Yvonne organized her sons, and by nine thirty David and Michael were waiting for Nolan to arrive, both boys constantly peering out the window and bouncing around in their excitement.
The phone rang and she picked up, hoping it wasn’t Nolan to say he needed to change plans. Her boys would mutiny.
“Gina,” she said in relief when she heard her aunt’s greeting.
“I’ve packed a picnic basket for you,” her aunt said in a gruff voice. “Make sure you get Nolan to stop by to pick it up.”
“I was just going to grab some muffins and a few sandwiches,” Yvonne said.
“Don’t argue, Missy,” her aunt said in her forthright way.
Gina Muir might scare a lot of people with her blunt attitude, but Yvonne knew the woman hid a heart of gold beneath her no-nonsense exterior.
“Thank you. Are you sure you don’t want me to come back and relieve you?”
“It’ll be quiet. It was yesterday. I intend to close early, probably at two after lunch. That’s plenty of time for me to check out the displays in the Food Hall and meet with my friends. Enjoy your time off. You work too hard.”
Anyone else might have focused on the abrupt delivery. Yvonne heard the concern and caring and her heart swelled with love. Gina had been her savior after her marriage fell apart, offering a job and a new life, and Yvonne would never forget her aunt’s generosity.
A car sounded outside in the driveway.
“He’s here!” Michael shouted.
“Yahoo!” David hollered.
Both her sons ran for the door in a full-on race with thumping feet and yells of jubilation.
“Nolan has arrived,” Gina said, hearing the racket. “Don’t forget to stop by the store.”
“See you soon, and thanks.”
“No thanks necessary,” Gina said and hung up.
Yvonne picked up her handbag, plus jackets for herself and the boys. She walked through the open door and smiled at the way the boys gamboled around Nolan like playful puppies. He’d already started to transfer the car seats to his vehicle and was bent over while he fixed the first one in place.
“Good morning,” she said, letting her gaze rove over his jeans-clad butt. Very nice.
“Morning,” he said after he’d backed out of the car. He picked up the second car seat and had it fastened and secure in half the time it took her. “In you go, boys,” he said. “We have a show to attend.”
Yvonne grinned at the mad scramble, although part of her noted her sons’ hero-worship in concern. Michael and David had only met Nolan a few times, but he was a natural with them. They needed a man in their lives—not that she intended to settle. Nolan had already let her down once, and she wasn’t about to give him a chance to hurt her sons.
Nolan checked the boys were buckled in, then grinned at her and reached for her hand. He tugged her against his chest and started to kiss her before she could voice an objection about her boys’ presence. His hands stole up her back to hold her face in place while he ravaged her mouth. Lips, tongue, teeth. His entire arsenal of kissing experience came into play and every one of her objections died a quick death. She looped her arms around his neck and held on for the ride, pleasure setting off detonations throughout her body.
When he lifted his head, his breathing was rapid. She didn’t want to think about her reaction. He shifted his hands and tugged off her scrunchie. Her hair released from its tidy ponytail and danced in the soft breeze.
“Much better.” Nolan guided her to the passenger door and opened it for her. He gave her a swift tap on the butt of her jeans. “In you go. We have things to do.”
“He kissed you, Mummy,” Michael said.
“Why did he kiss you?” David asked.
Nolan slid into the driver’s seat. “I kissed your mummy because she’s my girlfriend.”
Damn and blast. “His grownup girlfriend,” Yvonne said hurriedly, after visions of phone calls from concerned mothers floated through her mind. Michael was a gregarious soul and made friends easily. Many of them were girls, and she didn’t want him scaring them with exuberant kisses. “You can’t kiss girls like that until you’re eighteen,” she added for clarification. She glowered at Nolan when he snorted out amusement.
“Your mother is right,” Nolan said as he backed out of the driveway. “You can’t do that until you’re eighteen.” He lowered his voice and slid her a sly look. “Lots of fringe benefits for an eighteen-year-old.”
Time for a change of subject. “Gina organized a picnic basket for us. We need to swing by and pick it up.”
At the show grounds, Nolan parked his vehicle in the competitors’ car park and placed a paper badge on the dash.
“No running off,” Yvonne said, turning to face her boys. “We need to go with Nolan to look at the animals first.”
“If you’re really good, we’ll go on the rides later this afternoon,” Nolan said.
The boys jumped up and down, and Yvonne smothered a grin. “You have to behave.”
