“Great.” Tom groaned.
Both stepped back inside, apprehensively venturing down the hallway toward JC’s open bedroom door.
“Go check on her.” He whispered nudging Tess with his elbow and nodded at JC’s door.
“I’m not gonna look.” Tess scowled. “You look.”
“No way. I’m not looking.” Tom shook his head sharply. “Obviously they’re not dressed.” He pointed at the clothes draped over Tess’s arm.
“Oh for crying out loud.”
Tess rolled her eyes and begrudgingly peeked into JC’s room. She thwacked Tom on the chest with the back of her hand, signaling for him to take a peek. He shook his head again. Tess gave him a curt nod of persuasion.
Reluctantly, Tom peeked around the doorway. His brow arched into a defined point and his face pulled into a tight scowl observing JC snuggled under the covers next to a man. A man large enough to rip his daughter in two with the snap of his fingers.
His lip twitched and angry heat rose to his neck and face, muttering something about playing baseball for the Los Angeles Angels. Following it up with, “I’m going to get my gun.”
Ignoring the gun comment, Tess laid her hand on his forearm and pointed at JC who wore a huge smile on her slumbering face. “She looks awfully happy.” Tess rapped lightly on the open door. “JC,” she whispered.
JC stirred beneath the sheets.
Tom cleared his throat and JC stretched her arm further across the man’s chest, cuddling deeper into the crook of his arm.
****
A low grumble rattled in Reed’s chest.
Swathed in contentment, JC nestled closer, catching the scent of his cologne still lingering. Laying her hand upon his chest, a heavy heartbeat thumped beneath her fingers.
Another rumble filled the silent room, but it didn’t come from Reed.
“JC.”
Her eyes flew open hearing the distant whisper of her name. She raised her head from Reed’s chest and made a blurry sweep of the room, blinking repeatedly at her mom and Tom standing in her bedroom doorway. JC automatically reached for the comforter, tucking it tightly up under her arms, thankful they weren’t stretched out naked on the bed.
“Hey.” She gave a casual wave and rested her cheek back down on Reed’s chest.
Tess curled her index finger motioning for JC to come talk to her.
“What are you doing here?” she questioned in a drowsy, confused voice.
Reed stirred under the covers. “Did you think I was gonna take off?” he teased, brushing a sleepy smile to her temple.
JC giggled softly. “Reed, my parents are home.”
“You’re not gonna get rid of me that easy, darlin.” He cupped her bottom and tugged her on top of him, provoking a small squeal. “At least not without breakfast. Lunch and dinner too. I cancelled my sub contractors, so it’ll be days—”
A loud agitated clearing of the throat bellowed from the doorway.
“Oh, hell.” Reed murmured as his eyes drifted tightly shut. He released the grip on her ass, allowing her to wiggle down beside him under the covers.
JC giggled. “We’ll be out in a few minutes. Momma, can you shut the door for me?”
Tess draped JC’s dress and Reed’s shirt over the back of the door handle and closed the door.
Reed stared up at the ceiling and drummed his fingers on his chest. “Is it always gonna be like this with your family? First your sister, then your brother, and now your parents. From now on, we’re staying at my place,” he mumbled in a husky playful tone while kissing her forehead.
“Yep. This is how my family is gonna be. It could’ve been a lot worse. They could’ve come home last night.”
Reed cringed and his eyes expanded to the size of quarters.
“I turned my phone off yesterday so no one would bother us. They probably tried to call.” She pressed her lips to his warm neck, savoring in her private admission that she couldn’t wait for him to meet her family. Subtle aches and stiffness in her thighs came to life as she climbed on top of him, reaching for her cell phone on the nightstand. The scruff of his chin sent a zing down her spine as his tongue drifted between the soft slope of her breasts, catching a taught bud in his mouth.
Regretfully, she pulled away and pointed her finger at him. “Don’t start that right now.”
Catching a glimpse of his shirt hanging on the back of the door, he dropped his head back on the pillow with a groan of humiliation. “Sweet Jesus, our clothes were strewn out all over the floor. My shirt has no buttons, and dinner is still on the counter. I can’t believe I have to go out there and face your parents. Your famous parents, nonetheless. I feel like a sixteen-year-old bringing my date home past curfew.”