“Dinner with Shane.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“Dinner with his father and the step-monster.”
Billie stopped chewing. She swallowed and cleared her throat, the smile on her face looking more like a grimace.
“That sounds painful.”
Bobbi made a face. “God, you have no idea.” But she would do this.
She would do this for Shane.
Chapter Twenty-one
At ten minutes to six Shane hopped onto the Barker porch and was about to ring the bell when the door flew open. For that one second—the one where his eyes met Bobbi’s—his heart nearly stopped.
He reached for her and without words she moved forward and stood on her tiptoes, encircling his neck with her arms and kissing him gently.
It was just what he needed. That contact with her. His Bobbi.
How the hell did she do that? How did she know what he needed even before he did?
“God, you taste good,” Bobbi murmured against his mouth.
“Yeah? Well, don’t fill up on me because I know Celia will have catered one hell of a meal and if we spend most of our time there filling our faces it means less talking.”
He stared down into her turbulent eyes. “I’m glad you’re coming with me,” he said simply. Glad? It was so much more than that. Shane wasn’t sure he could make it through a meal with his family, unless Bobbi was with him. Pathetic, he knew, but there it was.
“Are we ready?” Bobbi said slowly.
He stepped back and gave her a critical onceover.
Her hair shone, the silky length of it, now a few inches past her chin, thick with health. Her makeup was minimal, some gloss, and stuff on her eyes that made them pop mysteriously. She wore an ice-blue top in some silky kind of material that clung to her in ways he wished his hands could. Hel
l, it drifted over her breasts and nipped in at her waist, before riding her butt down to mid-thigh. Black tights tucked into knee-high boots completed her outfit and she twirled around.
“Do I pass Mr. Gallagher?”
His eyes were glued to her butt and he grabbed her close for one more kiss. “Please tell me you’re wearing panties.”
She nipped his nose and whispered, “Now why would I do that,” before running back inside to grab her coat.
Shit, Shane thought, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. This was going to be one hell of a long night.
Travis Barker surprised him by stepping outside. The man had aged. A lot. And though Shane had seen him a couple of times over the last few months, it was still shocking. Travis was young…younger than his own father.
“What are you doing here?” Travis asked gruffly.
Surprised, Shane didn’t answer at first. Bobbi’s father had never been a fan, but then, most fathers with daughters had given Shane the stink-eye when he’d arrived to take their girls out. The difference was, Shane’s relationship with Bobbi hadn’t been a few dates, it had been a tumultuous two years and the man standing in front of him was more than just aware of their past. He’d lived it.
Travis glanced behind Shane, a frown on his face. “Where’s Gerald?”
“Daddy,” Bobbi said softly coming up behind him and gently leading him back inside. “Gerald and I aren’t together anymore, remember?”
Confused, Travis refused to budge. “But you’re getting married.” His gaze swung back to Shane and he frowned. “Aren’t you?”
“No Daddy, I’m not. Not anymore.”