“Yes, ma’am.”
We head inside and mingle in the kitchen, grabbing drinks and chatting before gathering at the table a little later when Gabe and Arden arrive. As we sit down to eat, Mom clears her throat. “Vanessa, can you say grace? I always love how you say it.”
“Of course, Mrs. Keating.” Vanessa says thank you for the dinner in Spanish, her first language. She’s fluent in both Spanish and English, since she moved here from Colombia when she was six.
“Beautiful,” Mom says.
Shaw nods, echoing, “Beautiful.”
We dig into the meal, enjoying the salad, burgers, and corn as Mom quizzes my friends on what they’re up to these days, even though she saw the full crew only two weeks ago.
Arden tells a story about a book club she’s been hosting at the store, and Gabe catches my parents up on how his grandpa is doing—he’s holding on well enough.
Dad lifts a glass of water. “Sometimes ‘well enough’ is all you can wish for. I’ll drink a toast to that.”
“Me too,” Gabe says.
“And Shaw, how are you feeling about Charlie having moved away?” my mother asks, referring to the paramedic he was close with. Recently, Charlie returned to his hometown in Florida.
“Well, I miss the bastard.” Shaw brings the burger to his mouth and takes a bite.
Mom gives him a look. “Language.” She might have once hung out in the boy’s club at the firehouse, but that doesn’t mean she talked the dirty talk with them. “Why can’t you just say, ‘I miss my friend’?”
Gabe lifts his chin. “I can do it, Mrs. Keating.” He glances at Shaw. “Watch how it’s done.” Gabe takes a deep breath. “I miss my friend.”
Mom smiles, satisfied, gesturing to Gabe, then Shaw. “See?”
Shaw chews then huffs. “Fine, Mom. I miss the guy. But there’s a new guy who took his place, and he’s cool, so it’ll be fine.”
Mom smiles. “It’s always nice to make new friends.”
“Yes,” I chime in, “isn’t it wonderful after all this time that Shaw is finally playing well with the other boys?”
Mom stares at me. “Are you being sassy, missy?”
“Hmm. Am I?” I pretend to think about it. “Definitely,” I answer.
“And is sass the way to win a promotion?” Mom counters.
“I’m not sassy with the chief,” I say sheepishly.
“Then don’t be sassy with me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Arden grabs the conversational steering wheel. “Speaking of, what do you think about the new promotion that Perri’s up for, Mr. and Mrs. Keating? I’m so excited about the possibility.”
I cross my fingers. “Let’s hope it happens. I want it so badly.”
“All you have to do is be the friendly face of the department, keep up your impeccable record at busting scofflaws, and oh, what’s the last one?” Arden asks playfully.
Vanessa waggles her arms excitedly. “Oh, I know, I know! Call on me, please!”
I roll my eyes. “Seriously, guys?”
Arden points to Vanessa. “You want to do the honors?”
Dad sets down his burger, his hazel eyes curious. “This I’d like to hear.”
“Me too,” Mom says. “What’s going on now?”
Vanessa points animatedly at me. “Her boss wants her to enter a kissing contest.”
Dad arches a brow. “That one in Whiskey Hollows?”
“Oh my God, is everyone doing this contest?” I ask.
Mom gives Dad a flirty look, and I drop my forehead into my palm. “Please, dear God, please oh please tell me my parents aren’t doing the contest.”
But when I look up, they’re already lip-locked. He’s leaned next to her and is planting a big fat kiss on her lips.
Gabe whistles while Arden cheers and Shaw shouts, “Get a room.”
They break apart, and Mom bats her lashes. “We’ve still got it.”
“And I’m still going to need therapy,” I tease.
“Oh, please. I’ve always believed the best example that parents can set is to show appropriate physical affection in front of their children. Now, who’s your kissing partner? Also, don’t even think you can beat us in the seniors category.”
I crack up. “You’re right, Mom. I can’t best you there.”
She squeezes my dad’s arm then turns her focus back to me. “So, who is he? Have you met someone? Is there a new guy?”
“Please. I have no time for dating or relationships,” I say, though the truth is a little sadder. Men don’t ask me out much. It’s a power thing. Being a cop can intimidate people, so my dating life has been woefully limited to men I’ve met online, and I’ve simply never found a meaningful connection there. I affect my best carefree smile. “But who needs a relationship? I only need a kissing partner for the contest. I’m helping raise money for first responders.”
