Page 57

No,safer. Even if it meant putting the brakes on everything.

"I'm sorry if I'm a freight train, Marley, but I know a good thing when I see it. You're good and I'm all in. Both feet. And I'll be waiting when you're ready."

She glanced up. "Freight train is the perfect description."

"Oh, I know. And I'm not apologizing for that either." I grinned, proud, excited, hopeful. It was all so easy with Marley.

So damn easy.

She blushed again. "Well then." She nibbled her lip, all nervous and adorable. "You look happy."

"I am. It was the best day I've had in a long, long time."

Her blush deepened and I couldn't help myself. I leaned down and kissed her. Nothing crazy. Just my lips on hers. I savored it and all the huge, wonderful things it made me feel.

"Well look at you two crazy kids." Digger chuckled beside us.

I just might kill my friend. When I broke the kiss Marley was still blushing and smiling, so I decided to give Digger a stay of execution. "Digger."

He grinned a little manically at us. "You gonna introduce me?" As usual he was dressed a little nicer than everyone else. For some reason he enjoyed fashion and nice clothes. Tonight he had on a three-button vest with a dress shirt and slacks. A fancy hat of some kind was pushed back on his head.

"Marley, this is my friend Digger. Digger, if you flirt with Marley, I'll rip your balls off."

"Oh, I've heard." He rocked back on his heels, and he tucked his thumbs into his vest.

Was he wearing a pocket watch? "The rumors are true, so watch it." I possessively hooked my arm around Marley's waist and settled my hand on her hip.

"Marley, it is so nice to meet you." He said with an exaggerated flourish of his hand.

"You as well. So this is it?" She looked up at me. "I've met Travis, Scottie, and now Digger. That's all of them?"

"I would say I'm insulted to be the last to make your acquaintance, but I am the one most allergic to relationships, so it makes some sense." Digger was putting on the full act tonight.

"I'm surprised you're not covered in hives."

"They're taking longer than normal to appear because Marley is lovely."

I glared at him, which only made him laugh. "I also came over to tell you Anastasia has spotted you and is trying like hell to get over here and claim you."

I'd rather shove a dirty spoon up my ass than deal with that. "Thanks for the heads up."

"She's by the pool tables.” He nodded behind us. “If you leave now you can escape."

I glanced down at Marley. "You want to stay? I'll deal with her if you want to keep dancing."

"I'm ready to call it a night,” she said with a shrug and a curious glance across the room.

Digger played interference as we hurried back to our booth to retrieve my hat and her sweater. I waved to Scottie just as Digger intercepted Anastasia.

When we were safely on the road I let out a sigh of relief. "I can explain."

"That had strong ex-girlfriend vibes."

She wasn't wrong. "She was who my mother wanted me to date, which apparently made her my girlfriend."

"That sounds awful."

"It was. She's outgoing and well liked. According to my mother she was just what I needed to bring me out of my shell." And it reinforced all the ways I didn't fit into my own damn family.