Page 94 of Starting Over with You
Because I might say it back, and I’m still married.
His mouth slides over mine for a searing kiss before I wink and move out of the room. I look over my shoulder to find him watching me, and I beam back at him. “I’ll miss you,” I whisper, and I love that it surprises him.
Dean’s eyes widen, his lips curving into a full grin, and that swoony feeling fills me from top to bottom as he rubs his chest where his heart is. “Miss you more, darlin’.”
I do a little shimmy, and I know I can’t hide this man anymore.
I have to tell Missy.
I meet a very suspicious Skyye on the porch, and I try to distract her with my sunny personality. When I bring up Taylor Swift and how proud we are that she got the rights back to all her music, I know I’ve fully distracted her. Within seconds, she’s bringing up stats and even her theories of when and if we’ll get Reputation TV. We’re still rambling when we get to my dad’s house. Matt, Nyle, and the kids are going to have movie night with Dad while we go to ladies’ night at the Pine. Apparently, Dad invited Dean, but of course, it’s on a night that he had to work. I think he planned that since he has never been a fan of Dean. That’s another person I’m dreading facing when what Dean and I are building together comes to light.
I will, but I’m not excited.
He’ll, more than likely, be dramatic as all hell.
My dad, not Dean.
After greeting my nieces and nephew, I love on my dad, but then he’s fussing with the potato salad Maggie brought. She isn’t here, but he made it a point to say she was the one to make it. I have to restrain myself from gagging.
But from the grin on my daddy’s face, I can’t be anything but happy for the old dog.
I’m standing on the back porch, impressed by the setup Dad has created for everyone. He put up a huge white sheet and a projector to play movies. He smoked a pork butt, and he has all the makings for sandwiches.
I almost want to stay in.
“We’re still good for tomorrow, right?”
I keep myself from rolling my eyes at Nyle’s request. He hired me to help him expand his market and make more money. I’ve been working my ass off on a plan, but really, he just has to do better. I can only give him tools to broaden his reach, but he has to work daily. Not smother my sister.
“Yeah,” I say, crossing my ankles and leaning on my hip. I’m wearing a pair of Wranglers and a lace top that my boobs are about to fall out of. I’m surprised Dean let me go with just beard burn. “I have that meeting with a new business at one, then you’re my two.”
He nods eagerly. “Missy said you thought they were weird.”
“Yeah, they don’t have any presence here, or in any town this small, but they want me to give them a plan. I don’t know. I’ve done it, but I wish I had something to work off. It’s my first time being a part of a franchise like this.”
“I bet you’re kicking ass, though,” he says, and the condescending tone he usually possesses isn’t in his voice. It’s almost like he believes what he’s saying.
I eye him. “You like me now that I’m out of the house?”
He laughs, running his fingers through his hair before he cupsthe back of his neck. “It isn’t that I don’t like you, Kenni. It’s that I know how much Sadie hates me, and I worry you’ll feel the same.”
I smile. “I will like you as long as you treat my sister well.”
“Done,” he says with so much conviction in his voice my heart swells. “I love her, Kenni.”
“I know, Nyle.”
We share a small smile, and he mutters, “I’m meeting you at Dean’s?”
“Yup.” He gives me a curt nod, and I force a smile. I don’t want to hate the guy. I think he’s just insecure, and maybe he’ll grow out of it. Missy loves him, and all I can really ask for is that she’s loved the way she deserves.
He seems caught off guard by my smile, offering a timid one in return just as Sadie hooks her arm through mine, completely ignoring him as always. She rode over with Matt since I was running late.
“Let’s go,” she says. “Missy’s in the car.”
I call out a goodbye to everyone before we head to the car, where Missy is, in fact, waiting.
My sister flashes me a wide, full-of-trouble grin that reminds me of the way she looked at me before we’d get into something that Dean had to save us from, and my heart clenches in my chest.
