Page 49 of Baby Maker

Keegan’s fingers grasp my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Hmm. Jealousy looks good on you.”

I jerk my chin away, offering up my best glare. “I’m not jealous.”

“You’re not? So you wouldn’t care if I took Nadia up on her offer of a drink after the reception?” His eyes dance in the sunlight as he bites back a smile.

The bastard. He’s caught me, and he knows it.

“I don’t recommend it if you’d like to keep all your equipment in working order.”

Keegan backs me against the stone wall, his arms caging me in. “Admit that you’re jealous.”

My anger gets the better of me, and I’m certain there’s one hell of a storm brewing in my gray depths. “Fuck you, Keegan.”

His hand wraps around my throat, his thumb forcing my chin up, his lips centimeters from mine. “Gladly, Calli.”

He slants his mouth over mine, silencing any argument. Just like the other times, it pulsates with barely restrained passion. But this time, I’m laying my claim, and I hope everyone at the reception sees us. Our tongues tangle as I lock my fingers in his belt loops, pulling him flush against me.

Screw Blondie. This man is mine.

But then, as the kiss deepens, the world falls away. Any thoughts beyond this moment dissipate as the hunger takes over. My hands run along Keegan’s ribs and up over his shoulders, inching ever closer.

Never close enough.

High-pitched laughter from across the patio cuts into our intimate rendezvous. Still, we break apart slowly, as if our lips can’t bear the thought of being apart and our bodies aren’t willing to release the moment.

Keegan presses a kiss to my forehead, and I take the opportunity to breathe him in, loving how I feel both safe and exhilarated all in the same moment.

“I’ll be done soon. Do you want to stay out here and watch?”

“You mean chaperone? No, after that kiss, I need another drink. Either that or I drag you to a darkened corner, and you forgo the rest of the photos.”

“That’s the most tempting offer I’ve ever heard.”

“Too bad you can’t take me up on it.”

“Who says I can’t?”

I giggle, motioning over his shoulder. “Your mother, who is headed in this direction.” I run my hand through his curls, fighting to keep one stubborn strand in place. “Tell Blondie to keep her hands to herself. I’ll see you later.”

Strolling away, I cast a glance over my shoulder, blowing a kiss in Keegan’s direction. Maybe today isn’t a total loss.

When Keegan finds me an hour later, I’m engaged in conversation with the most tiresome woman on earth. I’m not joking. If I have to hold this fake smile much longer, my face will crack.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Jones. It’s been a while.” Keegan’s hands grip my shoulders, his thumbs moving in lazy circles against my skin, as he interrupts the elderly woman’s dialogue about radish varieties.

I wish I was joking. An hour of the discussion centered around radish seeds. If I ever see a blasted radish again, I’ll set the damn thing on fire.

“Your girlfriend and I were just having the most wonderful chat.” Mrs. Jones, for her part, is thrilled to have such a willing… victim.

I force another smile, my hand reaching up to squeeze Keegan’s. “That we were. I never realized there were so many ways to grow radishes. Very intriguing. I do have to excuse myself, Mrs. Jones. I need to discuss something with my boyfriend.”

We barely make it to the bar before Keegan dissolves into laughter, earning a side-eye glare from me. “I’m glad you’re amused.”

“She’s a sweet woman, but she can talk endlessly.”

“Tell me about it. I’ve never wanted to be deaf so much in my life.” We chuckle as the bartender hands us our drinks. “Shall we toast?”

“To new beginnings.”

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