Page 92 of Take My Name

“We can talk later. For now, rest and take it easy.” I press my lips to her forehead, tempted to slide them lower.

“You have to leave?”

“In a few, yeah. But stay as long as you want, okay? I made your favorite smoothie, assumin’ it’s still your favorite, or if you wanna eat somethin’ else, help yourself to the fridge. There’s also three loaves of banana bread from my mom and Aunt JoJo.”

“Mm…that sounds delicious.” She smiles wide but then pushes herself up and leans against the headboard. “You should know I told him about you.”

That has me arching a brow and contemplating my next words carefully. “What did you say?”

“The truth.” She swallows hard, but it’s her expression that concerns me. Guilt, maybe? Or hesitation. “When I confessed some things to him, he told me I had a decision to make by the time he arrived on Saturday.”

“He’s coming…here?”

Nodding, her gaze drops to her hands. “He was gonna surprise me. He said if I can’t decide by then, he’ll decide for me.”

Well, fuck.

“Oh.” I scratch over my cheek, the two-day-old scruff feeling rough under my nails. I’m about to tell her we can cut the seven-day deal short so she has more time to make her decision, but then I remember my brothers’ advice and my parents’ and aunt’s encouragement—they’re rooting for me to remind her why we should be together.

I didn’t suggest this deal to make it easy on her. The purpose is to help her realize what could be and how in love with her I still am. If I don’t give it my all, it’ll be a missed opportunity I’ll never get again.

“Guess that means I better make sure these next two dates are unforgettable.” I wink, grabbing her hand and kissing her knuckles. “Because I’m still in this, no matter who he is or what he says.”

Sucking in her lower lip, her teeth drag over it. “Well, I did agree to seven days.”

She’s trying to hide her excitement, which means she wants them as much as I do.

“Good. You still have to meet my chickens, so come at seven and we’ll head out after.”

“Is this another no-heels situation?”

Standing, I bark out a laugh. “Honestly, wear whatever you want. I’m puttin’ an air mattress with blankets and pillows for the bed of my truck so we’re comfortable. You probably won’t even keep your shoes on.”

“Sounds perfect after dancin’ all night. My body’s not moved like that in a long time.”

That makes me wonder how vanilla Hayes’s and her sex life must be, but then I shake my head to get that thought out of my brain.

“Quick question, though…” One I haven’t been able to stop thinking about all night. “Isn’t Hayes like fifty-something years old?”

“Um…” She coughs as if she hadn’t expected that. “Forty-five.”

Well…that confirms my vanilla theory. Curious if he can even get it?—

Nope, not thinking about that.

“It’s not what you’re thinkin’,” she says, and I snap my gaze to hers, wondering if I said my thoughts aloud. “That I must have daddy issues, right?”

“No…” I amnow, though.

Leaning down, I swipe my finger along her lower lip, plucking it out from her front teeth. “I was thinkin’ how it’s been seven years since you’ve been thoroughly fucked that wasn’t in missionary.”

Her mouth opens but then quickly closes, swallowing down her gasp. “What’s wrong with missionary? We’ve done that.”

“Sure, in between a dozen other ones.” She loved being flipped around, pressed into the shower wall, or ride me in the back of my truck.

I stand to my full height, no longer touching her. “You’re tellin’ me you get off being in one position the whole time? Does he make sure you come first?”

“That’s pretty bold comin’ from someone who hasn’t had sex in years! Just because he’s a little older?—”