“You’re teasing me.”
“He did,” she said, putting her cup down and raising her right hand. “Hand to God, he did. I thought I was dreaming. I had to ask Marie to pinch me.”
“How do you know it was me?”
“I don’t see anyone else here, do you? Does he have some secret wife stashed away?”
I blushed. “Things with Taylor...” I began. God, this was getting much more complicated than either of us planned. “He’s complicated. But determined to get what he wants.”
“He’s always been that. Did he ever tell you the story of the first time he got on the ice?”
I shook my head.
“I was so nervous to see him on those skates, but he worked at it like a champ, and by the time the day was over, even though he’d fallen at least ten times, he was zooming around the rink with no help. We knew then he’d been destined to play.”
“But what about carrying on the family name? Wasn’t that something your father-in-law and husband were upset about?”
“There’s an old adage I hold strong to.” I watched her, waiting for what she might say. “The man is the head of the household, but the woman...
“She’s the neck,” I finished for her.
She beamed. “Exactly, love. Now what does my son have planned for his beautiful bride today?”
“Divulging family secrets, are we?” Taylor’s deep voice coated me in a blanket of arousal and, somehow, comfort.
“Oh yes. A regular, naked running around in nothing but a T-shirt photo display. Adorable.”
“Mother.”
She burst into laughter, and I followed her.
Taylor stared at us, realization dawning. “Oh, you two are dangerous together.”
“Don’t worry, Becca, after we get through the wedding party will have a good sit down with the family and show you every single embarrassing photo I took of your husband. He really did enjoy running around bare arsed in the garden when he was a wee one.”
Taylor shook his head, huffing in exasperation. “Do you have coffee?”
“Of course I do. Instant coffee is there in the corner. You’re really the only one who likes it, but I am almost certain your sister made sure we had freshly ground beans before you arrived.”
“Bless you both,” he murmured as he made a beeline for the cupboard.
As he busied himself with the coffee, his mum stared at him and cocked a brow, a mischievous smirk on her lips.
“Taylor, why don’t you take your bride for a drive so she can see some of the sights? You can show her some of our favorite shops, maybe take her to get something to eat.”
He poured his coffee out of the French press and into a mug before raising an empty one in my direction and offering silently to make me one. I nodded. Then he filled mine immediately, doctoring it exactly how I liked it without even asking.
“You two already act like you’ve been married for years,” his mom observed.
“What do you mean, Mum? It’s just coffee.”
“Oh, my boy. It’s so much more than just coffee, but that’s beside the point. You two drink up. I’ll put together some breakfast while you get ready to go out.”
He nodded and smiled, then held out a hand for me. “Come on, hen. If we don’t do what she asks, we’ll be in trouble. And you don’t want to be in trouble with my mum.”
I stood, taking his hand and fighting the shiver that ran down my spine at the contact. Those talented fingers of his had me wishing for more.
We took our coffee upstairs, and he closed the door behind us before taking a seat near the window and snagging a book that was on the small table.