He immediately pretends like he’s fallen asleep. “He’s younger than me,” my dad says pointing at James with his eyes still closed. James shoots him a look and rolls his eyes before following me out of the room probably a little too closely.

“Hi beautiful,” I hear whispered behind me and I spin around and shoot him a wink.

“Hi,” I say as he follows me to the door. I look out the front window and see Monica and my mom grabbing a few bags and I know Dad can’t see anything. So, against all better judgment, I reach up and grab him by the back of the neck and press my lips to his, sliding my tongue through his lips and touching his tongue lightly. I pull back after no more than a second, careful not to make the sound of a kiss as we pull apart.

His eyes open as I return to my flat feet and I’m out the door before he can entice me into kissing him again. “Tease,” I hear murmured behind me and I giggle as I skip the car.

“Is there anything left at the mall?” he teases as he pulls the rest of the bags out of the back of Mom’s Range Rover.

“Most of this is for you, jackass,” Monica says as she walks by with a playful eyeroll as she bumps against his shoulder.

“Is it really?” His eyes flit to mine automatically before moving to our mother.

“Technically,” my mother says, “but I’m not going to shop for these two while I’m with them obviously. I already got their gifts. Your sister is just a brat,” she says loudly.

“I heard that! Dad! Did you hear what your wife called me?” Monica bellows from inside and I can’t help but laugh at our family.

Monica and Mom head into the house leaving us alone outside. “Come down again tonight.”

I nod. “I’ll bring the lingerie.”

“That’s a given.” I trail behind him and grab his ass just before he enters the house. He grunts. “Stop playing with me Gabrielle.” His voice is low so no one hears but also sexy and seductive and suddenly I feel like I’m overheating.

Our moment is interrupted by Monica calling from the kitchen. “We’re ordering in for dinner, what do you guys want? You and Dad got me in the mood for pizza to be honest.”

“I don’t want pizza again,” James yells back. Which is a phrase I never thought would come out of James’ mouth. He could eat pizza for every meal and I’m pretty sure he did his first year of college. “You want to go with me and get something else?” he asks me.

I nod emphatically knowing that it means we can be alone. “I’ll be ready in ten?”