Page 65 of Living with Fire
I need a distraction that doesn’t involve sex.
“Do you want kids?” she wonders aloud.
My brain comes to a screeching halt. While I suppose kids do involve sex, the topic change throws me for a loop. It’s exactly what I needed for my situation.
For a second I think it’s completely random and out of the blue until I follow where she’s looking. There’s a pair of kids who are obviously siblings, running around, having the time of their lives playing as their parents watch from a bench, enjoying a snack and drink of water.
When I cast a look down to her, Savanna blushes. “That’s probably not first date material, is it?”
My lips curve upward. “Doesn’t seem like a first date, does it? Considering we’ve spent the last week living under the same roof, sharing a couch at the end of the day.”
“Not even a little. Part of me feels like I should already know the answer to this, but then I remember we’ve only known each other for a little more than a week.”
“It boggles my mind too,” I tell her, then glance back at the kids running around. Even as a teenager I knew I wanted kids one day. Now, ask my aunts if they thought I’d even considered it, and they’d flat out tell you no. If I had, I’d be married with a couple of them by now at my age. Considering I’m only thirty-two, I always roll my eyes at them.
“Yeah,” I tell her thoughtfully, still watching the family. “I’d like them one day. At least two. Growing up I always had Jordan, and even though she annoyed the hell out of me most of the time, I couldn’t imagine not having her.”
Savanna wiggles her way into my side, wrapping an arm around my waist as she goes back to looking at the waterfall, a soft smile on her face. “Same with my brothers, though I think I was the one doing the annoying.” Lifting her eyes to me, she adds in a shy voice, “Same about the kids too.”
Though it seems like a dangerous idea, I bow my head and press a soft, chaste kiss to her lips. Another thing we seem to be on the same page about, and I once again feel like this woman was made for me.
I’m in awe of not just her beauty, but her strength. To live what she went through, get away from it, start fresh in some place foreign to her, and stand on her own two feet without any help or support, amazes me. To let me inside her world, to trust me with the burden that she’s been carrying alone, and to give me a chance after everything she’s been through, I feel honored.
I know as I gaze down at this incredible woman, I’m quickly giving my heart to her, and I don’t think there’s a damn thing I can do about it.
“Speaking of families,” I say, clearing my throat as I glance away and look out to the waterfall. I’ve been thinking about the best way to bring this up. “Tomorrow is Sunday.”
“Your mom’s birthday barbecue,” she states, and I look down at her in surprise. She remembered. “Don’t look at me like that, of course I remember. Your mom was very firm that she didn’t want you there unless I came with you, and you made it clear that you’d get the third degree from the aunts since she’d be telling them all about our breakfast together.”
I already know my mom has told them. I woke up after a nap that day to a bunch of text messages from a couple of my aunts inquiring about the “beautiful woman” I had taken to breakfast. I’m certain they must have a group text going strictly for gossip.
“Right. Well, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to join me. It doesn’t need to be a date,” I add quickly. “We can show up as friends, and I can tell everyone to mind their own business.”
I run a hand through my hair, suddenly feeling just as nervous as I did asking her out on this date. “I know it’s a lot really quick. I don’t want you to feel any pressure because meeting the family is a big deal, but you have the day off, and the food will be better than anything you’ve had since you got to Santa Rosé. I promise you that.”
Savanna turns towards me, her gray eyes intent. “Do you want me to meet your family?”
I swallow hard to keep from rambling again, giving her a firm nod.
“Would you prefer not touching me all day?”
I blanch, not having considered that previously. If we tell everyone we’re only friends, whether they believe us or not, I’ll need to remember to keep my hands completely to myself. We both will. I’m not really keen on that idea.
I give her a firm shake of my head.
“Then I guess you got your answer.” When I eye her, perplexed, she grins at me, and it sends my heart into a gallop. “Sex tonight isn’t the only sure bet. That second date is, and it looks like it’s tomorrow.”
Christ. Just when I’d stopped thinking about sex long enough to get rid of my hard-on, she makes a promise like that.
I’m about to say screw the rest of the hike so I can get her back to the truck where we can find a quiet road and I can fuck her senseless. Because if I don’t? This could turn out to be one of the longest afternoons of my life.
CHAPTER 23
SAVANNA
“I am uncomfortably full,” I say, sagging back in my seat, resting a hand over my belly. “Why was that so good? I couldn’t stop eating any of it.”
We’ve just finished eating at a hole in the wall taqueria Nate insisted I didn’t judge until I’d tried. I know from personal experience back home that some of the best things come out of these kinds of places, so I didn’t judge it at all.