Page 15 of False Start

“That was the idea until you ruled it out.” Giggling, I padded into the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

I took my time in the tub, the hot water and bath salts loosening my muscles and easing my aches, just like Ames said they would. When I climbed back out almost an hour later, I was more relaxed than I could remember in a long time. After tugging on the oversized shirt and sweatpants he left out for me on the bed, I left the bedroom in search of Ames.

I found him in the kitchen, wearing only a pair of sweats that matched mine except his were gray instead of black. And they looked way better on him with how they cupped his butt…and his dick. “Please tell me you don’t wear those out in public.”

His lips curved into a sexy smirk as he gestured down the length of his muscular body with the spatula he was holding. “Like what you see?”

“Definitely.” My gaze dropped to the outline of his hard-on, which was growing while I stared at it. “But I’m pretty sure you’ll cause a major car accident if you walk outside like that.”

“Don’t worry, baby,” he reassured as I rounded the counter to peek at what he was making on the stove. “I’m going to put on a shirt and change out of these before I take you home.”

I beamed a smile at his answer. “That looks amazing. I would never have guessed that you can cook so well.”

“I have my mom to thank for that. She insisted that all of her kids knew how to feed themselves,” he explained as he slid a few slices of French toast onto the plate. “This is her Sunday morning special recipe, banana French toast with pure maple syrup.”

“Mmm,” I hummed in appreciation, rubbing my belly. “Sounds delicious.”

“It tastes better when she makes it, which I’m sure you’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

I tried not to read too much into his casual mention of me meeting his parents, the same as I had with him throwing around “mine” last night, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it when he talked as though he expected us to be together forever.

I helped him carry everything over to the table and smiled up at him when he pulled my chair out for me. Then I dug into my breakfast and moaned in appreciation. “Oh, wow. I’m not sure how this recipe can get any better.”

“Glad you like it, baby. I’ll be sure to make it more than just on Sundays.”

After we finished eating—and I barely resisted the urge to lick my plate—Ames got ready while I did the dishes. Which had been a battle getting him to agree to, and I’d only won because I told him I needed some way to contribute since he’d bought the groceries and cooked. Then he led me to the garage, to where the valet had brought around his silver Mercedes-AMG S-class.

“Oh my gosh,” I gasped, looking up at Ames with wide eyes as I remembered something Charmaine had said the night she’d talked me into going out on my blind date.

He yanked me close and scanned the garage, his eyes fierce as he searched for whatever had freaked me out. “What’s wrong?”

“I wouldn’t say wrong, exactly.” I smoothed my hands up his chest. “I just realized I’m about to do my first walk of shame and in front of my parents, no less.”

Ames brushed his lips against mine and murmured, “I know this is all new to you, baby, but there’s not a damn thing for you to be ashamed about when it comes to us. I get that it will be awkward facing your parents when they’ll have a good idea of what we did last night since you didn’t come home, but what happened between us was…shit, it was fucking beautiful. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s accurate.”

“Beautiful,” I echoed softly, butterflies swirling in my belly. “I like the sound of that.”

“Good because you’d better get used to it.”

Pulling open the passenger door, he helped me into the seat before rounding the car to climb into the driver’s seat. After we left the parking garage, he held my hand for the drive to my parents’ house. When we pulled up in front of the brownstone I’d grown up in, my mom stood on the front porch.

“Crap.” I turned to him with wide eyes. “What are the chances you’ll let me climb out of this car and walk up to the door by myself?”

He glanced at my mom and shook his head. “Zero, baby.”

“That’s what I figured,” I muttered.

He climbed out of the car, and I wagged my finger at my mom, hoping she’d take the gesture as a warning to be on her best behavior. Unfortunately, it didn’t help much. When we reached the bottom of the steps, she planted her hands on her hips and asked, “I’m assuming you two had an excellent night since you waited until now to bring my daughter home?”

Ames was the sexiest man I’d ever met, but he was so darn cute when he ducked his head, his cheeks tinged red. “Uh, yes, ma'am.”

“Don’t mind me. I’m just teasing.” My mom reached up to pat him on the shoulder. “And please call me Julie. Ma'am makes me feel old.”

He nodded. “Will do, Julie.”

A mischievous gleam filled her eyes. “Although, I’m willing to bet that I won’t feel old when I finally get the chance to be called grandma.”

Now I was the one blushing as I groaned, “Mom, really?”

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