Page 93 of A Little Crush
Macky wiggles in my dad’s arms. “Potty now. Potty now.”
“And that’s our cue,” he tells me. “Come on, little man. Let’s use the restroom so we can finish the game, yeah?”Grasping Macky’s shoulders, my dad turns my nephew around and begins guiding him toward the bathroom. “Have fun, you two!”
“Wait! Let me hold the golf equipment while you go in,” my mom adds, trailing after them.
“It was good seeing you,” Rory calls.
My mom gives her a quick smile over shoulder while patting Callie’s bottom through the carrier. “Good seeing you, too, Rore. Love the dress. Nice and breezy in this warm weather.”
Rory’s cheeks redden even more as she crosses one ankle in front of the other. “Thanks. Bye!”
Once they’ve rounded the corner, she snatches my hand and drags me as far away from the course as possible. And even though I don’t blame her for wanting to get the hell out of dodge, I can’t hide my rumble of amusement as she tugs at the hem of her dress, confirming the breeze isn’t getting out of hand.
33
RORY
“So…” A pebble skitters across the asphalt as we make our way back to Jaxon’s truck. I shouldn’t replay the conversation. Ireallyshouldn’t replay the conversation. But I can’t help it. I love Aunt Ashlyn and Uncle Colt. Seeing them always brightens my day, but apparently, lack of undergarments will put a damper on even the lightest of situations. The real question is…how the hell am I supposed to ever face them again after a stunt like this?
“You good, Rore?” Jaxon asks beside me.
“Do you think they bought it?” I grimace. “The lie?”
“Which one?” Jaxon teases.
With a groan, I cover my eyes with my hand as if I wield the power to shut out the world in its entirety. “Don’t remind me.”
We both lied tonight. Both tried to cover our tracks, thanks to the agreement we made in my backyard before he went down on me. Bloody hell, I still can’t believe he went down on me. Or that he asked me on a date afterward. It shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did. The idea of him wanting to spend time with me and not only my body.
He’s right for wanting to take things slow, though. To keep this quiet until we’re both sure what we feel is more than physical attraction. And yes, I might love the guy both inside and out, but when my sexual experience can be counted on one hand with one person, I don’t want to rush into anything, either. Not unless we’re both sure. I’ve been connecting with him emotionally for years. But for Jaxon? I’m afraid this is new. So new, it’ll freak him out, and he’ll run in the opposite direction.
“I always knew you were a terrible liar,” Jaxon adds.
“I knoooow.” I drag out the word and tilt my head toward the darkening sky. “I cannot believe I honestly said we were there to interview a nanny. For a baby. At a miniature golf course.”
Jaxon chuckles dryly. “Yeah, I’m not gonna lie. Not your best work, Beautiful.”
Beautiful.
It isn’t the first time he’s used the term with me, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it. Hearing Jaxon Thorne call me beautiful.
Heat builds in my cheeks as I replay the sexy way it rolls off his tongue before attempting to focus on the shit show we just experienced.
“I kind of feel bad,” I admit. “You know, how we lied and all. Not that I want to come out and tell everyone we’re having fun together, but…”
“I get it,” he returns. “I feel bad, too.”
“Yeah.” My face scrunches. “Add in that I’m a terrible liar, and I feel like this is a recipe for disaster.”
“Nah, you did good.”
“Now who’s the liar?”
With a smirk, he tosses back at me, “Now who’s the overthinker?”
My eyes thin, but I don’t bother responding, knowing he’snot wrong. I am an overthinker. Always have been. Probably always will be. Especially when it comes to all things Jaxon Thorne. Am I crazy to think things were going well before his family showed up? I felt like we were…connecting. It was almost like the good ol’ days, except for when I’d catch him staring at my legs or mouth. Yeah, those parts are new. I like them, though.
When we reach his truck, he opens the passenger door for me like it’s second nature. “Here you go.”
