His Kiss (Summer in New York Book 2) by Barnett Jolyse

Author:Barnett, Jolyse [Barnett, Jolyse]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Romance, Fiction
ISBN: 9781942240938
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2015-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

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Later that day, Jeremy’s mother handed him a tall glass of iced coffee in his childhood home’s sunny kitchen. “Are you sure everything’s okay?” She glanced over a slender shoulder as she walked with him to the cozy den. “And what’s this I hear from Jade about you inviting us to dinner Sunday?”

He nodded, ignoring her first question. “That’s right, Mom. You’re all invited to my place.” He let that sink in before dropping the bomb. “And I’m cooking.”

“Well, if you say so, dear.” Her face pensive, she sank onto one of the two overstuffed chairs facing the wide bay window overlooking the front yard.

He patted her hand and sat in the other chair. “Don’t worry, Mom. It’s all good.” He took a refreshing gulp of cold caffeine. “I’ve got a special meal planned for the ten of us that will rival Thanksgiving.”

“Your father and I are looking forward to it. We know this is a big step.” She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say more but took a sip her drink instead before turning her gaze to the window.

He looked at the pretty pink and purple flowers in full bloom that lined the front walkway and circled the large oak tree at the end of the yard near the road. The flowers his mother and sister had planted together in the spring, the ones they’d invited him to help plant. He’d refused, using his writing as an excuse to pass on being involved in the garden project. Why? He enjoyed the outdoors, the feel of the soft, warm earth between his fingers, the scent of flowers in full bloom.

A missed opportunity.

He glanced at his mother. Gabriella Engel could be a bit overbearing. Hell, for years she had been a downright a pain in his ass, but she’d always meant well. She was his mom and he loved her. And ever since that Christmas two years ago when he set her straight about taking responsibility for his addiction, she’d stopped fussing over him like he was made of heirloom china. Soon after, Jade had defied her mother’s wishes by announcing she was in love with Ben and planned to marry him. That had taken the rest of the wind out of Gigi’s protective sails and she’d become a far more likable woman to everyone.

Amazing how worry could affect a person’s personality.

He shifted in his chair and took another deep swallow of his drink. He understood worry all too well, so preoccupied with the danger of slipping back into addiction that he’d effectively pushed all but a handful of people out of his life and become a virtual stranger to the remaining few.

Until Elizabeth.

To think, the woman he’d met on a beach was the reason for the one-eighty his attitude had taken the past week. When Elizabeth talked about her family, the love she felt for them shone through. She bragged about her younger siblings’ accomplishments like a proud older sister, expressed sincere gratitude for her parents’ support, and viewed her grandparents as a loving second set of parents.

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