Chapter 12

"My baby boy!" I hear. "I've missed you so much."

I freeze, heart sinking.

It's not Rome or Chrissy or Jean-Michel—all of whom have popped in over the last days to check on me. I'd been looking forward to the interruption, to them breaking the tension?—

The need.

I'm less than a week out from not getting married.

And I almost kissed another man.

Or…well, I had kissed him because our bodies had been plastered together, our lips had touched, and?—

My mouth is still tingling.

Hand shaking as I slowly lift it, I press it to my mouth, trying to capture the sparks of sensation still coursing through my skin.

A brush of lips and…

I'm shattered into a million pieces.

I've never felt anything like it—something so intense that all of the air left my lungs, every nerve was firing with sensation. I was—or maybe am—desperate for his touch and lips and?—

Cock.

I shudder, push that aside.

Because…

The voices are coming closer.

"I could use a cup of coffee," I hear the woman—presumably the aforementioned Mama Bang (what with all the baby boy talk)—say. "My flight was delayed and I almost missed my connection and?—"

"Mom," I hear King say. "I actually need to talk to you about?—"

A petite woman with hair as dark as King's turns the corner into the kitchen and skids to a stop, eyes going wide. "Oh."

King's right behind her, wearing the beleaguered expression of a son who knows there's no point in fighting it.

"Oh," Mama Bang says again, clamping a hand to her chest, mouth opening and closing. "I—" She turns to King, voice dropping. "I didn't realize you weren't alone."

"Clearly," he says dryly. "Hence, you showing up early and unannounced on my porch?"

She swats at him. "Hush now," she tells him, positively bouncing with emotion. "And introduce me to your girlfriend."

I choke.

"Mom—"

But Mama Bang doesn't give him the chance to explain. She just strides across the kitchen, hair bouncing, hand extended.

I think it's for me to shake, so I lift my own. "Hi," I say. "I'm Rory?—"

Only our palms don't get the chance to meet.

Because…

Her arms are wrapping around me instead.

I still, heart pounding.

This…is strange.

I never really realized it before—that there are different kinds of hugs. I should have because I know there's a difference between a lover's embrace and a friend's comfort.

But this is so unlike anything I've ever experienced.

It's not the bear hugs I used to get from my father.

It's not what Phillip and I had long before everything went bad.

It's not what Chrissy and I gave each other when life seemed determined to kick us in the teeth.

It's not…

Like King's hold from just moments before.

It's…a mother's touch.

Warm and firm, confident and sweet, wrapping me up in a soft floral scent, holding me close as she says, "We're all family here." Her arms tighten for a moment before she pulls back enough to smile up at me—up because she's tiny, even though I'm not tall in any sense of the word. "I'm Stella," she says, eyes delving into mine. "It's so nice to meet you Rory."

"Mom," King begins, moving toward us. "Want to release Rory for a second so I can explain?—"

Mama Bang's—er Stella's—purse starts ringing.

"Oh"—she smiles apologetically—"I'm sorry but that's the twins. Jakob—King's brother?—"

I nod, letting her know I've got that much.

"—said they would call me when they got home. Will you excuse me for a minute? I can't miss talking to my grandbabies."

"Of course," I tell her.

"Thank you, honey," she says softly, giving my arm a squeeze before she starts riffling through her purse, pulling out her cell. She swipes across the screen as she reaches the hallway, lifts it to her ear and says, "Hey, baby. I'm glad you called. I just met King's new girlfriend?—"

My mouth falls open.

King groans from next to me.

"I—" Slowly, I swivel to look at him. "Did she say?—?"

"Yup," he mutters. "Twice." He sighs again then turns toward me, takes my hand. "Don't worry, I'll straighten her out."

A thought pops into my head—a way to pay him back for being so nice, for holding me when I cried, for rescuing me from the side of the road and from Phillip's house. A way to thank him for letting me use his guest room and office, a way to make up for being so grumpy and judgy with him and well…nearly destroying his Life Planner.

Something better than Everything cookies.

Something better because his mom's obsessed with playing matchmaker.

"You don't have to," I blurt.

He rocks back on his heels, shakes his head. "What?"

"You don't have to straighten her out?—"

His brows shoot up, nearly to his hairline.

"We can pretend to—" I swallow hard, trying to not take in the obvious shock in his eyes. If I look too hard I might see that he's disgusted or upset or furious. "I know she's been matchmaking hard, and you said the dates she set you up with haven't gone well, and…" I swallow again. "I'm already here and it might take the pressure off you for a little bit." I bite my bottom lip then force a smile. "Save your new laptop even if I do threaten your Life Planner."

That has him unsticking, the shock sliding from his face. "That's really sweet of you to offer," he says, shaking his head. "But I can't possibly ask you to?—"

"You're not asking," I say. "I'm offering." I shrug. "Just think of it as a thank you for your help."

His expression and tone are extremely gentle. "I don't need a thank you for helping you, princess."

My heart flutters at the earnest words. "I know." I push past the butterflies in my belly. "But…" I sigh, hold his eyes. "I'd really like to feel like I can do something helpful for a change."

His big chest rises and falls on a breath. "Something more helpful than rescuing countless animals?"

Be brave and kind.

"Will you let me help you with this?" I ask. Be kind. "Just for a little while to take the pressure off? I know I'm not—" My eyes skate to the side. Be brave. "—I know I'm not the type of girl you normally date and?—"

His expression changes from bemused to furious in an instant.

"You are fucking beautiful," he says fiercely. "So fucking beautiful that any man would be lucky enough to date you, let alone me."

Let alone him?

This gorgeous professional athlete with the kind heart and love for his family and willingness to adopt a puppy and a planner that includes a list to pick up more treats for the pooch had told me?—

Let alone me?

I open my mouth to demand an explanation for that insanity?—

"Oh my God," Stella says. "You two are so sweet."

We jump and turn toward her, King's arm coming around my shoulders, steadying me when I misstep, drawing me back against his big, strong body.

Now's my chance.

Be brave and kind.

Inhaling, I summon that courage and reach up, touching his cheek. "I'll just go up and make sure the guest room is ready for your mom, okay honey?" His fingers tighten. "And give you two a chance to catch up."

His bright blue eyes hold mine for a long moment before he sighs quietly and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "Thank you, princess," he murmurs.

Then he presses a kiss to my forehead and moves over to his mom.

"You have to try these cookies," I hear as I slip from the room and hurry up the stairs to the guest room, heart pounding the entire way.

Be brave.

Be kind.

And…

Please don't let this bite me in the ass.