Page 47 of Trophy
It meant something to her.
She glanced over and noticed Tari looking in her direction, so she smiled, pleased when the older woman smiled back.
Today had felt awkward a few times, but overall it had been pretty good. These people were different from her, but they weren’t as different as she’d assumed. She was glad she had come.
16
It waseight thirty before the last of the guests finally left. Rob bad been ready for them to clear out an hour earlier, but everyone was having a good time, and it was just now getting dark.
The good thing was that Allison had stayed to help clean up, so he didn’t have to cross the street to find her. She was right in his kitchen.
“You don’t have to do that,” he murmured, walking over to press himself against her back and wrap his arms around her.
“So everyone is gone?”
“Finally.” He tilted his head so he could brush a few kisses against her jaw and then her neck. “I’ve been dying to kiss you for hours and couldn’t do it.”
“Poor Rob. Tortured in that way.” Her voice was light, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were smiling.
He turned her around with her back against the sink so he could kiss her properly. “Poor Rob indeed,” he murmured against her lips.
She responded to the kiss, her body softening, her tongue meeting his, but she pulled away before he wanted her to. “Let’s finish cleaning all this up.”
“It can wait.”
“But if it waits, it will still be here for days, and I really don’t want to see all these dirty dishes the next time I come over her.”
The guests had used paper plates and cups, so the only dishes were the ones they’d served food from. It didn’t really take that long to get them washed, and Rob was pleased by the sight of his halfway neat kitchen when they were done.
It had never looked that way until Allison came into his life.
“Now that the cleaning is done, we can get to the kissing.” He pulled her against him again and this time had a much more satisfying embrace.
“So did you have a good time?” he asked, holding her in a hug after their lips had finally broken apart.
“Yeah. I did.”
“Why do you sound surprised?”
“I don’t know. I just didn’t know anyone. You know how that is.” She paused and glanced up at him. “Or maybe you don’t.”
“I don’t always know people.”
“I didn’t mean to imply there was something wrong with it. It’s great you’re so connected here. I just wonder how long it’s been since you’ve felt awkward and insecure around people you don’t know.”
“I do my best never to feel awkward or insecure.” It was true. He tried to avoid it as much as possible. Allison didn’t have to know how often he felt that way, especially when it came to his previous marriages.
She chuckled. “Yeah. I guess you do. Anyway, it was nice to get to know some of the people in town, and I really like your parents.”
“Good. They’re pretty nice.”
She stretched up to brush a kiss against his cheekbone. “And they have a pretty nice son.”
“I have no objection to you believing that.” He gave her a few kisses, then murmured, “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”
“There’s no good answer to that question.” Allison was stroking her fingers down his back in a way that felt incredibly good.
“Well, I’m telling you that you are. And I’m feeling kind of guilty because I wanted everyone to know that this damned gorgeous woman wants to be with me.”
