Page 124 of Forbidden Kisses

He grinned. "You're right, about us."

"All right, we don't want to be the third and fourth wheels," Finn said, then immediately walked toward the car. He opened the door for Jeremy to climb in.

"Hey, I don't mind being their third wheel for a few seconds longer," Knox said, not moving at all. "Did you like the wine?"

"Knox," Duncan said in a warning tone.

"Oh come on, man. You have to give me some credit?—”

“I didn't bring out the wine yet."

Knox's face fell. "Fuck."

"Yeah, exactly."

Knox gave me an apologetic smile. "Forget I just asked that. In fact, forget that I ever mentioned wine."

"Repeating that is surely going to make her forget it," Duncan said, clearly running out of patience.

I was fighting my laughter with all I had, but I wouldn't be able to hold back much longer.

"You know what? I'm just going to go. But wait, did you also not get to the part with—” Knox began, as if he couldn't help himself.

"Knox, car, now," Duncan said.

"Got it. Okay, you two have fun."

"Oh, we will," I said.

Knox turned and headed to the car. We watched them in silence as they drove off. Then we took a step back, and Duncan closed the door. I couldn't hold my laughter in any longer.

Duncan smiled, shaking his head.

"Let me guess. Your brothers had an inkling of what you were planning for today?"

"Yes, they did. And Knox has no clue how to back off.” He groaned. “Fuck, I can't believe we're finally alone. It felt like Knox was never going to leave." Duncan put an arm around my waist. I placed both hands on his chest as he brushed his fingers across my cheek, leaning into his touch. I needed it so much.

"How did all of this happen?" I murmured.

"After we spoke on the phone, I opened up to Jeremy. I know we said we'd do it together, but it felt right."

"You're his dad, Duncan. You don't have to explain yourself to me. You know best when the time is right."

"I felt like he had to know about us and how deeply I feel about you. I want you to be part of our life. I love you, Riley, with everything I have and everything I am. You mean so much to me that I don't even know how to express it in words."

"I feel the same about you," I assured him.

"About what Jeremy said… that wasn't exactly what I had in mind. I didn't want him to spring it on you right away about moving."

"But I want to. As long as you want me to,” I added quickly.

What if Jeremy had gotten his wires crossed?

"That's exactly what I want, so then I can spend as much time as possible with you. I want to have you in my bed every night, wake up next to you every morning, and be a family."

I nodded, and now I wasn't holding back my tears anymore.

"I've fallen in love with you so damn hard," he said, "and so damn fast. I wouldn't change a thing."