Page 43 of 27 Kisses

A Vegas wedding. The idea has merit.

“What?” Aidyn asks in a low voice.

Everyone else is arguing over how many people we should invite and not paying us any attention. “Wanna go to Vegas?”

Aidyn laughs—the deep, full laugh I love so much—and, I swear, the entire diner goes silent. As they stare, I’m a little irritated that they assume Aidyn’s grumpy all the time. But that emotion is overridden by my happiness at being the one to bring out this side of him. I put that joy in his eyes. That smile on his lips.

The smile drops as he glares at everyone at the table and the diner. “What are you all staring at? Eat your food and mind your own business.”

At Aidyn’s grumpiness, order is restored and the sound of people eating and chatting returns, including at our table. The chat turns to the menu. Turkey or ham or both. Even Aidyn gets drawn in.

All except for Jane. Her eyes are on me. She raises a brow in question.

My stomach does a nervous dance, but it’s not unpleasant. Excitement versus fear. I should be upset that she’s apparentlyfigured it out. But I’m not. If it wasn’t for Aidyn wanting to keep this on the down low, I’d stand on this table and announce to the diner and every resident of Mule Creek that I’m in love with Aidyn Christy.

And since Mrs. Weppler is eating breakfast with her granddaughter, it wouldn’t take much to spread it around town.

I nod to Jane, and she grins.

Aidyn wouldn’t be happy with the confirmation, but I can’t keep doing this. I’m thirty-eight. Aidyn is going on forty. Life is too short to waste time worrying about what other people think.

This is going to happen. And I’m not waiting another year. I have a man I love who loves me back. And the ring is in my pocket.

Aidyn squeezes my hand. His face is scrunched with worry. “Everything okay, love.” His voice is low. Just for me.

“Everything’s perfect.”

It might be bumpy at first, but we’ll get through it. Because I can’t keep denying the truth.

Yes, Aidyn Christy is my brother-in-law. But he’s also mine.

Nine Days until Christmas

After breakfast, where nothing really gets decided except that emus are allowed at the family gathering, we head to my place to put up the outdoor decorations. While I’m not a fan of the holiday, I’m not opposed to putting up Christmas lights. Mostly because you don’t have to be inside with a crowd of people you can barely tolerate on the best of days, as you attempt to make it through the holidays without an altercation. Those incidents used to involve Aidyn, so I guess it’s not all bad.

But staying in your car, looking at pretty lights and not dealing with people, is a plus in my book. Aidyn is skeptical.

“Have you ever put up Christmas lights before?”

The lights are in a package and they easily slide out. “No. But how hard can it be?”

He snorts. “I don’t want to spend the evening in the emergency room.”

I stop and watch him. He’s reading the directions on the back. “You’d stay with me in the ER?” I lean in and kiss him.

He tries not to smile, and it’s adorable. “I was talking about me.”

“How are you getting injured again?”

“Heart attack from worrying about you.”

I put my hands over my heart. “Babe, that’s so sweet.”

“Or you could fall on me.”

“That’s not as sweet.”

The others arrive soon after, and I regret inviting them since it means keeping my hands to myself.