Hooked (Viking Bastards MC #1)(47)
“Sex and muffins.” I think this conversation’s going in the right direction, but I’m not convinced. “With a side of cupcakes.” What the hell am I saying? I think I’ve lost my mind, but it’s worth it when she finally smiles.
“I can live with that.” She glances back at the mansion. I follow her gaze, and there are at least twenty people standing under the fancy portico watching us. They’re too far away to see their faces, but I can guess their expressions. “I’m sorry I invited you for Thanksgiving dinner. It was too much.”
It’s like she’s stabbed me through the heart—not that I let her see. “Yeah, don’t want to give all your ancient relatives strokes.”
She frowns, as though she doesn’t get what I mean. “No, I meant it was unfair of me to expect you to face my entire family at once. There are loads of them. I just didn’t think. When you said you were going to be alone, I just…well, anyway. I’m sorry I put you on the spot.”
Because she’s nice and I’m not used to nice. I grit my teeth, trying to keep the words locked down but it’s no good. A part of me wants to tell her, and deep inside I know that until I do, she’s always going to secretly think I was a prize prick for the way I acted that afternoon.
“It wasn’t you. It had nothing to do with meeting your family.” I let out a measured breath, but it doesn’t help any. “I can’t do this holiday. Not for ten years. I just wanted to be with you.”
I know none of that makes sense. She’s going to think I’m crazy, but instead of frowning and wanting to know what I’m talking about, she gently cradles my bruised jaw and presses herself against me.
“Do you still want to spend Thanksgiving with me?”
Is she for real? “As long as you’re with me, I don’t care where we are.”
Her smile is like a balm on my heart. Oh yeah, I’ve really lost my head over this girl. “We’ll take a picnic on the beach. I’ll text my sister and ask her to arrange it for us. Is that okay?”
She’s bailing on her family. For me. “You don’t have to do that.” My voice is gruff. “They’re expecting you to go back inside with them.”
“I’ve made my choice. I want to spend the day with you.”
This girl’s gonna kill me. But she’s more than my girl. She’s my woman.
My old lady.
I rest my forehead against hers. It’s never going to be easy to say, but there’s never going to be a better time than right now. “I know I’m a jerk, and I can’t give you the world, but I love you, Grace Mulholland. Never forget it.”
“I was wrong. You’re not a jerk.” She traces the outline of my face with her finger. “And you’ve already given me the world.” She kisses me, soft and gentle, and it’s everything I’ve missed over the last couple of days. “I love you, too, Zach Reynolds.”
I’ve always mocked the power of those three little words, but damn, they’re the best words I’ve ever heard. I pull her close and breathe in deep. It’s like I can see my future in this one moment, and what I choose to do next will define the kind of life we have together.
Psychobabble shit. I know it. It doesn’t stop me.
“If the invite’s still open, I’ll come to Thanksgiving with your family.”
“Of course it’s still open. But you don’t have to do that.”
“Hey, I’m all about compromise.” I give her a leer, since this is all getting way too deep. “But there’s a condition. I want you to meet my president, Jett, and his old lady.”
“Okay.” She looks thrilled, and I’m sure it has more to do with me joining her family today than me inviting her to meet with my president. It’s okay. I don’t want to scare her off by telling her the implications of my offer. She’ll learn soon enough that once Jett accepts her, she becomes one of our own, who we’ll protect to the death.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, and she snuggles into me that way I love, and together we make our way toward the mansion and her family.
Did you love this Scorched? Check out more of our steamy titles here!
Don’t miss another Christina Phillips book. Sign up for our newsletter here!