Layover (Open Skies #1) - Becca Jameson Page 0,64

warmth. Never wanting this moment to end. Never wanting to forget how damn perfect she was.

They still had shit to discuss and issues to resolve, but they would handle every one of them together. Because he was never going to let her go, and he certainly would never drive away and leave her standing alone anywhere again.

He closed his eyes, held her tight, and inhaled her scent. “Mine,” he whispered.

She whimpered and squirmed against him in response.

He smiled so broadly his cheeks hurt.

Chapter 27

Four hours later…

Jason pulled his SUV up to the front of the Garcia home, turned off the engine, and faced Libby, who sat in the passenger seat wringing her hands. He sighed. “We don’t have to do this tonight, Libby.”

She lifted her gaze to his. “Yes. We do.”

A twinge of remorse made him inhale slowly. She was truly distressed. Was he pushing her too hard? He feared she might end up resenting him if he caused a rift between her and her parents. On the other hand, if she couldn’t face them and continued to keep him a secret, he would resent her.

She reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “You don’t have to go with me. You could wait in the car.” She pursed her lips when she finished speaking, holding her breath.

If he wasn’t mistaken, she actually wanted him to go in with her. Moral support? “I’m going with you, baby girl. You’re not going alone.”

She drew in a deep breath and glanced at the house. “Listen, this is likely to go south in a hurry. My mother is going to lose her shit.” She lifted her gaze back to Jason and cupped his face. “But that’s okay because I realize now that no matter what happens between you and me, I have to stop humoring her. It’s not fair to anyone. I would never marry a man my mother set me up with because every time I meet one of her blind dates, I feel defensive and put up a shield no one can penetrate. I have to tell her that her meddling in my life is over. It’s my life. I’ll choose who I date, and I choose you.”

Jason smiled and set his palm over her hand at his face. “I’ll be right by your side, little one. I’m proud of you. And I love you. Nothing is going to happen to us. We’re solid. We’re a team. If your mom can’t see her way to accepting the man you’ve chosen to be with, then your home will be with me.”

A tear ran down her face, and she reached to swipe it away. “I love you too.” She took a deep breath and let it out.

“You ready?”

“Yep.” She released his face and turned to open her door. When she jumped down from his SUV, he was already at her side of the car.

He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

She smiled at him. It was all going to be all right. No matter what happened here today, she was doing the right thing, and she had an amazing man by her side.

She took a deep breath when they reached the door and then knocked. Usually, she would just walk in, but not this time. Not today. Not with Jason at her side.

It was a Sunday, so she knew her parents would be home. Sure enough, about fifteen seconds later, the door opened. Her father. He smiled and then his brow furrowed. “What are you doing knocking, Libby?”

She shrugged. “Is Mamá here? I need to speak to the two of you.” She wasn’t about to beat around the bush here. Time to lay out the cards.

“Of course.” He stepped back, holding the door open to let the two of them inside.

Jason lifted a hand. “Jason Nixon, sir. Nice to meet you.”

Libby’s father looked confused as he politely shook Jason’s hand. He’d never been as mistrustful or blatantly racist as her mother. “Ricardo Garcia.” He turned toward Libby. “I’ll get your mother.”

Libby led Jason into the living room and tugged him down to sit next to her on the couch. He glanced down at their combined hands when she didn’t release him. She threaded her fingers through his on his thigh and smiled. She was going all-out.

When her parents entered the room a minute later, her mother was smiling, and then her expression fell serious. She literally flinched when she saw Libby’s hand in Jason’s. “Qué está pasando, Libertad?” she asked.

“Don’t do that, Mamá.