Page 47 of Moonstruck Kiss

Everyone cackles.

“Without further ado,” Mayor Davies cries out, “we’re very pleased to honour you, Brax and Ollie, with the newest plaque in town.”

My family parts to reveal a new gleaming plaque attached to the wooden border seating that surrounds the lilly pilly tree.

I take Ollie’s hand to check it out. The plaque shows a comical figure of a child writing on his father’s shirt the wordMooner.Underneath are the wordsBraxton and Oliver Quinn, our favourite honorary Mooners.

“Thank you, everyone,” I say. “This is fantastic. We’re so grateful, aren’t we, Ollie?”

Ollie nods. “Our name’s on there! Joey! Come and see!” He leaves me to drag Joey to the plaque.

I turn to face the crowd. “Thank you so much! We weren’t expecting this at all, especially since we’ve been cooped up at the lodge for our first month here.”

“Not expecting it?” Cutie pipes up. “We were afraid it wouldn’t be a secret because you’d been expecting it.”

I crinkle my brows. “Why should I?”

Cutie rolls her eyes. “Haven’t you walked around town? Didn’t you notice all the plaques everywhere? Plaques are our way of celebrating all the nice and important things that happen here. Needless to say, you and Ollie are nice and important so it shouldn’t have been a surprise.”

“Thank you,” I say sincerely.

A bell rings from inside the bar. “A free round of drinks for every Mooner—local and honorary!” a bartender announces.

“Yeah!” cries the crowd.

“Wait,” I call out. “This is on me, okay?” I can’t possibly allow a small business like Struck and Stuck to give out so many free drinks.

“You can shout the next round,” a man behind me says. “This one’s on me.”

I turn around and come face to face with none other than Theo Cresswall.

“Hey!” I say, offering my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Theo.”

He shakes it firmly. “Likewise. Gia, especially, has been dying to meet Ollie. She says he’s eclipsed my popularity. I don’t mind at all,” he adds with a laugh.

I glance around, searching for my son, and find him already chatting gaily with Theo’s girlfriend. Joey’s with them, and she’s obviously close to Gia based on their body language.

Now, I’m not comparing or anything, but even though Gia is undoubtedly beautiful, something about Joey makes her…exude magnetism. They’re both stunning, but it’s Joey I can’t wait to see naked.

Fuck, how I can’t wait to see her naked—in my bed or anywhere, as long as it happens.

“Are you staring at my girlfriend?” Theo asks in an ominous tone.

My head whips towards the rock star. “What? No.”

He narrows his eyes at me. Wow, he’s angry.

“No!” I whisper-shout. “It’s Joey I’m staring at.”

“Joey? Doesn’t she hate you?”

I wouldn’t have been able to stop the secretive smile from spreading on my face even if I tried. “Not anymore.”

Theo laughs. “I was just about to deck you. I thought you were directing that I-want-you-right-now look towards my girlfriend.”

I wince. “Did I look that obvious? Joey and I don’t want anyone to know, so we’d appreciate it if you’d keep your observations to yourself.”

“I totally understand, dude. You don’t want the pressure that comes with everyone else knowing.”

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