Breccan looks down at a spot of meat sauce that has settled in the center of his white T-shirt.” Jeremy’s eyes must have bugged out of his head.”
I laugh as I glance to my left to see a smile on Jeremy’s face. “I looked ridiculous.”
“You were beautiful,” he says with a chuckle. “I saw Linny again when I hired her father’s advertising firm to help with the launch of the vanilla vodka.”
“Fate put you together twice?” Athena brushes her hand over her bare shoulder. She’s wearing a pink off-the-shoulder sweater and dark jeans.
They’re all dressed casually, including Jeremy who is wearing jeans and a football jersey.
I tried on three outfits at my place before I decided on a denim dress and black ankle boots.
“It was meant to be.” Jeremy winks at me. “I’m grateful every day that I met her.”
“Do you love her?” Zach looks at Jeremy.
“Zach.” Breccan’s voice comes out with a snap. “You don’t ask people that.”
“Very much,” Jeremy answers. “I think it was love at first sight for me.”
“Was it for you too, Linny?” Zach looks across the table at me. “Did you love him the first time you saw him?”
“I felt something I’ve never felt before.” I reach for Jeremy’s hand under the table. “He made me feel safe. Love grew pretty fast from there.”
“Can we eat the chocolate cake that Linny brought for dessert now?” Zach moves to stand. “I’ll clear the plates.”
“Let’s load the dishes into the dishwasher and then we’ll pick a movie and have dessert.” West is on his feet too.
As they leave the room, followed by Breccan, Athena moves to sit next to me.
“He needed you,” she says in barely more than a whisper. “He’s given everything to us for years.”
“I needed him too.” I smile at her.
She circles her finger on the linen tablecloth. “Take really good care of his heart, Linny. It’s been through a lot.”
I nod. “I promise I will.”
“I’m glad he found you.” She rests her hand on mine. “My brother saved us. He showed us that it was okay to be happy again. We want him to be happy now.”
“I want that for him too, Athena.”
“W
hen he told us about you, he said you were an angel.” She gently squeezes my hand. “He was right.”
The sound of glass shattering pulls her to her feet.
“Zach isn’t great with one hand.” She laughs. “I’m going to go help. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” I say, trying to level the emotion in my voice. “There’s no other place I’d rather be.”
Chapter 54
Jeremy
“Are you going to invite me in?” I ask with a grin. “I’ve been on my best behavior all night, but my cock can’t take anymore.”
She glances down at the front of my jeans. “You’re hard.”