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.The onlything missing from their barbeque was the collard greens his sister madelike a pro.Everything else was the exact same.Of course, his fathermade better sauce, but it was still all good.When Jocelyn began to fidget, he leaned down and told her it wasokay for her to go and play.She ran off, but not before bringing hermother over to keep him company.She told him she didn t want him tobe lonely.The thought of him being lonely in a house full of peopleamused him, but he could tell by her fierce expression she was serious.Eliza leaned against him and hugged his waist tightly.Leaning over, heplaced his head on the top of her head and listened to the serenade ofthe voices in the background.If this is what family life was all about, itwas something he could seriously get used to. Are you having a good time? Eliza asked, rubbing his backsoothingly through his shirt. I m having a great time, he answered, and to his amazement, hereally was.The only rough moment was when Anthony and her other twowww.samhainpublishing.comThree Nights 159brothers approached him, but because Jocelyn refused to leave his side,he got only a mild warning.He d have to make a mental note to buy thekid a fish after all, because he was sure she saved him from the dreadedspeech he had tortured plenty of men with because of Tay.Taking his hand, Eliza led him out of the house into the backyard.The sun was beginning to set and a soft breeze drifted across the yard.The party could still be heard from the garden, but it was less clutteredwith family.A few people strolled about, smiling at them as they walkedby.It seemed as if they weren t the only ones in the need for a little peaceand quiet.Peace and quiet was something he hadn t had a lot of lately, and foronce he was very pleased about that.Before he couldn t wait to escapeinto the sanctuary of his house, away from everyone and everything, butlately he didn t want to be home unless Eliza and Jocelyn were there withhim.It was actually nice to step over crayons and have a shelf of moviesthat didn t have any cursing.His house was finally beginning to feel morelike a home now, and it was a feeling he wanted around him more andmore. What do you think of my family? Eliza asked as she leaned againsthim and watched the settling of the sun. In a word, he teased,  loud.Laughing softly, Eliza pulled back and looked over her shoulder athim. And what word would you use to describe your family? Mom, Pops and Tay or you and Jocelyn? he asked, looking downinto her surprised face. We re family now, huh? Tears misted her eyes at his comment. You got a problem with that? he asked huskily. Not a one.www.samhainpublishing.com160 Lena Matthews Good. Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. Because I vebeen thinking. Yeah? I still have one fantasy of yours to fulfill. That s right, isn t it? Well I ve been giving this a lot of thought, and I think I know youwell enough that I could probably guess what your next fantasy is. Really? The way I look at it is, you gave me your trust when you left mealone with Jocelyn.You gave me your heart when I wined and dined you.So the only thing left is&  Yes. Sex. Laughing, she pulled back and slapped him lightly on hischest. No seriously, by the third date you re supposed to be putting out. What do you call the wall, the desk, the couch, the bed? Appetizers. Bending, he kissed her lightly on her lips.Laughing,Eliza grabbed his hand and took him behind a tree.Pushing him backagainst the tree, she slid her hand under his shirt.Lightly scraping hernails down his chest, Eliza teased his nipples, dragging a sound ofapproval from his throat. Well, I ve been thinking long and hard about it too, she said,smiling at his groan of arousal. Really? Oh yeah, she teased. Does it involve sex? he asked hopefully. Only if you play your cards right. Last time I played with you I won big, he said, wrapping his armsaround her body.Chris pulled her in tight to him and rested his headagainst hers.www.samhainpublishing.comThree Nights 161Eliza had kept her promise, he thought fondly.She and Jocelyn hadbegun to make new memories for him that were slowly but surely wipingaway the painful ones from his past.Cradled in her arms, Chris nowslept at night, no longer waking from dreams of the past, but now lulledby love, he rested, his soul at last at ease.He was finally breaking free ofhis childhood, and able to see into a future filled with children andlaughter, filled with the love of Eliza. I was hoping you d see it that way. I do, Chris said seriously.Pulling back, he looked into her tear filledeyes. I love you, you know.Smiling, Eliza said quietly and surely,  Of course I know.I ve alwaysknown that.www.samhainpublishing.com162 Lena MatthewsEpilogueMissy glanced up from her textbook and peeked over the counter,looking for signs of intelligent life forms in need of her help.Intelligentlife forms in an adult bookstore, she thought with a giggle, like that wasreally going to happen.Not that she had anything against the late nightvisitors who gifted her with their presence.If it weren t for peopleshopping for porn and vibrators at ten o clock at night, she wouldn t havea job.A job she needed and really liked, despite the location and themerchandise.Glancing at her wristwatch, she mentally gave herself another tenminutes before she would go bang on the doors of the movie booths torouse the late night whackers, so they would hurry up and she couldclose up [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]