“I’ll come back for the picnic basket later,” Nolan said.
Spring had arrived much earlier than normal this year, and Yvonne left their coats in the vehicle. She picked up her handbag and fell into step with Nolan. The boys ran ahead, arms outspread like plane wings.
“I enjoyed last night,” Nolan said.
Yvonne brushed a lock of hair off her face. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did.”
“My work is done,” Yvonne said.
Nolan checked on the boys. They were still running ahead, arms outstretched. “What sort of sex toys?”
Yvonne scanned their surroundings before answering. “I have a clit stimulator, a vibrator, a butt plug and some ben-wah balls.”
“We haven’t tried anal—” Nolan broke off when a group of elderly ladies climbed out of a newly arrived vehicle.
Nolan’s mother. Great. Just great. If Elizabeth said anything rude to her sons, Yvonne intended to deck the woman. And she wouldn’t pull her punches.
“Ah, Nolan,” Elizabeth Penrith said. “Good timing. We need help to carry our things to the Exhibition hall.”
“It will have to be quick,” Nolan said. “I have to help Dad with the cattle we’ve entered in the show.”
“Oh, good,” one of Elizabeth’s friends said, her stern face softened by gratitude.
“Michael. David.” Yvonne summoned the boys to her side.
“Excellent.” A third woman with tightly rolled blue curls handed Michael a small blue box. “Can you carry this for me, young man?”
“I don’t think—” Yvonne started.
“Nothing breakable,” the woman said. “Boys like to feel useful. It keeps them out of mischief.”
Yvonne knew her boys and wasn’t so sure.
Elizabeth threw visual daggers, and Yvonne ignored them, taking a box of assorted flowers, ribbons and fabric in her arms.
They followed the elderly ladies to a large hall. The cavernous room was abuzz with conversation when they entered, the scent of flowers and baked goods heavy on the air. Some of the displays had obviously been done the previous day. Elizabeth led Nolan, Yvonne and her boys to an area that was currently empty of entries.
“Is this a timed competition?” Yvonne asked the blue-haired lady. Mrs. Williams, she thought, dredging through her memory.
“Yes, and it’s always such fun. We have a short time to organize and start at ten.”
“Good luck, ladies.” Nolan casually snared David’s hand and stopped him from racing away down the aisle. His other arm, he slipped around Yvonne’s shoulders.
Yvonne almost chortled at the dried prune expression on Elizabeth Penrith’s face and cuddled into Nolan, presenting a family unit to anyone who glanced their way. Petty, yes, but she enjoyed it all the same.
Yvonne took charge of Michael, and they wove in and out of men and women carrying flowers, sponge cakes and boxes of jam and chutney.
“My mother has an unerring knack for popping out of the woodwork when sex toys are involved,” Nolan said, his voice casual as if he were discussing the weather. “We’ll lock the front door and the bedroom door tonight to be on the safe side.”
Yvonne croaked, a garbled sound that combined shock with laughter.
“Tyler’s here,” Nolan said, his pleasure at seeing his younger brother obvious. “And Susan.” He swung David up and onto his shoulders and increased his pace to the entrance of the building housing the cattle for show.
Yvonne followed more slowly, slivers of jealousy creeping stealthily into her heart. Susan from the reality show—the woman he’d picked from all the applicants. But he’d chosen her for Tyler, she told herself. The truth didn’t help her cope with her envy any better.
When she and Michael reached the group, Nolan was giving Susan a hug. True, David was involved in the hug, enthusiastically kissing the top of Susan’s head too, but still…
Nolan stepped back and slid his free arm around Yvonne’s shoulders again, urging her forward. “You remember Yvonne? And these are her boys, David and Michael.”
“Of course I remember Yvonne.” Susan smiled warmly. Her long, straight hair hung loose around her shoulders and a smattering of freckles showed through her light make-up. Even dressed in casual jeans, a red shirt, black vest and knee-high black boots, the woman glistened with city polish.
“I brought my friend, Christina, down for the weekend. She’s here somewhere. You remember Christina, Nolan?” Susan asked. “Ah, here she is. Christina, this is Yvonne, Nolan’s girlfriend.”
A woman with brown hair, expertly trimmed and highlighted with blonde, shared her grin around. She hugged Nolan, the golden bangles she wore on her left wrist jingling musically. She pulled back and smiled at Yvonne. “I wondered why Nolan picked Susan. Now I know. He was already taken.” Christina’s eyes twinkled behind the lenses of her glasses.
