Page 56 of Unscripted Love
“See!” Chaz exclaimed. “I’ve already embarrassed you, and we haven’t gone inside yet.”
“My cheeks aren’t flush with embarrassment.” I lowered my voice and said, “I’m turned on.”
“Oh! Maybe we should speed away before they realize we’re here.”
“Too late,” I said when I spied my mom standing in the big picture window. She had both hands on her hips and wore her Don’t Even Think About It face. “Might as well make the best of it.”
“Okay,” Chaz glumly said as he straightened in his seat. “This was nice while it lasted.”
“Hey,” I said, hooking my arm around his neck and pulling him toward me. “They’re going to love you because I do and…” The rest of my words died in my throat when I saw Chaz’s shocked expression and realized what I’d let slip out. “You’re not the only one who blurts things out,” I said, trying to recover. I hadn’t planned to say the words right then, but that didn’t make them less true. I also realized that I didn’t regret saying them. “Tell me that I’m not in this alone, Chaz. Tell me that you feel a fraction of what I do and that there’s a good chance you’ll return my feelings someday.”
“Someday?” Chaz asked then shook his head. “Kyle, I arrived at that destination a long time ago. I knew that I was crazy in love with you when you pulled me closer instead of pushing me away when I confessed about the Drew thing. I had planned to tell you in New York with a big romantic gesture,” he confessed.
I smiled in relief then chuckled a little because I had planned to do the same thing. “Great minds think alike,” I told Chaz.
“How were you planning to tell me?” he asked.
“I’m not going to ruin your surprise,” I said. “How wereyougoing to tellme?”
“No way,” Chaz said, shaking his head emphatically. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
I placed my hand on the back of his neck and pressed my forehead to his. “I love you, Chaz Hamilton. I’d love to demonstrate how much, but my mom is watching us.”
Chaz let out a soft sigh. “I love you, Kyle Vaughn.” Chaz gave me a sweet kiss that made my body hum and tingle for more. “We better not eat too much or we won’t have room for Josh’s pre-Thanksgiving feast tonight.”
“True, and I definitely want to save room for that.” Josh and Gabe wanted to celebrate the Sunday before Thanksgiving since everyone had plans on the holiday. “Chaz, I promise that they’re going to love you.”
“Okay then,” he said softly. I realized that he’d just have to see for himself to believe it.
My mom opened the door and smiled when we stepped onto the porch. “Hi, Chaz. Welcome to our home.” She opened her arms wide and hugged him tightly. “Did he have to give you a pep talk to get you out of the truck? We’re not too terrible.”
Chaz blushed when he pulled back. “No, he was telling me that he loves me.” He loudly gasped when he realized what he said. “I can’t believe I just blurted that out there.” Chaz looked miserable when he turned to look at me. “See what I mean?”
“You’re so damn adorable,” I told him.
“Let me tell you a little secret,” my mom told Chaz as she looped her arm through his and led him into the house. “I already knew that Kyle is in love with you.”
“You did?” Chaz asked.
“A mother knows these things,” she said in a sing-song voice. “I bet Clara knows that you’re in love with my son also.”
“Chaz!” Brittney cried as she ran into the room. “I haven’t seen you in ages.” She threw her arms around Chaz and hugged him tightly. “It’s been too long. How are you?”
“I’m doing great, Britt. How about you?” Chaz replied without missing a beat.
“IloveChicago!”
“Unfortunately,” my mom grumbled. “What?” she asked when Brittney pinned her with a baleful glare. “Is it wrong that I wish you lived closer?”
Brittney turned loose of Chaz and hugged our mother. “I miss you too, Mama.”
“Are you still working with Josh?” Britt asked Chaz.
“Yep, I manage the salon for now,” Chaz answered.
“Are you leaving the salon?” my mom asked. “How will Josh manage without you?”
Chaz laughed nervously. “It’s a possibility, but I haven’t made a final decision yet.”