Part 12 (2/2)

”Thank you, thank you,” Marina says, jumping away from him, the smile on her face saying it all. ”We'll make this happen. I promise. You won't regret it.”

”I know I won't,” Archer says, smiling at her in return before he levels his gaze on me. ”Hope everything works out for you and the bakery. If anything, your aunt could come and work for me if Autumn Harvest ends up getting shut down.”

That f.u.c.king p.r.i.c.k. I can't believe he would say that to her.

”Um, I'm hoping we can make it work, but I appreciate you offering a job to Gina. I know she would appreciate it too.” Marina smiles, though some of the light has dimmed. ”Thanks, Archer.” The excitement has left her voice. She sounds disappointed and she glances down at the table.

d.a.m.n my friend for putting her on top of the world and then knocking her right off with a few choice words.

”Why would you say that to her?” Ivy slaps his arm, hard. ”You give her good news only to bring her cras.h.i.+ng down with bad stuff.”

”Hey, I'd hire Marina too.” Archer flashes her a smile, which Marina returns, but it doesn't quite light up her eyes.

Jerk. Thank G.o.d my sister spoke up. He's as bad as me, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Hearing his offer makes me want to help her keep the bakery now more than ever. If I get my hands on those buildings, there is no doubt in my mind I will make that bakery hers. She can fight me all she wants, but I won't take no for an answer.

I want to do right by her. It's the least I can do.

Chapter Eleven.

Gage ”I'M NERVOUS.” I tap my fingers against the steering wheel, nodding my head to the music playing on the radio.

Marina reaches over and grabs my hand, squeezing quickly before she releases it. ”Don't be. He's going to love you. Maybe.”

Ha. How honest of her. The ”he” she's referring to is her father. The man I've been trying to see for months so I can make an offer hopefully he can't refuse. Scott Knight has avoided me. Yeah, I know he's been out of town a lot, but the least he could do is take my calls.

Now he has no choice. I'm going to dinner tonight with Marina at her house and meeting the parents. A big step for me, one I rarely make, but we've been seeing each other for over a month. Hopefully, Scott and I can discuss the real estate deal further. Maybe.

Funny how once I got involved with his daughter, that deal isn't as important to me anymore.

”I'm pretty sure your dad hates me,” I say, because it's true. The guy must despise me. He's avoided me because he doesn't want to make the deal. Now he probably hates the fact I'm with his daughter. His only child. G.o.d, I'd hate me if I were him.

Could I sound any more ridiculous? I'm anxious as f.u.c.k and acting like an idiot.

She doesn't say a word in response to my dumb statement. Just sits in the pa.s.senger seat of my car with that blissed-out expression on her face. The one that says I just got laid, which she did since we had s.e.x right before we left.

I frown. Hope her parents won't know that look. They might want to kill me for touching their baby girl.

”Stop frowning.” She leans over the center console and gives me a soft kiss on the lips-while I'm driving. Thank G.o.d the road is pretty empty because I swerve a little when that sweet mouth brushes against mine. ”You worry too much.”

Ha. I don't worry enough. I've been letting myself forget everything and just enjoying my time with Marina. If we're not working, we're together. And lately, I'm not working much at all, which means . . .

”Turn here,” she instructs as she points her finger, breaking my train of thought, and I hit the brakes to slow down, turning right onto a long, tree-lined driveway. It seems to go on for miles and my stomach cramps with nerves at the thought of coming face-to-face with Scott Knight. I haven't met a woman's family as her boyfriend since I don't know when. Ever?

This fact should make me feel like a twenty-eight-year-old loser, but d.a.m.n it, I haven't found the right woman yet. As crazy as it sounds, in the little time we've known each other, I'm starting to think she's it. She's the one. Marina.

s.h.i.+t. I know my friends love this. Archer doesn't fault me too hard because he's hopelessly in love with my sister. Matt, on the other hand, revels in my lovesick misery. He's also figuratively holding his hand out every chance he gets, demanding we hand over that one-million-dollar payout.

Jacka.s.s.

”How long is this d.a.m.n driveway?” I mutter, earning a little laugh from Marina. Just as I ask, the thick trees disappear, revealing a circular driveway and a somewhat modest house with a spectacularly landscaped yard. I figured for sure Marina grew up in a sprawling mansion, the lone child who ran the house.

Guess I was wrong.

I park the Maserati in front of the four-car garage-the one sign of excess I see-surprised when Marina leans over and gives me another kiss. This one is longer, her lips lingering on mine, her hand curling around the back of my neck and holding me close. I exhale on a rough sound of pleasure and part her lips with my tongue, letting myself sink into her delicious, seductive mouth for a while. Forgetting all about my worry and the fact that I'm making out with Marina in front of her parents' home.

You're f.u.c.king making out with Marina in front of her parents' house, you a.s.shole! What the h.e.l.l? Are you sixteen and can't control yourself?

Well. That was like an ice-cold dose of reality.

Pulling out of the kiss, I smudge my thumb across her lush bottom lip, smiling at her as she glares up at me. I don't think she likes that I ended our kissing session. ”We shouldn't be doing this,” I whisper.

She pouts. ”Why? I can't resist you. You know this.”

Her simple admission makes me smile, but I don't let myself get too hung up on it. ”We're at your house. Your parents are waiting inside to meet me, and I want to make the right impression. Not be the guy who's caught kissing and feeling up their daughter in his car.”

”You weren't feeling me up,” she points out.

I grin. ”Yet.”

Marina rolls her eyes. ”Whatever. And don't worry about my dad. He'll take one look at your precious car and fall in love.” Smiling, she leans in for another kiss, but I dodge her at the last minute, making her pout again. ”Come on.”

”Yeah, you got that right. Come on.” I open the door and climb out, rounding the front so I can open her door. ”Let's go meet your parents.”

I take her hand and pull her out of the car, hoping like h.e.l.l she doesn't notice my sweaty palm. She flashes me a sweet smile and leads me to the front door, her hips swis.h.i.+ng seductively when she walks, her a.s.s looking perfect in those jeans she's wearing.

Yeah. I'm a total goner for her. And she knows it too. I never, ever thought a woman would have me so totally by the b.a.l.l.s, but this one does. I don't mind either. In fact, I like it, knowing she's mine. Knowing I'm hers.

Archer finds my capitulation into couplehood amusing. My sister thinks it's the cutest thing she's ever seen, and that's a direct quote. Matt laughs every time I talk to him, asking if I'm completely whipped yet. He knows how reluctant I was to let myself get caught by a woman.

Now I'm walking into the so-called trap and seriously thinking I never want out of it.

Marina doesn't bother ringing the doorbell, and we walk inside to find the living area empty. It's a wide, open s.p.a.ce, full of comfortable furniture that has seen better days and lots of family photos on every available flat surface. On tables, bookshelves, hung on the walls, I'm surrounded by Molinas and Knights, all of them watching me, making me want to squirm where I stand.

Yeah. I think I've lost my d.a.m.n mind. This is what a case of nerves does to a man.

”Dad!”

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