Yvonne felt her mouth drop open and firmed her jaw. His girlfriend? Nolan hadn’t even blinked an eye at the announcement, when in the past he’d hidden her like a naughty secret. And what was with the touchy-feely stuff? Not that she wasn’t enjoying his attention, but wasn’t their relationship merely a version of friends with very sexy benefits?
“Hey, bro,” Nolan said when Tyler joined them. “I hear the farm sold. When are you moving north?”
“In a couple of weeks. I want Katey to start at her school soon. The new owner takes over on the first of next month.” Tyler grinned at Susan, his love for the woman shining on his face. “Don’t tell Susan and Christina, but Josie and I lured them down here under false pretenses. They’re going to help us start packing tomorrow.”
Nolan set David on the ground and grasped his hand before he could run amok and upset the cattle in the stalls adjacent to where they stood. “Let me know if you need a hand. Dad and I can both help.”
“Thanks! It’s mainly the house stuff and tools. The buyer wanted the farm equipment. Have you checked on your entries in the show?” Tyler asked. “I saw Dad. He said one of your yearling bulls had won its class. We’ve won four of our classes. Eric is ecstatic.”
“I’ll go and check. Do you want to have lunch together? We can meet on the hill and watch the events in the arena while we eat.” Nolan shared his question around.
“Sounds like a plan,” Susan said. “Around one?”
Yvonne remained silent while the others made arrangements to meet. Nolan seemed happy spending time with Tyler, when in the past the two had barely spoken to one another. Elizabeth Penrith wasn’t a warm person—that was for sure—even though she dedicated her life to raising money for various local charities.
“Let’s go and see how we’ve done with our cattle and sheep,” Nolan said. “No shouting, boys. You don’t want to start a stampede.”
Yvonne smiled when her two boys immediately started firing questions at Nolan, fascinated by the possibilities of cattle in a panic.
By the time lunch arrived, Yvonne had stopped jumping every time Nolan wrapped his arm around her waist. She’d ceased worrying about her boys misbehaving and was equally glad she’d decided on comfortable shoes.
The others were already seated on picnic blankets, the adults with glasses of wine in hand when she, Nolan and the boys arrived.
“Glass of wine, dear?” Josie asked. “And juice for the boys?”
“Thank you,” Yvonne said.
Nolan spread out their tartan picnic rug, and Yvonne accepted a glass of wine before busying herself unpacking the contents of their basket. She handed the boys fried chicken legs and a pack of sandwiches before offering Nolan a slice of bacon and egg pie.
“Why don’t you come up to Auckland for the weekend?” Susan asked. “Bring Yvonne with you.”
“Good idea,” Nolan said, his eyes gleaming with sensual promise. “We don’t get much time alone.”
“I can’t foist my boys on Gina,” Yvonne protested. “She has enough to do without adding them.”
“Make it during the next month, and I’ll take them for a weekend,” Josie said. “Eric and I enjoy the noise around the place. With Tyler and Katey leaving early, we’re going to find it very quiet.”
“No, I couldn’t—” Yvonne started.
“Don’t be silly,” Josie said. “You work hard and deserve a break.” She turned to Nolan. “You too.”
Susan placed her hand on Yvonne’s arm and squeezed gently. “Please come. We can have a girls’ afternoon. I’m sure Connor—he’s one of our friends—will draft Tyler and Nolan to play rugby for his team.”
Yvonne hadn’t visited Auckland for years. She scarcely got enough time to go to the hairdresser these days, which was why she’d let her hair grow long. “I suppose I could take the opportunity to squeeze in a hair appointment.”
“I like your hair.” Nolan’s gaze settled on the long strands that hung down Yvonne’s back.
“Christina is the person you want,” Susan said. “She does personal styling and has so many great contacts. Give us a date and we’ll arrange it for you.”
“Will I get to see the famous Maxwell’s? Our customers loved that episode of the reality show and talked about it for days. I love to dance,” Yvonne said. “I used to do competitive ballroom dancing before I was married.”
“You never told me that,” Nolan said.
Yvonne winked at him. “Because we’re always busy discussing other things.” She turned to Josie. “If you’re sure about babysitting, I’ll take you up on your offer. I’ll even volunteer to help with your packing in exchange.”
