Page 84 of Against the Autumn Pines
I couldn’t stop laughing. “Are you okay?” I asked through gasps for air.
“Peachy,” he muttered, his eyes squeezed shut.
“We need a minute, Sandy,” I said as she nodded, eyes wide, and backed away to check her phone.
I kissed his cheek and tried to contain my giggles again.
“Brat, it’s a good thing you don’t want minions. I don’t think any are comin’ from me.” I stared at him as he slowly opened an eye and peered down at me. “Did you have fun?”
I scooted up his chest enough to press my lips to his in a gentle kiss. “You planned our first date.”
He shrugged as if this wasn’t a big deal, but it was. He’d gone out of his way to look at my hectic schedule, plan something he knew I’d like with my favorite yoga teacher, and then showed up ready to enjoy himself by my side.
“You’re amazing, Wyatt.”
His arms squeezed around me, and he kissed my forehead. “Only because I can’t imagine doing this life with anyone else now. You’re it for me, Ember.”
I found myself nodding as I leaned down on his chest, soaking up the moment where it was just the two of us and everything was perfect.
“Areyou sure you want to come along for this? I’d understand if you wanted to hide in the trunk of the SUV and just…I don’t know, pretend like you weren’t ever here.”
His big blue eyes stared down at me as if I were some mysterious puzzle he couldn’t figure out to save his life. I felt the same way about myself sometimes.
“Do you not want me to come?” he questioned calmly. His tone told me in not as many words that he wouldn’t be offended if I indeeddidn’twant him to come with me.
“No! I mean, I do. It’s just that…my mother can be a lot, and I don’t want her to ruin the good morning that we’ve had together.”
He nodded. “Impossible. That was the best first date I’ve ever had, minus the part where your thigh, which is rock-hard muscle by the way, came crashing into my manhood. That was tragic.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I couldn’t stop the heat that licked its way up my cheeks when he pulled me in and kissed my temple.
“Fine, but the moment you’re uncomfortable or she says something shitty, we bail. Promise,” I stated firmly, and he just smiled.
He had no idea what we were walking into; that much was clear. He pulled open the small café's door, letting me walk in first. My eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on her in the far corner.
I could do this. It wasn’t that serious. Sure, I’d never brought a guy with me before, and I didn’t exactly tell her about him yet, but he was cute and successful. She’d love him.
His hand slipped back into mine, and I felt myself calm.
“Which one is she?” he asked quietly.
I nodded my head in her general direction. “She’s the redhead in the far corner. Dark blue dress and matching heels.” I shook my head with an eye roll. “Woman has a pair of heels to match every damn dress,” I muttered under my breath.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. You look stunning in this outfit. She could never pull off this shade of green, and you’re doing it effortlessly.”
I playfully smacked his chest, but he pulled our intertwined fingers up to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my hand.
“I’m not worried, little flame. Let’s do this.”
I pushed out a solid breath and pulled him over towards her table. I could feel the moment she spotted me, the inner eye roll at my outfit ensued first, but then her gaze was stuck on our intertwined hands. That was when she saw him.
Her wide eyes just stared, as if she couldn’t understand what she was looking at right now.
“Hello, Mother,” I said, trying to imbue as much friendly enthusiasm into my voice as I could.
She stood, pressing the skirt of her dress down flat—like she’d ever allow it to crease to begin with—and stuck her hand out to Wyatt.
“Hello! I’m Lori, Ember’s mother. You are?” Her tone was all flowers and sunshine right now, nothing like the tone I was normally greeted with. But I bit my tongue to hold back any sharp words that may wish to escape while Wyatt smirked his stupid playboy smile at her.
