Page 52 of Fumbled Beginning

“I was not wearing an apron that said, ‘I’m going to rub your butt and pull on your pork.’”She rolled her eyes. “Besides, it wasn’t my fault that the sauce was bubbling over.”

We both laughed and went back to our meal. Over dinner, we didn’t talk about anything too serious; we just lightly bantered back and forth. It was hard not to smile around her. She was fun, caring, always seemed to be in a good mood, and sexy as hell. I could easily see myself falling for her. Hell, I’ve been falling for her little by little over the past eight years.

“I like having you guys here,” I said, giving Oakley’s ear a good scratch.

“You and Oakley seemed to be getting attached.”

His head popped up at his name. “We are. I think he likes having the space to run around too. I always wanted a dog, but with my crazy travel schedule, it never made sense to get one.”

“Don’t go getting any ideas because you can’t have mine.”

“Well, I have you both for now, right? And you and Oakley are a packaged deal. Come on.” I took her by the hand and led her to my outdoor sectional. She squealed when I pulled her on top of me and positioned her on my lap. Oakley ran in circles around my yard, sniffing every patch of grass he could find until he found the perfect spot to do his business.

She kissed the side of my neck. “If you wanted me to sit on your lap, all you had to do was ask.”

Oh, I had something to ask her, all right. I’d been gearing myself up all night. My brother had texted me earlier asking if I was bringing Rylee to the foundation dinner next month. I’ve never brought a woman back home and never wanted to until now. The last relationship I had was when I was eighteen. Having her meet my family was a big deal, especially since my relationship with my dad was so strained. I entwined our fingers. “Actually, I do need to ask you something.”

“Okay.” Her eyebrows drew together.

“You know how I run a foundation in my brother’s name, right?”

“Do you need my help with the planning?”

My eyes softened. I had a feeling she would do anything I asked. “I don’t need your help with the planning, but I was wondering if you’d like to be my date? I’m being honored with an award.”

“JP!” Her eyes lit up in surprise. “Of course, I’ll be your date. That’s wonderful.”

I leaned in, kissing the top of her nose. “Thank you. It’s in Upstate New York, and I would need you for a whole weekend. You can check your work schedule and let me know for sure.”

She looked into my eyes and held my gaze. I thought she was going to kiss me, but she kept her mouth at a distance. “I don’t need to check my calendar, because nothing is more important than being there for you. If you want me there, then I will be there.”

My shoulders relaxed, and I exhaled a long breath. My need to have her there was overriding my fear of bringing her there.

“Thank you.” I settled a blanket around her shoulders. “I hate going home, but having you there will make it more bearable. You settle me in ways that I can’t explain.”

“Hey.” She cupped my cheek, sensing my unease. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I pressed a kiss to her nose.

“Are you sure? Because it seems like something is weighing on you.”

I shifted her on my lap. “Inviting someone into that part of my life isn’t easy for me because I don’t trust a lot of people.”

She trailed her fingers along my shoulder. “But you trust me, right?”

“Not only do I trust you, but I can be myself with you. I feel comfortable when we’re together, even though you make me want for things I shouldn’t.”

She frowned like she wasn’t happy with that answer. “Have you ever considered that maybe the things you shouldn’t want are exactly what you need?”

Fuck! She had no idea how close to the truth those words were. “What if I need you right now?”

She dipped her nails underneath my shirt. “Then take me. I’m all yours.”

And I did. We made love soft and slow. My body filled her in the only ways I knew how. Just the feeling of her around me made me lose focus, forget, and wish for things I knew could never be possible.

CHAPTER15

RYLEE

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