“And I thought this would be stressful,” Eric, Josie’s husband, said. “Everyone is doing the work for us.”
While everyone laughed, Nolan leaned over and brushed a quick kiss on Yvonne’s lips. “Thanks for agreeing to a weekend away. It’ll be fun.”
By the time they trooped around the fairground rides and arrived back at her house, her sons were almost asleep on their feet. Michael bore the remnants of ice cream around his mouth while David had candy floss stuck in his hair.
“Into the bath with you two,” Yvonne said briskly while considering the contents of her fridge and pantry. Something quick for dinner.
“Would you like me to handle their baths while you take care of dinner?” Nolan asked.
“You?” She didn’t manage to hide her shock very well.
“I know how to have a bath,” Nolan said. “I’m sure I can manage two small boys.”
“Thanks,” she said finally, unsure of how to handle this new Nolan who kept firing surprises.
She showed Nolan where she kept the clean towels and left him to supervise. From experience, she knew how grumpy her boys became when tired. He’d regret his offer soon enough.
In the kitchen, she went through the motions, frying fish fingers and making mashed potatoes with a side of peas for the boys. For her and Nolan, she cooked pork chops and made gravy. All the while, she listened for shouts and screams. They didn’t come. Instead Michael wandered out dressed in his pajamas and settled in front of the television. Nolan and David appeared ten minutes later. David was chattering about the hedgehog he’d seen the previous night and Nolan was smiling.
Yvonne’s heart squeezed tight at the way he was soaking up the masculine attention. Damn Jason for leaving her and ignoring the fact he had two sons.
Throughout dinner, Nolan was attentive to the boys and never brushed off their questions. He was equally considerate to her and Yvonne felt a crack open in her heart. She immediately shored up the breach. Nolan had hurt her. Best if she kept things casual.
“Bed time.” Yvonne stood, needing time away from Nolan to regroup. She hustled her sons to their bedroom and tucked them into bed. After kissing them goodnight, she unwillingly retraced her steps. She found Nolan in the kitchen. He’d cleared the table and the majority of the dinner dishes were stacked in the dishwasher.
“Alone at last.” Nolan prowled toward her, his gaze twinkling with a sensual gleam of promise. Instinctively, she backed up and found herself trapped between the fridge and Nolan’s hard chest. “I’ve wanted to kiss you all day.”
Yvonne thought of the constant touches, the casual kisses that had frequently toppled her off-balance. “You kissed me.”
“Not how I wanted,” he whispered, his breath warm against her lips.
“But we’re just friends.”
“We’re more than friends.”
“No.” No, they weren’t. A man didn’t desert a woman to appear on a reality show, and they certainly didn’t do it in the lame way he had. Telling her he had things to do for three months and wouldn’t be able to see her. Huh! She lifted her chin to glare some of her irritation at the smooth-talking lothario.
Nolan searched her expression. Maybe he didn’t like what he saw because he took her mouth in an uncompromising kiss. For frozen seconds, she let him do the work before she began to respond to his expertise. Heck, she wasn’t stupid. The man knew how to kiss and she figured she should enjoy the experience—short-lived as it may be. Ditto the toe-tingling sex.
Her hands rose to run through his silky hair as she pressed closer. Such a nice hard body. One only a foolish woman would ignore.
“We can’t do this here,” he murmured. “The boys.”
While she was pretty sure her sons were unlikely to stir, she pulled back and gripped his hand to lead him to her bedroom.
“What about the rest of the dishes?”
“I’ll sort them out in the morning.” Even though it would throw off her schedule.
“Let’s go then.” A slow smile bloomed on his lips, fascinating to watch and one that sent waves of fluster crashing through her. Fogged her good intentions.
She couldn’t let him take control of this—whatever it was between them. It was necessary to keep the upper hand to save herself from heartache. Yvonne dropped his hand and strode ahead to push open her bedroom door. She flipped on the light and stalked over to draw the curtains. Behind her, he closed the door and the sharp click of the lock engaging seemed like the turn of a key of a cell door.
Deep breath, Yvonne. Take control and throw him off course.
She forced her lips to a smile, pinned it in place and turned to face him. “I’d really like to try out the vibrating butt plug. Are you game?”
He blinked. “We could do that.”
“Good,” she said. “Why don’t you strip off and get on the bed while I get the lube? Would you like to lie on your back or would kneeling on all fours work better for you?”
