“Still, I want you to know I’m here no matter what, even if I’m not living with you.” The reminder makes me realize I’m going to have to do some soul searching. I know I want to live with Talon; I just don’t know if it’s too soon. Then again, it would be stupid to get into a lease somewhere and buy furniture and stuff just to leave it to sit because I’m staying here all the time.

“I know that.” Her statement brings me out of my thoughts. “But I want… no, I need to do this. I need to know I can take care of my girls. I want them to see their parents, even if they aren’t together, putting their differences aside to make sure they’re happy.”

“I want that for you all too.”

“I know you do, and even if the conversation started off on a bad note, Mike did end up agreeing that he would try to be around more. So now, all I can do is wait to see what happens with him.”

“Does Winston know you’re quitting?” I ask, hoping Mike does step up like he needs to.

“Yeah, and he understands, even if he doesn’t like it. And honestly, I couldn’t work there and see him every day. There’s just too much that’s happened between us.”

“I get that, Cece, and I really think it’s healthier for you that you don’t work there anymore.”

“I know,” she says as I hear the front door open, which means Talon is home. And even though I just saw him a couple hours ago when I stopped by Cece’s to take him and the guys dinner, I’ve missed him since I left his presence. “I’m just going to miss seeing him.”

My eyes slide closed and my heart hurts for her, because I understand that feeling, even if my emotions aren’t clouded with pain. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“Me too,” she whispers back. “What’s your plan for tomorrow evening? Mom was asking about getting together for dinner with you and Talon.”

“Umm.” I open my eyes when I hear Talon enter the kitchen, and I smile as he stops to give Retro and Mercury some love. Of course, my easygoing girls have settled in at his place without any issues, and they even seem to enjoy the company of Soma and the kittens. “Talon just got home. Let me ask him.”

He walks toward me, somehow looking seriously hot in a dirty tee, jeans, and boots. My tongue gets stuck to the roof of my mouth, and all thoughts but him leave my mind as he stoops down to kiss me quickly, still managing to touch his tongue to my bottom lip. “What’s up?” Clearing my throat, I blink as he takes off his shirt. “Babe.”

“Right.” I lick my lips. “My parents are wondering if we can all get together for dinner tomorrow evening.”

“Sure.” His fingers move to his belt, distracting me as he unbuckles it, drawing attention to the thin strip of hair that I know leads to heaven. “Mia.”

“Hmm?” I lose focus as he starts to unbutton his jeans.

“Never mind.” He reaches for the phone in my hand, taking it from my grasp and putting it to his ear. “Cece, yeah, dinner tomorrow works. How about you and your parents meet us here around five, and I’ll throw something on the grill?” He pulls me up off the couch before I can ask him what he’s doing, and then he starts leading me toward the bedroom with his hand wrapped tightly around mine. “Cool. See you then. Yeah. All right, have a good night, and sure, I’ll tell Mia you said that.” He hangs up and tosses my phone on the counter in the kitchen before spinning around and picking me up. “Your sister said goodnight.”

“Okay.” I breathe as I wrap my legs around his hips and drop my mouth down to his. When we get to the bathroom, even though I showered when I got home, I have no problem at all when he drags me under the spray of water with him. And I for sure don’t complain about the two orgasms he gives me as he fucks me against the tile.

_______________

My parents, sister, nieces, Talon, and I sit around the table on his back deck, with dishes littering the tabletop and nothing but scraps left from the salmon, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob I cooked. Talon ended up getting stuck at Cece’s house, so I got everything ready for dinner before he got home. I pick up my iced tea and take a sip.

“Mia was telling Chaz and me about the house you’re building. We’d love to see it this week if you have time,” my mom says, picking up her wine glass.

“Just let me know when.” Talon rests his arm on the back of my chair and smooth’s his thumb up and down my shoulder as I rest my hand on his thigh.

“Do you know what you’re planning on pricing it at?” she asks him, and my spine stiffens.

“Mom.”

“What?” She frowns at me. “Chaz and I have been talking, and we’re thinking about moving here.”

“What?” I ask, sure I heard her wrong. She’s lived in Montana her whole life, and so has Chaz, so it’s hard for me to believe they would move. And not only that, but Chaz has a well-established law practice there, and I don’t see him retiring anytime soon, even though he’s almost seventy.

“Chaz is planning on retiring in the next couple of years, and we’ve fallen in love with this area and are talking about finding a place here.”

“Really?” I look at Chaz.

“We want to be closer to all our girls,” he says, his face soft as he looks between me, Cece, Ruby, Lola, and Kate.

“I wouldn’t be upset about that,” I tell him.

“Me neither,” Cece agrees, then asks the girls, “How happy would you guys be if Grandma and Grandpa moved here?

“So happy.” Lola grins.

“So, so happy,” Kate says, always wanting to one-up her sister however she can.

“Can I go play with the kittens?” Ruby asks, bouncing in her seat and making us all laugh.

“Yeah, go on. Just be gentle with them,” Cece tells her, and her sisters follow her inside. When the door closes behind them, Cece looks at Talon and points. “Just so you know, I will kill you if you offer my girls one of those kittens.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea. You can have two, and that way they will still be able to play with each other,” I say happily, and my sister glares at me. “You have to admit they’re cute, and you haven’t had any kind of allergic reaction to them.”

“No.” She shakes her head.

“You can’t stop me from giving them a gift.” I shrug, smiling when Talon laughs and kisses the side of my head.

“See? This is what we don’t want to miss,” Mom says, and I look at her. “And just think, honey, if we get a place here, I’ll be around a lot more and will be able to help you plan your wedding.”

“Mom,” I groan, covering my face.

“What?”

“Talon and I—”

“Your daughter has to agree to marry me before you two start planning a wedding,” Talon cuts me off, and I turn to glare at him.

“Don’t encourage her.”

“Why? I did ask you.”

“No, you didn’t,” I deny, then my eyes widen when I remember him asking me after I gave him a blowjob, and he grins like he’s reading my mind. “That didn’t count,” I tell him, hearing Cece laugh as I shake my head. “Anyway, we just got together. It’s gonna be awhile before any of that happens.”