Page 55 of Love
Then he turned that sexy smile to me. “Whatabout you? What’s my sweet boy been thinking about?”
I found myself trying not to squirm. “Inever pictured finding someone who would understand me enough to want to collarme.”
Dare’s smile turned tender and he leanedover to give me a slow, gentle kiss. As he pulled back, he cupped my face. “Iwould’ve always found you no matter what, sweetness.”
Pulling me closer, he sandwiched himselfbetween us as we wrapped our arms around him and each other. “I’d have foundyoubothno matter what because I can’t picture life being any moreperfect than this.”
“Me neither.” Ryan’s words echoed what wasin my head, but I could see we were both wondering the same thing.
Could the day stay this perfect?
****
I wasn’t sure how “Pass the potatoes” couldbe said with angry mom subtext, but Susan was doing a damned good job of it.
She’d made it immediately clear that shewas greatly offended that we’d doubted her, and she was going to hold thatgrudge until her dying day at this rate.
“Susan—” Ryan’s dad tried to smooth thingsout again, but she just stood up.
“I forgot the ice cream. I’ll be rightback.” As she nearly stomped out of the kitchen, we all froze until we heardthe front door slam.
As Roger sighed, Ryan turned toward thefront of the house. “Is she actually going to the store to buy ice cream forcarrot cake?”
Roger shrugged. “It was probably that orsmack you.”
They were such a strange family.
Ryan huffed. “She’s overreacting.”
Shrugging, Roger didn’t deny it. “You haveto look at this from her perspective. You basically told her you didn’t trusther.”
I still wasn’t sure how we’d gotten to thispoint, but it was better than her being pissed that we were dating.
Right?
I kept going around in circles on that aswell as about Dare. Would him being here have made it better or worse? It couldgo either way, but I was fairly certain she’d have been just as pissed forbasically the same reason she was upset now.
“It was a big thing and she kept looking atme funny.” Ryan’s defense would’ve been better if he hadn’t fallen back on thesame arguments he’d used as a kid.
Ignoring him, Roger turned to me. “Youdoing okay?”
Nodding, I decided it was more of a generalquestion than something I had to answer in detail. “Yes.”
“Good.” He randomly poked at his meal,nodding to himself. “Is…what’s his name…Dare doing good too?”
Since that seemed to be aimed at me, mostlybecause Ryan was still whining, I nodded. “Yes. He’s…adaptable. And smart.”
Might as well make sure Roger knew we’dmoved up the dating food chain, not down.
“He in business too?” That seemed to beeasier because Roger actually took a bite of his dinner that time.
“No. He’s a translator.” Since it was themost regular conversation we could have about our relationship, I latched onand kept going. “He signs for a variety of companies and organizations. Hisfather is deaf and the whole family signs.”
“You boys going to learn?” His question wassimple, but it left us both just blinking at him. “Well, something to thinkabout. Good first impressions and all.”
Shit.
“You’re right.” Swallowing, I tried not tolook ridiculous. “Thanks.”
