Page 80 of Fast Currents
“Hey,” I retorted, wounded. “You’re supposed to think there’s nothing better than your baby boy.”
My mom pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re usually so confident, Clay. I can’t believe you let your girlfriend propose.” She stared at me, exasperation in the tilt of her chin. “At least Lucy had the guts to go for it.”
“Ouch, Mom,” I said, rubbing my chest.
Lucy placed her hand over mine, glaring at my mother. “Now, wait just a minute. Clay and I are getting married because it’s what we both want. He’s the least passive man I’ve ever met. Did he tell you what he said when we met?” She glanced up at me, frown fierce. “Tell her.”
“I asked her to marry me,” I admitted.
“Clayton, you didn’t.” My mom said it with a trace of pity in her tone. She shook her head.
“And then he kept asking me,” Lucy said. “So many times that I lost count.”
“It was eight times,” I muttered.
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I stand corrected. Eight times. He asked me plenty.”
My mom frowned at me. “I can’t tell if you’re a romantic or an idiot.”
“Can’t it be both?” I asked with my most charming grin.
Lucy chuckled. “I was camp idiot for a long time, but he grew on me.”
“And why do you want to marry my son?”
It was blunt. To the point. I held my breath, waiting for Lucy’s answer.
“Because, at the end of the day, I love him, and he’s the man I want to spend my life with. He’s kind and calm. A man you can count on. I can’t scare him off with my bad moods. Believe me, I tried. Your son has a heart of gold, and buns of—"
“Hey now,” I broke in. “She doesn’t need to know all the reasons.”
Lucy’s lips twitched, and she winked at my mom. “Let’s just say, he’s plenty romantic when he needs to be.”
My mom relaxed her hands at her sides, leaning into my dad, her gaze flitting from the protective arm I had wrapped around Lucy to the way she cuddled against my chest.
“I like that you’re willing to fight both for him and with him.” A slow smile broke across her features. “Congratulations to you both, and welcome to the family, Lucy. When’s the wedding?”
Chapter 32 – Lucy
Trish and Carl retreated to the living room, giving Clay and me a moment alone.
He dropped his forehead to mine, his dark gaze pleading, his expression hopeful. “See, telling them wasn’t that bad. They like you.”
“For a moment there, I thought she was going to likememore thanyou.”
Clay leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his lips quirked up at the corners. Not at all bothered by the idea that his mother might have a new favorite.
“Yes. My mom’s a modern woman, but she has some fixed ideas about male and female roles.”
I chuckled softly. More like his mom had high expectations of her only son. But it came from a loving place.
“Luckily, what I lack in my ability to close the deal, I make up for in quantity of proposals.” I squinted at him, trying to follow his logic. “That’s just math,” he said confidently.
I patted his chin. “Whatever you say, Robertson.”
His smile softened, that tender expression he saved just for me surfacing. Something fluttered in my chest, a mix of affection and surrender.
Then he leaned down and kissed me. Soulful and soft, then harsh with need. I struggled to catch my breath after we broke apart, more turned on than I wanted to admit in the fragrant kitchen with our holiday meal half-cooked. Too bad I couldn’t drag him into our bedroom for an intermission with his folks in the living room.
