Page 27 of Prelude of Love

Chapter Seven

CHANCE

I walkedinto Mom’s house, my mind still swimming with thoughts of Early’s teasing smile and playful innuendos. The rich scent of coffee guided me to the kitchen, where Mom, Dad, and Uncle Mister lounged around the massive island counter.

“There’s my baby,” Mom said warmly. “Did you have a nice coffee date?”

“It wasn’t a date.” I headed straight for the coffee maker, desperate for another caffeine hit despite having just left Brewhaha. “But Early says hi.”

Dad’s eyebrows shot up. “Duke’s husband?”

“Do we know another Early?” I pour myself a mug while my mind drifted back to Early’s suggestion about cheerleader uniforms. He’d look sexy as hell in a short skirt, waving pom-poms around as he cheered me on.

“Uh-oh. I know that look,” Mom said with toomuch confidence for my tastes. “You haven’t even been here a full twenty-four hours, and you’ve already set your sights on seducing Early.”

“And Duke,” I added since there was no point in denying the truth when my relatives knew me too well.

Mister snickered. “Wow, that sure didn’t take long.”

“They’re married,” Dad cut in with a frown of disapproval. “You don’t want to mess with someone as territorial as Duke. That’s a man who doesn’t know how to share.”

“He didn’t seem opposed last night.” I mixed creamer into my drink. “We had a good chat when I had dinner at Hurly-burly yesterday.”

“And?” Mom prompted, almost vibrating with curiosity.

“And he’s hot as hell, too.”

Mister choked on his coffee while Dad pinched the bridge of his nose. Mom, however, lit up like Christmas had come early.

“Well, there’s no denying you inherited my excellent taste in men,” she teased.

“Melody,” Dad warned, but she waved him off. “Chance has no business breaking up their marriage.”

I rested my hip against the counter as I savored my first sip of coffee. “Who said anything about breaking up their marriage? I want to be their third for some fun, not a lifelong commitment.”

My uncle grinned. “Famous last words.”

“I’ve already adopted them into our extended family, so it’d be nice to make it official.”

“Can we slow down? I haven’t even sucked their dicks yet, and you’re trying to invite them over to take matching ugly Christmas sweater photos for the holiday card.”

“Sounds like someone has a crush.” Mom’s singsong tone made me groan.

I scowled. “No, I don't. I merely think they’re both sexy and wouldn’t mind getting to know them better. Preferably naked and horizontally.”

“With a guy as strong as Duke, vertically would also be an option,” Mister pointed out with a smirk.

Dad scowled. “Don’t encourage him. He needs to focus on work.”

My tone turned playfully taunting. “Are you afraid I’ll fuck things up and you won’t be able to go to your favorite places to get hamburgers and caffeine?”

“Please avoid that,” Dad groaned.

“Duke’s not the casual type,” Mister continued. “He’s pretty selective about who he lets near Early.”

“I know.” I had seen evidence of Duke’s protective stance when I’d flirted with Red. “But that makes me want to prove I’m worth it.”

“Worth what?” Dad asked, though his tone suggested he already knew and didn’t like it.