“You got it.” I make my way toward Dad and blurt out the one thing that will get his attention, “Dad, I’m dating someone.”
“What did you say to me?” The iPad drops to the counter and he’s standing up from his bar stool. Mom and I both look at him, his arms are crossed over his chest, if he wasn’t my dad, he’d look scary. Truth be told, he’s a big softy.
“I’m dating Lincoln Anderson, he owns Maverick’s. Wait till you meet him, Mom.” I look at both of them, Mom looks happy for me. Dad on the other hand, he looks like he’s ready for battle.
“Mike, knock it off. She’s twenty-three, a teacher, and has her own place. She’s going to meet someone. You want her to be happy like us, right?” My mom walks to his side. He visibly takes a breath, trying to relax.
“Lulu, you see her. She’s the spitting image of you. I’m allowed to be worried, that being said, you bring him over here to meet us, and soon, or your uncles and I will be at Maverick’s on the double.” Mom has her arm wrapped around his waist.
“If you could give a girl a second to talk, you’d know that I’m inviting him over for dinner this week. I was going to ask if you wanted to do that here or at a restaurant?”
“Here is fine, right, Mike?” Mom is basically stating a fact.
“That’ll work, come here, Princess,” he disengages from Mom, and hugs me, almost as if he’s scared of me leaving him. Yeah, my dad, he’s a big ole teddy bear.
“Love you, Dad,” I whisper to him.
“Love you, Presley Marie,” he replies. We disengage and help mom set the food out, so it’s ready when everyone gets here.
18
Lincoln
I left work not wanting to be away from Presley for another damn minute. This week has been a cluster fuck trying to balance both of our work schedules and see each other. Presley though, fuck, she’s been the most understanding and levelheaded even when I’m not.
That’s why I’m standing at her front door, phone to my ear calling her at three o’clock in the damn morning. I should head home, but yeah, I can’t, not tonight.
“Hello,” she answers groggily. Making me feel even more like a heel.
“Hey Presley, come answer your door for me” wanting to see her now, soft and warm from being in her bed.
“Okay,” she hangs up, not even a minute later the door is being unlocked. She’s standing there in an oversized shirt, her hair tousled from sleep, but the soft smile on her face, that’s what knocks me to my knees. I want to fall asleep with her every night and wake up with her every single morning.
“Gorgeous, you’re so damn pretty, Presley,” I say as I crowd into her small foyer. Her arms settle around my neck and I kick the door shut, locking it, and then she’s up and in my arms. Her body wrapped around mine like we were always meant to be this way, entwined in each other.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” she whispers before I take her mouth. Something I’ve learned about Presley, she’s shy at first, but once she opens up. Damn, does she open up for me, and when she lets go. It’s like a fire is ignited deep in her soul.
“Me too, Presley, me fucking too,” I pick her up, carrying her to the master bedroom. Needing her like I’ve never needed anyone else in my life.
“I wasn’t expecting you tonight,” she murmurs, I look into her eyes and see the need in them, much like I know I have in my own
“Me either, but I couldn’t stay away,” I have no intentions of taking her right now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be happening and soon. Right now, though, I just need her body next to mine and a few hours of sleep with her. Fuck, that’s what I need.
“My parents want to meet you. Can we have dinner at their place this week?” She asks.
“Yeah, gorgeous. You set up a date and a time, I’ll be there,” I strip out of my clothes until I’m left in my boxer briefs. The way Presley’s tongue comes out to lick her lips as she takes in my body, it makes me want to take her right now. As much as it pains me, I won’t though. I want her to know she means everything to me.
“Thank you, I’m warning you, Dad may be kind of a jerk, I’ve never brought a guy to dinner before,” she ducks her head as she tells me this. My knee hits the bed, the palm of my hand finds her cheek, “Presley, you don’t know what that means to me. I’m not worried about your dad. I know you love your parents, I see it in everything you do. I’ll be there, every step of the way. But, gorgeous, if we ever have kids half as pretty as you, I’m buying more guns.” I slide into bed next to her, my hand going under the nap of her neck, pulling her in close to me.