Nolan made a choking sound. “You want to shove the plug in me?”
Gotcha.
She restrained her smirk with difficulty and waited a beat while she grappled for control. “I thought we could have turns.” Perfect delivery. “It’s not as if I’m gonna tell anyone. What happens in this bed stays in this bedroom.”
His expression had turned impassive seconds after her announcement, and curse it, she couldn’t decipher his thoughts.
“You have had anal sex before?”
“Not receiving,” he said.
His eyes were burning holes in her, making her wonder if she’d gone too far. “Don’t you think you should experience the act from the other side at least once? I have plenty of lube and know exactly what to do. If it hurts you too much, I can stop.” Heck, if she laid it on much thicker, she’d start clucking like a chicken.
“You’re right,” he said suddenly. “I’d love to fuck your ass, but it’s only fair if you get to do me too.”
Yvonne froze in the middle of mentally marshaling another argument. Had he said she was right?
Nolan started to strip, and bemused, Yvonne picked up the bottle of lube. She squeezed it to within an inch of its life to stop herself reaching for him. Bronzed skin. Long, muscled limbs and that light brown hair with blond streaks. Tight butt, just perfect for forward propulsion. Be still my heart.
“You’re gorgeous,” she blurted. “We always make love in the dark, and I never get to appreciate your sexy body.”
The tension noticeably seeped from his shoulders and his grin shone with pure, natural Nolan. “Now that you come to mention it, I don’t get to see you often either. Strip, darlin’ Yvonne.”
Visions of cellulite and a body that had borne two children zapped to the forefront of her mind. Every instinct told her to object, but one glance at his smiling face had her obeying. With the lube set aside, she started to disrobe. Her thick wool socks hit the floor first, followed by her blue jeans and her maroon jumper. Soon she was left in nothing but her bra and panties.
“Keep going,” he said, folding his arms over his broad chest.
His brown eyes held a dare she couldn’t refuse. Yvonne flicked her bra closure and the cups loosened, gaping forward to display her curves.
“Pretty. Come closer and let me taste those sexy nipples of yours.”
Her feet stayed firmly planted. “You’re just trying to change the order of events.”
“Nope.” His good humor sparkled from those big, brown eyes. “You’ve made a fair point. I wouldn’t let just anyone do this to me. I trust you.”
Something warm spread through her chest, and she smiled back, prowling over to the bed and halting beside him. His large hands closed on her hips, right above the elastic band of her panties. He craned his neck and captured one nipple between his lips. The draw of his mouth, the tight surge of suction almost took her out at the knees. She grabbed his shoulders for purchase while she savored the swirl of sensations.
“Harder,” she said, wanting, needing evidence of his attentions the next day. He released her nipple and sucked a mark on the underside of her breast. Like liquid heat, his touch spiraled down to converge in her pussy. They’d hardly started, yet already her body ached for him and his touch, his presence detonated bursts of pleasure that rippled through her body. Only Nolan. Boyfriends past, her husband…none of them managed to set her afire like Nolan.
He lifted his head, his eyes full of passion and heat. Lust. An answering surge filled Yvonne, and she was tempted to jump him and get to the good stuff. No. She’d go ahead with what she’d suggested, see if her depraved—according to her ex—sexing put him off. Best she learn now.
The truth. She thought he’d enjoy anal sex—she’d make sure he did, and when her orgasm finally came, it would be even more enjoyable due to the wait.
“I love the way you react to my touch,” he whispered.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?”
His gaze went to his cock, and he smirked. “Be gentle with me.”
“Talk dirty to me. Tell me what you’re going to do to me, with me.”
“You like dirty talk?” he asked in surprise.
“Sounds good in theory. Why don’t we try it and see?” Heck, lots of firsts tonight, she thought. “Assume the position.”
His baleful look made her giggle, but he knelt on the bed. She noticed his erection had subsided and realized he wasn’t as calm as he portrayed. Yvonne picked up the lube and unlocked the drawer where she’d placed her collection of toys. She’d already checked out the instructions and the batteries were fully charged.
When she reached the bed, she saw Nolan’s muscles were locked. If she gave a loud shout, he’d probably leap for cover. Although her suggestion was a test, she intended to make him feel good. She slid her hands over his ass and lower to stroke his cock. She kissed the smooth pale skin that didn’t see the sun and gradually his muscles relaxed. “This is going to be fun.”
