Witching For Joy (Premonition Pointe #3) - Deanna Chase Page 0,62

hand, nodded his agreement.

It made Joy smile to see her son being open about his relationship with Jackson in front of everyone and for everyone to accept them without question.

“Hey,” Troy said, moving to stand next to her. “I just came by to make sure you’re all right. It appears you are, so I think I should take off and let you enjoy your kids.”

Joy turned to him and frowned. “You think you should, or you just want to?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced around. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding,” she insisted. “In fact, if you’re up for it, I’d love for you to get to know my kids a bit. They’re great. But if you’d rather not or have other plans, that’s okay too.”

“I like your kids,” he said, his lips curving into a wide smile. “They’re funny and have already told me a bunch of embarrassing stories about you. I keep wondering how much more I can pry out of them before the evening is over.”

Joy chuckled. “Oh, I bet it won’t take much.”

It wasn’t long before they all moved to the dining room where there was Chinese takeout waiting. The loud, raucous group ate, drank, and told stories until everyone was smiling and satisfied. It was a rare moment that Joy cherished. Her kids were so busy moving on with their lives, it wasn’t often they were all able to be together. She didn’t want to see it end.

But eventually, Hunter and Britt cleared the table and proceeded to clean up while Jackson helped Kyle to his room, leaving Joy and Troy alone.

“This was an evening I didn’t know I needed,” Troy said, smiling softly at her.

“What? You don’t put on your dating profile that you’re looking for a woman with three snarky twentysomethings who are mostly self-absorbed but do eventually decide it’s time to check on their mother?”

“No. Not exactly. But if I’d known it might attract you, I would’ve.”

The smolder in his eyes did things to Joy, and she leaned into him as if she were stuck in his force field. His lips came down on hers, and it wasn’t long before she was completely lost in his kiss.

“Um, oops,” Britt said. “Sorry for interrupting.”

Joy jerked back and felt her face flush with heat. “Hey, honey. Troy and I were just… well, I guess we were—”

Britt laughed. “I think it’s pretty clear what you were doing.”

Troy grinned at Joy. “There’s no backpedaling now.”

“Who’s backpedaling?” Joy asked, straightening up and trying to shake off her embarrassment. “Did you need something, Britt? Can I help with the dishes or dessert or something?”

Britt clasped her hands together and had a nervous energy about her as she said, “Hunter is finishing the dishes, and we didn’t get dessert, but I’d very much like it if we could go out back and talk for a bit.”

“Of course.” Joy rose to her feet and asked Troy, “Wait for me before you go?”

“Sure. I’ll be in the living room prying more stories out of Hunter.”

Her insides warmed at the image, and she chuckled. “You two are gonna be trouble; I can tell.”

He winked at her, and then Joy followed her daughter out onto the back patio.

“What’s up, Britt?” Joy asked, wrapping her arms around herself when the breeze caused gooseflesh to pop out on her skin.

Britt moved to the large firepit, leaned down and lit a fire starter log, and then gestured for Joy to sit on the swing with her.

Joy did as she was asked and then just waited. Her daughter would speak when she was good and ready.

“I’ve made a decision,” Britt said, staring at the fire.

“Okay. That’s good.”

Her daughter turned to stare Joy in the eye. “Is it? How can you tell? You don’t even know what decision I’ve made.”

“It doesn’t matter if I know,” Joy said with a shrug. “All that matters is whether you’re good with it and if it’s the right choice for you.” She knew this had to be about her boyfriend and the move to Texas, and while Joy desperately didn’t want her daughter to move, if that was the decision she’d made, Joy would be supportive. She had to be or risk putting their close relationship in jeopardy.

“I spoke to my boss, and it turns out our company has a sister office in Austin,” Britt said.

“Oh? Does that interest you?” Joy asked, already knowing the answer.

“Mom.” She rolled her eyes, making Joy chuckle. “I think this is a