Page 59 of Unravel Me

My breathing quickens as he leans in, placing kisses down my exposed collarbone, his hands roughly tracing the outline of my hips up to my breasts. Shuddering under his touch, I open my eyes, focusing on the man in front of me.

“We better get going,” he whispers in my ear before kissing the sensitive skin on my neck.

“You are a tease, has anyone ever told you that?” I playfully shove him, but he barely moves.

“Every day, darlin’.”

I leave him in the bedroom, not sure I can handle any more heat and exhale my breath in the kitchen, making sure I have everything I need. The macarons are secure in Tupperware. I feel like I should’ve grabbed Renee flowers. But maybe I’m overthinking it.

Rhett walks out into the kitchen, his cowboy boots tapping on the wood floors, and he lifts my face to his with a single finger under my chin.

“Don’t worry, they are going to love you.”

I feign a small smile, nodding.

Rhett’s childhood home is only a few minutes away, and the car ride goes by in a flash. Breathtaking magnolia trees line the property, and a humble but charming yellow house appears behind beds of wildflowers. The second the truck comes to a stop, Mabel leaps from the open bed, sniffing the other two messy dogs who make up our greeting party.

“I told you we were a rowdy bunch.” Rhett winks, stealing a quick kiss before leaping out of the truck. As I open my door, I hear little voices.

“Uncle Rhett! Mom, Uncle Rhett is here!” Two blonde haired girls run barefoot through the front yard towards us. They both have sundresses on, full of grass stains, and one is wearing crooked butterfly wings.

I can’t help but smile and Rhett offers me a hand, squeezing it right before I’m bombarded by kids and dogs, all vying for our attention.

“This is quite the hello!” I tease and his nieces giggle, staring at Rhett and I.

“This is Jessie.” Rhett ruffles the hair of the little girl with butterfly wings. “And this is Jenna.” The other one has on rainbow rainboots. “Girls, this is Audrey. She’s going to have dinner with us, and she made cookies for y’all.”

Both of their faces light up, and they come closer to look into the container.

“What kind of cookies?” Jenna asks, standing on her tiptoes to get a look into the box I'm holding.

“They are macarons. Have you ever had one?” I ask, unable to remember the last time I talked to kids. I hope I'm doing this right.

They gape at each other.

“My mom said those are fancy cookies and she can’t make them!” Jessie announces point blank.

Rhett bends down, tickling Jessie. “You can count on this one to be brutally honest.”

Just then, Renee and a spitting image of her round the corner of the yellow house.

“Girls, let them have some air!” The woman next to Renee calls out; must be Desi.

“This is my dog Sammy, and the old yellow dog is my Mimi’s dog, Tato,” Jenna says, eying me up.

“They are very cute. Did you say Mimi’s dog’s name is Tato?”

She nods, giggling. “Well, his real name is Potato. But we call him Tato. Because he lays in the sun like a baked potato,” she explains, and I smile at her and the dogs. I like this little girl.

“Welcome to the circus.” Renee and Rhett’s sister greet us. “I’m Desi.” His sister extends a hand, her face as welcoming as her mom's.

“It’s so nice to meet you…and thank you for inviting me to your family dinner.”

Renee dismisses it, “Are you kidding? We are thrilled.”

“Uncle Rhett's never brought anyone to dinner before,” Jenna adds, wrapping herself around Mabel's neck.

“Okay, Jenna, I think it’s time I push you on the swing.” Rhett swings towards her and she screams, as he chases her into the backyard.