The Hookup (Moonlight and Motor Oil #1)(105)

Toby busted out laughing. Charlie chuckled. Dave shook his head at him, but did it grinning. Deanna and Addie smiled at each other.

Margot’s eyes narrowed. “We’re sampling Eliza’s excellent infused vodkas and I’m in a chipper mood. I’d thank you not to upset that.”

“I’d thank you too. My woman’s gonna feel good about her skin and be drunk, this bodes good things,” Dave delivered his own sexual innuendo, leaning into the table, grabbing the bottle that was closest that looked like it had strawberries and mint leaves in it, pouring a healthy dose into the glass in front of Margot and then he leaned back and shot the whole thing.

“David, you sip,” Margot snapped.

Dave put the glass down, ignored his wife and winked at Izzy. “I don’t even know what that was but you got my approval, child.”

Izzy beamed at him.

“I hope you all have changes of clothes seeing as you all need showers before we feed you,” Margot declared. She then turned to Izzy. “Take note of this, darlin’. In case you weren’t aware, ATV stands for all-terrain vehicle, and when they’re on one, they attempt to discover every type of terrain they can, the muddier, the better.”

Izzy, apparently unaffected by her man having dried mud caked up to his hips, just nodded and replied, “So noted, Margot.”

“I’m gonna go home and shower,” Charlie said then bent and kissed Deanna under her ear. “I’ll be back for dinner.”

“Iz, can I jump in your shower?” Toby asked.

“Sure,” Izzy answered.

“It’s my shower at this juncture so you should ask me,” Addie put in. “Unless you’re going to the master.”

“I’m in the master,” Johnny stated.

“Adeline, can I use your shower?” Toby asked.

“Sure,” she answered on a big grin.

He shook his head at her and strolled out, Charlie following him.

Dave took a chair that was against the wall and started twisting it to the table.

“Halt!” Margot shouted.

Dave froze.

“Do you think you’re sitting in your muddy jeans in Eliza’s chair?” she asked.

“It’s chipped and dented and has no pad,” he stated.

“It’s shabby chic,” Margot returned with emphasis on words Dave didn’t understand and even if he did, he wouldn’t give that first shit about.

“It’s fine, really. I have cats, dogs, and these chairs cost me four dollars each,” Izzy entered the conversation. “Except the one Deanna’s sitting in had a missing leg so I got that one thrown in for free. Anyway, a home is a home, not a showplace. Everyone is welcome, muddy jeans and all.”

“See?” Dave asked his wife.

“You’ll remain standing until you’re showered,” Margot returned.

“Both showers are taken ’cause Tobe has no respect for his elders,” Dave shot back. “And I’m sitting,” he declared, finished twisting his seat and then he put his ass in it.

Margot turned to Izzy. “You should take note of this as well, my beautiful girl. He’s quite right. Tobias should have let David go first. He’s also demonstrating how he doesn’t respect me by sitting in that chair. Don’t let that start. If you do, it never stops.”

“I respected you enough when I paid that credit card bill yesterday,” Dave retorted and looked at Johnny. “Take note, son. Seven-hundred-dollar shoes. And I’m not even kidding.”

He felt Izzy’s gaze and looked down at her.

“I’d never buy seven-hundred-dollar shoes unless they were seriously on sale,” Izzy told him.

“It comes to a time I’m paying our credit card bill, feel free to buy as many seven-hundred-dollar shoes as you want,” he replied.

“I love him,” Deanna declared.

“Easy for him to say, he’s a millionaire,” Dave muttered.

Izzy’s eyes in the goo got huge.

Fuck.

“You’re a millionaire?” she whispered.

Damn.

“Yeah,” he grunted.

“Oh . . . my . . . God!” Addie shouted. “I take it back! I’m totally letting you pay my attorney’s fees!”

Brooks, in his mom’s lap, squealed with glee.

“Iz?” he called when she just stared at him.

“I’ve always wanted a pair of Louboutins,” she said softly.

He grinned, bent his head and kissed her hard.

He got goo all over his mouth and chin.

But she tasted great.



After dinner, Johnny stood at the back door in the kitchen looking out the window.

Izzy was on the porch, standing as well, directly opposite him, and watching what was happening in the backyard through the screen.

She was goo-less, in a pretty sundress, arms and legs tanned, no shoes, no makeup, hair in a ponytail at the base of her neck streaming down her back, and he only had her profile but he saw a small, happy smile on her face.

He looked beyond her to what was making her happy.

In the yard under the tree that still was hung with crystals and strung with Christmas lights that were not yet turned on because the sun was just beginning to set, Toby had hold of Brooks and was swinging him around, dipping him down, lifting him up, like he was flying.