“You too,” she says, grinning up at him, and my old man smiles widely.
“Will your sister be joining us for Thanksgiving?” he asks.
Her smile falls and she shakes her head. “No, not this year. She’s staying with her friend who’d otherwise be on her own, and they have plans to go to a concert. But she’ll be home for Christmas. And I know she’d love to join us here.”
My father gives her another brief squeeze. “She’s more than welcome any time.”
As soon as he’s out of earshot, I pull my wife close and stare into her eyes. “I can’t believe you didn’t choose my potatoes, corazón. Your betrayal has cut me deeply.”
A wicked grin spreads over her lips. “I’m so sorry.” She flutters her eyelashes. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
“I’m sure I’ll think of something,” I say, squeezing her ass and arching my eyebrows.
“Come on,” Mason groans. “Let the woman go so she can get a drink.”
I tuck my face into her neck and smile against her skin. “I think my brother wants your attention. But remember … tonight, you’re all mine.”
After I lightly swat her ass, she plants a quick kiss on my lips and joins my brother at the bar.
As I set the table, I watch Mason teach Mel how to make a Mai Tai. Dad leans against the counter, chatting with them while Elijah finishes dinner. His wife rarely sets foot in this house anymore. Still, after twenty years, Amber doesn’t look half as comfortable with my family as Mel does after less than four months.
She fits seamlessly into my life and into my family. Like she was always meant to be here. I offer my father a grateful smile. Without him, none of us would have her in our lives, and the fact that we could have been here today while she was someplace else—with someone else—is unthinkable to me.
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
NATHAN
“How long will you be in Chicago?” With her head propped up on her hand, Mel leans on her elbow and traces her fingertips over my chest.
My gaze rakes over her naked torso, and I’m irrationally annoyed at the duvet for covering her up to her hips.
“Pay attention, Ice.” Her admonishment is immediately followed by her beautiful laugh. She makes a V with her fingers and points at her face. “Eyes up here.”
I look into her bright green eyes and grin. “But you’re such a fucking distraction, Spitfire.”
She rolls those pretty eyes. “Chicago? How long?”
Sighing, I lock my hands behind my head to stop myself from flipping her onto her back and fucking her again. “Three days.”
She wrinkles her nose. “And you fly out tonight?”
I nod. “My flight leaves at seven.”
“You’re sure you can make it back in time for the Christmas party at the shelter on Friday? It’s the biggest fundraising event of the entire year, and they were stoked when I told them you planned to be there. You know, you’re kind of a celebrity.”
I love the way her eyes light up when she talks about the shelter. She doesn’t get a chance to volunteer there as much as she used to now that we’re married and I monopolize so much of her free time, but she still answers the call whenever they need her.
“Yes, I’ll be there, corazón.”
Her smile lights up her entire face. “Thank you. I can’t wait for you to meet everyone.”
“You look so fucking beautiful when you smile like that.” I brush my lips over her cheek.
“Well, this smile”—she runs her hand down my chest and over my abs—“is reserved only for you.”
“It better be.” Her hand slips beneath the covers and I growl. I need to get showered and be out of the apartment in the next thirty minutes to make it to my 8:00 a.m. meeting. And once that meeting is over, I’m going to fire whoever arranged it. “You’re going to get one of us in a whole lot of trouble if you move that any lower, corazón.”
She presses her lips together like she’s contemplating whether to continue, but her hand stills and she splays her fingers over my abs. “I wish you didn’t have to go to Chicago later.”
Dammit, so do I. I’ve never had a problem with our annual company meeting being held in Chicago every year. Until now. I make a mental note to talk to Drake about moving the meeting to Manhattan in the future. “Will you be good while I’m gone?”
Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “I’m always good.”
Unable to keep my hands off her for another second, I flip her onto her back and pin her to the mattress. “Will you pretend that it’s my fingers inside you when you get yourself off?”
“Always,” she gasps, rocking her hips against my hardening length.
One look at the clock tells me I really don’t have any more time to spare. I let out a frustrated growl that contrasts the gentle kiss I press to her lips. “I have to go.” We both know I’m not only talking about my morning meeting, but also the trip to Chicago.
She nods. “I know.”
After planting a final kiss on her hair, I tear myself away from her and head for the shower.
Mel peels off her coat and lets it slide down her arms to the floor, leaving her standing before me in her uniform. This woman somehow manages to make navy scrubs look like the sexiest clothing on the planet.
