Page 81 of Fast Currents
I may have won his mother over, but there was a lot of ground between accepting our engagement and accepting me as a daughter-in-law. Sneaking away for midday nookie might put me back on her naughty list.
“I have something I want to give you.”
I arched my brow, dropping my gaze to his groin and the rough outline of his erection. “I know. But it’s going to have to wait. Your parents are in the other room.”
He sighed, the long-suffering kind that sounded as if it were drawn from the depths of his soul. His hand disappeared into his back pocket.
He extended his hand, a white velvet box in the center of his palm. “Lucy, I’d be honored if you’d wear this.” He snapped the box open, revealing a ring. The black quartz coffin-cut stone was edged in diamonds, the band delicate and ethereal. It was gorgeous.
“It’s – it’sbeautiful,” I breathed. My eyes glittered with unshed tears. A ring like that was likely custom-made. He didn’t just pick this up at a store.
“I wanted something as unique and stunning as you.”
He helped me slip on the ring and pulled me closer, capturing my mouth in a kiss that melded heat and a promise.
“As much as I want you to stay, I need to get this meal finished without setting anything on fire,” Clay said.
I fanned myself. “That’s okay. I should change. You’re not the only thing that’s hot in this kitchen.”
I slipped into our bedroom and swapped out my sweater for a fresh t-shirt. I’d sweated through my original outfit. I could blame the heat, but it was one hundred percent his mom’s interrogation. His mom seemed to appreciate a woman who could hold her own, making me think I’d done the right thing, standing up to her. That maybe I’d passed the test, qualifying myself as her future daughter-in-law.
As I tugged my hem into place, my gaze landed on my hand. The ring sparkled on my finger. Simple. Elegant. Love bloomed in my chest. Clay had slipped it on with a reverence that stalled my breath. It still didn’t feel entirely real.
I returned to the living room, joining Trish on the couch. Her gaze skipped over my new outfit, landing on my ring. Her tiny smile of approval eased the last of my tension.
Maybe I wasn’t just passing a test anymore. Maybe I was starting to belong.
Clay emerged from the kitchen at one, announcing, “Dinner is served.”
Trish and I abandoned the puzzle we’d been working on together at the coffee table, following Clay’s dad into the kitchen. Clay had claimed he was keeping things small, since there were only four of us, but if the counter collapsed under the weight of all the food, I wouldn’t be surprised. Carved turkey, sausage stuffing, a box-free mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and roasted root vegetables infused the kitchen with the savory scents of sage and rosemary.
I leaned against Clay. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, like it was the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it was.
This – Clay, a kitchen that smelled like home – was exactly what I’d never let myself want before him.
“Marry me.”
His head tilted, the beginnings of a smile curving his mouth. “Is that the hunger talking?” he teased. “Good thing I already said ‘yes.’ I wouldn’t want to take advantage of your weakened state.”
I kissed him. “I’m only weak for you, Robertson.”
“Dish up, kids. My manners expire in thirty seconds,” Carl warned with an indulgent smile. “This spread looks amazing, and I can’t wait to dig in.”
Clay and I loaded plates, joining his parents at the kitchen table. After we’d stuffed ourselves silly, Trish and I tackled the dishes while Clay and his dad consolidated leftovers.
“I don’t even think Anya and Vi need to cook tomorrow. We should just invite everyone here for Friendsgiving,” I said.
“Bite your tongue, woman. There’s always room for more food.”
I held up my hands in surrender. “Forget I said anything.”
Trish’s eyes twinkled. “We’ll take care packages with us on the ferry. I’m sure the TSA won’t have an issue with a container of leftovers, right? We’ll make new friends at our gate.”
“Or enemies,” Clay’s dad muttered. “I’m not sharing.”
Trish and Carl went for a walk after we finished cleaning up, considerately giving us privacy for the call to my parents. Clay and I sat thigh-to-thigh on the couch, and I wiped my damp hands along my legs.
“Don’t worry, Lucifer. People love me.”
