costs. So you tell the Kensingtons that if they want to fight, they can bring it on. And tell them Partridges fight dirty.”
I stood and stared down at him, channeling every bit of my uncle Beau’s fiery temperament. I was shocked to find that I’d actually gotten to my feet at some point in my tirade, but I threw my shoulders back and pretended I’d meant to do it.
Terry got to his feet slowly. His mouth quirked a little to one side as he nodded at me. “Well. I’ll make a note of that too, Mr. Partridge. Now. It might be best if we get going while Marigold’s still so content, I think?”
Diesel stood too. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, like he very badly didn’t want to let Terry take Marigold away, even for the one planned night. “You’ll bring her back, right?”
“Legally, they cannot keep her,” Terry assured him—assured us, given the way he darted a glance in my direction too. “I’ll bring her back myself by five o’clock tomorrow evening.”
Diesel swallowed and nodded. “I’ll get her things. I packed ’em up last night. Please tell the Kensingtons that she needs her chicken pacifier to sleep with, and she prefers lavender bubble bath, and…” He broke off. “I guess they’ll figure the rest out.”
I took Marigold out of the exerciser, kissed her dark curls, and murmured a bunch of nonsense in her ear as I carried her to the car. “You’re gonna have an adventure, baby. And then you’ll be home with us tomorrow, okay? I’ll be waiting right here when you get back, and we’ll have fruit squeezes. As many as you like. And then a tubby with untold quantities of lavender bubbles, because I do not trust them to use the right kind, oh no I do not.”
Hilarious how I’d just told Miss Sara hours ago that I was going to extricate myself from Marigold’s life, beginning today, huh? I was clearly doing really well with that.
Diesel came with her bag and helped strap her into the car. He said his own goodbye, and then before either of us was ready, Terry drove her away.
We stood for a minute in the sunshine, watching until the car was a speck at the end of the road. My throat worked, but I wasn’t sure what to say.
“I’m sorry,” I began. “I fucked this whole thing up. I couldn’t remember my lines. And I got all aggressive at the end there.”
Diesel turned to look at me, his eyes hot on my face, but I couldn’t read the expression in them.
“Say something,” I pleaded. “Yell at me if you have to.”
“Get in the house. Now.”
I swallowed hard. Fuck. He must be really mad if he didn’t want to yell at me outside. But I deserved it.
I scurried up the porch stairs and into the house. Diesel came in a second later and slammed the door shut.
“Really, I’m very sorry,” I began again. “I—”
Diesel grabbed my arm firmly and spun me around so my back was to the door. He braced his arms on either side of my head and leaned into me so I could feel his warm breath on my face.
This did not feel like practice. This felt like something else entirely.
“Shut up. Don’t you dare apologize,” he said, the words coming out rough and raspy. “Not when I’m about to kiss the shit out of you for everything you said out on that porch.”
“Kiss me?” I breathed. “B-but Terry’s gone. That part of this is over. You don’t have to pretend anymore.”
He cradled my face in both his hands and smiled in a way that was gorgeous and wild and perfectly Diesel.
“Oh, Parrish. Baby, there will be no pretending about this.”
10
Diesel
I’d gone into the caseworker visit feeling stressed and frazzled. Even on my best day, I didn’t deal with unexpected changes of plans in the most graceful way. Today was not my best day.
Until Parrish Partridge breezed onto the scene and went full Papa Bear on the caseworker’s ass.
I’d never felt so supported in my life. He’d stood there with his little fists clenched and skin mottled pink while he told the caseworker that I was worthy.
I’d never wanted anyone more, and I was finally ready to take what I’d wanted so badly to be mine.
When I pressed my lips to his, it was just as exciting as the first time I’d kissed him. Despite hours and hours of making out with him this week on