Page 63 of Just Say Yes

Behind MJ, her aunt stood in the doorway, holding a white box and staring down at me.

I offered a wave, and the older woman only raised a stern, assessing eyebrow. The woman didn’t even bother with the polite smile most people offered strangers. Her raised eyebrow and cool stare felt like a challenge.

Fine by me.

Winning over MJ’s family wasn’t going to be any harder than winning her over—both were proving to be the more satisfying fights of my life.

MJ waved back as she approached me with a smile.

I reached for the drink carrier. “Good morning, Julep.”

I leaned forward slightly, going in for a casual kiss, but when MJ stiffened, I stopped myself. My eyes flicked over her shoulder to where her aunt was still watching us.

I slipped the duffel bag from her shoulder. “Ready to go?” I asked, opening the passenger-side door.

“One second.” MJ turned and climbed back up the front steps. She accepted the box from her aunt. They exchanged a few words, and MJ wrapped her arms around her aunt. The woman softened and touched MJ’s cheek as she spoke. She may come across as a hard-ass, but it was clear that she had a major soft spot for her niece.

I put the coffees and paper sack in the center console of my truck before holding the door for MJ.

“Need a hand?” I asked, gesturing toward the box.

She looked at the car, seemingly unsure of what to do. She lifted the box. “Logan, meet my dad. Dad, this is Logan.”

Her awkward laugh made me grin like a fool. She could make hauling around an urn feel like a goddamn meet and greet.

I bent slightly at the waist. “Nice to meet you, Mr. King. Shall we?” I gestured toward the back seat of the cab, pulling open the rear door.

MJ looked at me with a soft smile.

I leaned in to whisper. “A ride in the truck bed seems a little rude, don’t you think?”

“Thank you.” She smiled again, and I felt like I’d won another gold medal.

“Of course.” I nodded and carefully took the box from her, placing it in the back seat along with her duffel bag. The box was awkwardly placed on the seat, and I didn’t want it just rolling around, so I pulled the seat belt across the urn and made sure it was secure.

MJ looked at me with her pretty, wide eyes. I gestured toward the front seat. “Hop in. Let’s get you on the road.”

Her shy smile bloomed, and I rounded the hood of the car, feeling like I’d done something to make her feel good, and I liked that. It wasn’t just the way she smiled—it was the way she tried to hide it, like letting me see her happy was a risk. The more time I spent with MJ, the more I realized she was a walking contradiction: confident but cautious, sweet but guarded.

And all of it made me want her more.

I got behind the wheel and turned around in the wide driveway.

MJ picked up a coffee and took a sip. “Thanks for driving.”

I nodded and eyeballed the paper coffee cup. She was being weird. “You know, we could have swung into town before we headed out.”

Her eyes stayed focused on the road. “Oh, yeah ... I don’t know, I was up already so ...” A nervous chuckle escaped her. “We’re keeping things casual, right?”

I stifled a small laugh. “Are youhiding me, Julep?”

“What? No. I—” Splotchy pink marks flushed her cheeks, giving her away. “I thought we agreed that we’d be friends and?—”

“Julep.” My voice was low and stern as I leaned toward her. “I can’t stop thinking about how pretty you looked with a mouthful of my cock. I know how you taste. If that’s how you define friendship, I need to seriously reevaluate the friends in my life.”

I counted the beats while her shock morphed into a sly smile as she crossed her arms. “You know what I meant.”

“Mm-hmm,” I teased, liking the playful banter between us. I shook my head. “Wow. I feel so ...used.”

---