Page 27 of Under the Influence

“It won’t be like that between Val and Lola,” Edith insists, and I feel her hoping for the same certainty between us. “Val is like his pa and brother, and they both waited for their dream women. If Val says he’s hooked on Lola, he’ll never want anyone else.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes,” she says and offers a soft yet unflinching smile.

After ordering our meals, I settle into the booth and admire her. When I see only Edith, nothing is keeping me from claiming this woman and spending a lifetime happy together.

Then, I consider Edith’s age. Though twenty-six isn’t so young, I already had two kids by her age.

Of course, more kids will be another sticking point. Soon, I can’t keep my worries at bay. How will her family react? What about my family’s curse?

While worries rage in my head, Edith smiles wider and asks, “Is Duke your real name?”

“Yes. My mom liked ‘D’ names. My brother’s name is Dallas.”

“Is he older or younger?”

“Older.”

“But you’re smarter?”

“Yes, very much so. Not even close.”

Edith snickers. “Is he awful?”

“He’s my older brother and accustomed to calling the shots. When I won’t bow, he’s intolerable.”

“Do you ever miss him?”

Shrugging, I admit, “If Dallas stopped visiting, I might miss him. But he insists on driving up a few times a year to see our mom.”

Edith leans into me, and my arm immediately wraps her closer. “I noticed you inherited your ma’s looks. Did your brother get as lucky?”

“Why?”

“I need a backup dating option if this thing between us doesn’t work out,” Edith says, laughing at the thought.

“Dallas has a wife, but he’d dump her in a second to get his hands on you.”

“Eww,” Edith says, turning off her humor. “I don’t want to joke about that anymore.”

“You started it.”

“I know, but that’s what my people do. If I were Tuesday, I would have gasped and maybe fainted. You’re lucky I’m so self-contained.”

“I do feel lucky right now.”

Edith’s lips nearly smile before instead twisting into a frown. “I’m not usually so weak. I typically have a handle on dating. But none of my rules work with you.”

“Good. This feeling is new for me, too. We can figure it out together.”

Edith’s furrowed brow softens. “I’m sorry I was crabby at the engagement party.”

“Don’t obsess about that day when we’ve moved past it.”

“I might have scared you off,” she says, clearly obsessing.

“I was on edge that day,” I admit as I hold her against me. “I didn’t trust Val. I was worried about Lola. I felt weak for needing an alliance with your family’s club. I knew the meatheads would act out in some stupid way since they also felt unsettled by the alliance. And then, you appeared like this shiny jewel. I wasn’t ready for my attraction to you, and I certainly didn’t want you to waste your time with one of the meatheads.”

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