Travis caught the look on her face and offered a smile of reassurance. He smoothed his hands up and down her arms. “I’ll ease you into it.” There’s wasn’t a traditional relationship where his family had a relationship with his girlfriend prior to the engagement. This was just how it was going to be and how it would work. It was the first relationship he’d been in where there were no expectations on his side to make a good impression on his girlfriend’s family - except for Lily. It wasn’t fair, but he would make the transition as smooth as possible for Deb.
He chuckled. “Can’t promise she won’t keep trying to shoo me out of the way.”
The shifting of her hips and tone of the kiss gave conflicting but not unwelcome messages. He restrained his own wandering hands, knowing that Lily was outdoors and just as likely to come running up to join them at an inopportune moment.
“Sometimes I make good choices,” he murmured against her cheek. One of his hands snaked around to rest on her lower back, breaking his resistance but he couldn’t be expected to be able to keep his hands to himself while his beautiful fiance was in his lap. “It is what it is. Mom’ll understand.” She would have to. He’d already been forced to put his life on hold for the quarantine. Something good had to be taken from this experience.
Travis was warmed by the thoughts of Deb planning their wedding. “I know, and I care about whatever ceremony we have, but this is your project, babe, making the plans. I ain’t gonna take that away from you. Besides, a bonfire sounds nice.”