cousins who are basically a mini PR firm working from coast to coast.
With this ring . . . Okay, there aren’t any real rings. I wanted to include two bands in the back of every book, but it was cost prohibitive, so use your imagination. With this ring , I take this opportunity to thank the people who helped bring this book to life.