I flash back over the early afternoon kiss at the waffle truck. The shake-the-earth, rock-me-to-my-core, turn-me-inside-out-with-pleasure kiss. The can-it-please-be-Thursday-so-I-can-sneak-off-and-do-it-again kiss. A fresh wave of sensation curls through my body, warming me up. I try to shuck it off, since I do not need to get retroactively aroused at the dinner table. But damn, that man can kiss like a rock star. And I bet that man can do everything in bed like a rock star too.
“And you have a kissing partner,” Arden says, suggestively.
“She totally found someone to enter with,” Vanessa seconds.
Shaw laughs as he takes another bite of his burger, chuckling at me. “This I’m dying to know. I thought you were basically undatable, sis.”
I give him a sneer and a kick under the table. In the shin. He cringes, but quickly rearranges his features into his best stoic face.
Dad tsks. “Perri, do you really have to do that?”
I shrug, like the innocent I am. “Do what?”
“I know you kicked your brother under the table.”
“Can you blame me? Would you actually prosecute that, considering the mitigating circumstances—those being that Shaw is acting just like Shaw?”
Dad laughs. “Son, behave. Can you do that for me?”
Shaw sighs heavily, like it takes a ton of effort. “I don’t know that I ever have. Should I really start now?”
“You know what they say, Mr. Keating,” Gabe chimes in. “Can’t teach an old dog new tricks, and Shaw is most definitely an old dog.”
Shaw barks, then he turns to me. “Anyway, you haven’t dated anybody in the longest time. Do you have a secret lover? A brand-new beau? A hot new piece of man meat on the side?”
My mother heaves the most dramatic sigh in the universe.
Shaw holds up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, Mom.”
I stare at my brother. “Seriously, how have you ever had a girlfriend? How is that even possible?”
Vanessa coughs then stares purposefully at her plate. I shoot her a quizzical look but return my focus to my brother. “Seriously, Shaw. Man meat?”
“So, who is the man meat, and do I need to beat him up?”
I laugh, because even though he’s a complete pain in the ass, I do love his crazy-protective side. “No, you don’t need to beat him up. He’s . . .” My voice trails off, and I’m not entirely sure what I want to tell them. I go with the simplest of details. “He’s focused and determined, and he has these sunburst tattoos all the way up his arm.”
“Ooh,” Mom says, squeezing Dad’s arm. “I’ve always loved the inked ones.”
Dad eyes his unmarked arm. “Does that mean you want me to go out and get a tattoo, Gail?”
Her eyes darken. “No, dear, I don’t think it would suit you.”
“You don’t?”
“I’m kidding. Could you get one across your chest? Make sure to put my name in it.”
“Count on it,” he says then drops a kiss on her cheek.
“You two are so in love it’s kind of gross, except it’s totally awesome,” I say.
Gabe and Arden raise their glasses, and Arden adds, “It’s thoroughly awesome.”
Mom looks to me. “Tell us more about your kissing partner. What’s he like?”
He’s a filthy, fantastic, hot-as-sin lover. He likes to flirt and kiss and tease, and drive me out of my mind with pleasure. He’s cocky, confident, and knows what he wants. He wants me.
But none of that is for public consumption. I spear a bite of tomato in the salad, hold it up, and give them a PG version. “His name is Derek, and he kisses like the only person I could ever imagine kissing in a kissing contest.”
Shaw makes a sound like a laugh met a cough, sputtering in amusement. “Seriously?”
I stare at him curiously. “Yes, what’s so weird about that?”
“Nothing,” he says, his expression instantly turning serious. “That’s just epic.”
Vanessa laughs. “Why is that epic?”
“That is the best thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Why?” I press.
Shaw smiles sweetly, reminding me there’s a good guy underneath his constant desire to needle me. We might drive each other crazy, but we love each other like mad and look out for each other as only family can. “I’m just excited you’ve found somebody you can picture kissing for that long.”
“Thank you, Shaw. I never thought I’d hear you say such a nice thing. But yes, I do think more practice will indeed help.”
“Practice makes perfect,” he adds.
“See? Isn’t it nicer when the two of you get along?” Mom asks.
Shaw nods. “I’ll have you know I’m a very nice brother. If memory serves, I’m helping you rent the room above your garage.”
I soften more. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re incredibly helpful. And I love to give you a hard time, but you’re actually the best brother a girl could ask for. You’re a Neanderthal sometimes, but other times you’re quite civilized and sweet.”