Just then, my phone beeped, indicating I’d received a text, so I picked it up off the counter.
I’ll be done in about an hour, want me to pick up dinner and you can meet me at my house in an hour and a half?
“It’s Dillon,” I told them, my tone conveying my excitement.
I sound just like teenaged Laurel used to when talking about NSYNC.
“Oh brother,” Chloe muttered, but I ignored her lack of exuberance.
“He’s going to pick up dinner,” I added, then gushed, “You guys, he’s been so sweet and attentive. I’ve never been with a guy like him before. He literally treats me like I treat Princess. Like I’m someone precious to him.”
Thinking of Princess, I made a mental note to give her food and extra snuggles before I left her alone again. She was not going to be happy with me.
“He is one of the good ones,” Serena agreed with a grin.
“Okay, even I can admit that there’s something about you Lewis cousins that is unlike anyone else I’ve ever met,” Chloe said.
“I think it can all be traced back to our parents, and this town,” Serena said thoughtfully. “Our childhood was just the best, and I’m sure that helped shape the guys. I know it helped shape me.”
Chloe and I looked at each other, our matching expressions sad. Chloe and Zoey had grown up with parents much like mine, except rather than being verbally abusive to them, they chose to ignore their daughters and focus more on their marriage.
It made you wonder why some people decided to have kids when it was obvious they didn’t want them. Heck, my mother had flat out told me when I was six that she’d never wanted to have kids, but when she’d accidentally gotten pregnant with me, her parents made her marry my dad.
“You were so lucky,” Chloe said longingly.
Serena reached out and rubbed Chloe’s belly and said, “You and your children are now part of The Lewis Clan, so they’re going to get to experience what we did.”
Chloe’s eyes got a little misty, but we pretended not to notice, knowing she wouldn’t want the attention. In truth, I was a little envious. At least she and Zoey were part of a wonderful family now.
31
Dillon
The second part of my day had been full of meetings, suspenses, and the never-ending pile of emails that were in my inbox. So, I was a little later than I’d planned when I strolled into the house with takeout.
“Hey, guys, I’ll get you in a minute,” I said to my excited dogs, who were jumping at my feet, trying to get my attention.
I dropped the food on the counter, then ran up the stairs, unbuttoning clothing as I moved. The dogs were trailing behind me, but as I was pulling off my slacks, I saw their ears perk up before they took off back down the stairs and started barking at the front door.
“Shit,” I muttered, trying not to fall over as I hopped on one leg, trying to get my socks off.
I pulled on a pair of shorts and was just pulling a T-shirt over my head, when I heard the knock on the door.
“Coming!” I yelled as I barreled down the stairs, jumping off at the bottom and rushing to the door.
“Stay,” I told the dogs, then threw the door open and said, “Hey.”
Laurel stood on the other side, looking fresh as the morning air and holding a pie in her hands.
“Hi,” she replied, then took in my heaving chest and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah… just got home… was getting changed,” I huffed.
Damn, looks like I need to get back in the gym.
“Please, come in,” I said, when it registered that we were still standing in the doorway.
I shifted to the side to let her by, commanding Copper and Penny to stay down, so they wouldn’t jump all over her. Once the door was shut, I turned back to her and did what I’d been wanting to do all day. I lowered my head and captured her lips