“Okay for you,” he said drily.
“Don’t worry. Once the plug is in place, I’ll take you in my mouth and soon you’ll feel as if you’re flying.”
“Promises, promises.”
Laughing, she lowered her head and gave into the temptation to nip his ass cheek.
“Hey.” His reproving glance made her grin widen.
Yvonne squeezed lube onto her fingers and spread his cheeks to run her fingers across his puckered entrance, not attempting to enter but intending to awaken his nerve endings, to help him relax. She paid attention to his perineum, pressing firmly. “Talk dirty to me.”
“I think about fucking you all the time,” he said. “I’ve never been with anyone like you. You’ve climbed inside my head. At first, it pissed me off, but I’ve come to like you there. I love your womanly body and the fact you eat food instead of complaining about diets all the time.”
Yvonne listened to his smooth tone and his compliments and the warmth in her chest spread. She dipped a finger inside him, surprising a moan out of him.
“Holy hell,” he muttered.
“Don’t be a baby,” she said, pushing her finger deeper. “You’ve gone light on the dirty. Tell me how you want to fuck me.”
“Hard,” he said. “Deep and fast. I want to seize my pleasure, but I want to give in return. I imagine you’re just as desperate for me as I am for you. I’m deep inside you, thrusting in full-on strokes. Your pussy is tight, hot, and you’re spurring me on, your nails digging into my shoulders.”
A quiver went through Yvonne and when she shifted her weight, she smelled her arousal. She slipped another finger into his warm heat and his entire body shuddered. “You okay?”
“Hurts a little.”
Yvonne reached to curl her hand around his cock. She pumped his shaft several times while she continued to invade his entrance with her fingers. “You can do this,” she whispered, so turned on she was clenching her legs together to try to up the pressure on her clit. It wasn’t enough. Her breasts were heavy while her nipples felt tight, needy. Her excellent idea of teasing Nolan had teeth, and they were biting her on the butt.
By the time she’d added three fingers and decided he was relaxed enough to take the plug, she was a mass of writhing nerves. “Keep talking, buster.”
He barked out a laugh then groaned when she withdrew her fingers. “That feels weird.”
“In a good way?”
“Surprisingly,” he said. “When this is finished, I’m going to lick your pussy, gather up all those delicious juices on my tongue.”
“Are you going to pay attention to my clit?”
“Just enough to keep you on edge.”
“You intend to torture me,” she said in disapproval.
“Payback.”
After lubing the plug, she slipped it into him. She went slowly, allowing him time to get used to the plaything. With a slow twist, the toy slid into place, the flared base sitting comfortably against his entrance.
“Well done,” she said and smoothed her hand over his butt. She moved positions and slipped beneath his kneeling body. His cock was only at half mast, but she intended to fix that and make him come hard enough to see stars. “Are you ready?”
“I thought this was meant to feel good, Kinky Lady.”
“It will. I promise.” And she sealed her lips around his cock, teasing and licking in the way she knew he enjoyed while she battled the negative connotations his careless name for her held. Past news. History.
His breath hissed out, and her urge to grin tugged hard at her restraint, popped her past hurt feelings of her ex. One more surprise in store for Nolan. Without taking her mouth off his cock, she flicked the remote switch on the plug to start it vibrating.
Nolan cursed, and she would have chuckled if her mouth hadn’t been full of cock. His shaft grew noticeably and pre-come released on her tongue. She upped her attentions, taking him deeper and moving faster. Yvonne made one change to the remote setting.
“Fuck.” Nolan gasped. “That feels…fuck.”
His cock grew even bigger and suddenly he was shooting down her throat, his groans and mutters telling her he was enjoying the hell out of this orgasm.
Gradually, she slowed her attentions and eased back. She ceased the vibrations of the plug and crawled up the bed so their faces were level.
He didn’t comment, instead kissing her with real passion. His weight went down on her as their mouths fused, parted and came together again. When he lifted his head, he teased wisps of hair away from her face and yanked off the scrunchie she’d pulled her hair into while cooking dinner.
“Okay?”
“I liked it,” he said. “I didn’t expect to.”
“You were humoring me.”
“I’d do anything for you, Yvonne.”
Not true. He hadn’t stood for her against his mother—not until recently. He hadn’t pulled out of the reality show, and now it was too late. She had to remember that because if he’d done it once, he could do it again.