by Gerri Hill
Susan raised her head and smiled. “Mmmm?”
“I’m in heaven,” Shawn murmured.
“Just about,” Susan whispered. “But so am I.”
Her teeth nibbled at one thigh, ignoring Shawn’s raised hips as she tried to push Susan closer to her center. She wouldn’t be rushed and her tongued teased Shawn as she moved to her other thigh.
“Susan . . . please.”
Susan bit down gently on Shawn’s flesh, her hands moving under Shawn, slipping around firm buttocks, bringing Shawn closer to her waiting mouth. Soft hair glistened with Shawn’s arousal and Susan inhaled deeply, knowing she had caused this, knowing it was for her alone.
“I love you,” she whispered again before her mouth claimed Shawn.
“Love you . . . too . . . oh.”
Chapter Forty-Two
“You’re looking forward to this, aren’t you?” Susan accused.
“Yep. Can’t wait.”
“You’re as bad as Shawn, you know.”
Lisa grinned but continued making the hamburger patties.
“Twenty enough?”
“I would think fifteen would do it and at that, we’ll have leftovers,” Susan said.
“I can’t believe you haven’t spoken to her. Are you sure she’s even coming?”
“Mother said the whole family is coming. It would suit me just fine if she didn’t show up.”
“Mom, what would be the fun in that?”
“The fun would be a nice relaxing party instead of dealing with Aunt Ruth and her disapproval of this whole situation.”
“You’re worried about Shawn, aren’t you? She’s not going to cause a scene, you know.”
“I know. But if Ruth says one word about this, Shawn won’t hold her tongue. And I’ve not actually explained anything to Mother.”
“She doesn’t know you’ve moved?”
“No.”
“Mom, you’ve been living with Shawn for three weeks. Don’t you think you should tell someone?”
“I’m going to tell her today. It’s just funny, you know. I’m sure Ruth told her what happened that day, but she’s not mentioned a word about it. She only said she heard that we were going through with the divorce and wanted to know if I was okay.”
Lisa laughed. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
They both looked up as the door opened and Shawn and Alex burst in.
“What did you do with Sheri?” Lisa asked.
“She’s younger. I’m making her carry the heavy stuff.”
Their trip into town had yielded all the makings for margaritas, along with the list that Susan had shoved in her hands before leaving.
Shawn ignored Lisa and went to Susan and kissed her full on the mouth.
“Miss me?”
Susan blushed, still not comfortable with this display of affection in front of her daughter.
“I missed you,” she said. “And later, when we’re alone and Lisa isn’t watching, I might kiss you.”
“Oh, Mom,” Lisa groaned.
“What?”
“I’m not a child anymore.”
“That hardly matters. I’m still your mother.”
“Will it make you feel better if I kiss Sheri?”
“It most certainly will not!”
Lisa and Shawn laughed as Susan turned scarlet. Really! The two of them together were a handful.
“How about we all go outside and relax before company comes, huh?”
Susan smiled at Shawn and nodded. Yes. They definitely could use some quiet time before the family descended. She still couldn’t believe she had let Shawn and Lisa talk her into this party. Everything was going perfectly well without dragging the family into her business yet again. But she knew if she ever hoped to resolve things with Ruth, if she and her mother were to ever have a normal relationship again, she had to tell them about Shawn. And the best way, as Shawn and Lisa had told her, was for the family to see them together.
She paused at the door, watching Shawn, Lisa and Sheri as they pulled chairs into the sun, all laughing as Alex fought for their attention with two tennis balls. Her eyes settled on Shawn, her lover and best friend. She couldn’t stop the smile that spread warmly across her face, remembering Shawn’s hesitant suggestion that Susan move in with her. Shawn had been worried that Susan would say it was too soon, but if there was one thing Susan was certain of, it was her love for Shawn. They had settled into each other’s lives so easily, Susan wondered how she had lived all these years without Shawn.
Shawn looked up and met her eyes, beckoning Susan to join them, and she left her thoughts for later.
“You’re not nervous, are you, Mom?”
“No. I’m just ready to have it over with.”
Susan sat next to Shawn and took her hand, gently squeezing. “I love you,” she whispered.
Shawn smiled and leaned closer. “What were you thinking about in there?”
“You. Us.”
“Everything okay?”
Susan sighed. “Perfect.”
Shawn nodded. “Yes.” Then she brought Susan’s hand to her lips and kissed her gently. “I love you, too.”
Lisa cleared her throat. “Is all that really necessary?”
Susan only smiled, managing not to blush this time as she leaned over and kissed Shawn on the lips. “It’s really necessary.”
About The Author
Gerri lives in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her partner, Diane, and their two labs, Zach and Max. The resident cats Alex, Sierra, Tori and now Jordan, the latest one to adopt us, round out the household. Hobbies include any outdoor activity, from tending the orchard and vegetable garden to hiking in the woods with camera and binoculars. For more, visit Gerri’s website at: www.gerrihill.com