to get home cooking for as long as you’re here.”
“Thanks, Ma. That’ll be nice.”
“Come on. Let’s sit and eat. Sage was kind enough to bring the food over still hot so it’s all ready to eat. It sounds like your father is already poking around in it.”
“Um, I’m gonna head home now. Good seeing you again.” Sage sidled toward the door, putting her closer to Mustang.
He breathed in deeply and caught a whiff of whatever fresh, floral scent she wore. It mingled with the smell of Grams’ empanadas and he couldn’t resist. He wanted to keep her around for a little longer. “Why don’t you stay and eat with us?”
“I couldn’t impose on ya’ll like that.”
His mother shook her head. “Don’t be silly. Maria sent enough food for half the town. We’d love for you to stay. You can catch Michael up on all the goings on with the young people in town.”
“Yeah, Little Bit. Stay. Tell me everything I’ve missed.” He definitely didn’t want her to go yet and it had nothing to do with his wanting to hear what was happening in town either. The only person he wanted to hear about was Sage.
She hesitated. “Okay. I’ll stay. Thanks, Mrs. Jackson.”
“My pleasure, darlin’.” His mother bustled off into the kitchen, but Mustang held back.
He shook his head. “You sure have grown up.”
Sage cocked one dark brow.
“I’m glad you noticed.” The low, sultry tone of her voice cut straight through him.
She spun and followed his mother into the kitchen. He watched her hips sway and let out a long, slow breath. Gone without a trace was any resemblance to the little girl he used to know. How the hell was he going to keep his hands off her? It damn sure wasn’t going to be easy.
Chapter Five
“You really don’t have to come to the hospital.”
As Mustang sat and tried not to drool over the remains of breakfast left on his parents’ plates, his stomach protested being empty with a big rumble. The aroma of freshly cooked bacon still hung in the air, but grumbling belly or not, there’d be no food or even water for him until after the surgery.
His mother put down her coffee mug and frowned. “Of course I’m taking you to the hospital. You’re my baby and you’re having an operation.”
“Ma. I just turned twenty-six.” He couldn’t help but smile.
“I don’t care how old you are. You’ll always be my baby.”
“Damned inconvenient to schedule surgery in the middle of the week so your mother has to take off work,” his father mumbled from behind the morning paper.
Mustang drew in a deep breath to calm himself before he was tempted to use his one good arm in a way no son should think of using it against his father.
“It was the only day the surgeon could do it. Don’t take off work, Ma. I’m serious. You don’t need to come with me. I’ll drive myself to the hospital.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s fine. I’ve already called my boss and explained. They can do without me for one day. Besides, you can’t drive yourself home after surgery.”
An annoyed snort came from behind the paper and as stupid an idea as it was, Mustang was still tempted to drive himself. He didn’t care if he had to sleep in the hospital parking lot until he was up to the trip home. His mind reeled. Maybe he could say he’d already asked a friend to drive him to the hospital. Not that he had any close friends left in Magnolia, unless he counted Sage.
Mmm. Sage. Thoughts of her sweet smile and hot little body raised his spirits, but didn’t do a damn thing to solve the issue at hand.
He had walked Sage to the door after dinner. Maybe his parents might believe he’d asked her to drive him then. Though the fact that his trailer was missing when he was supposed to be in a car with Sage might be a clue he was lying, even to his dense, self-absorbed father. Maybe he could say it was parked at her house, but his mother might check with Grams.
Shit. He should have stayed in New Jersey.
“Well,
“Thanks, Ma. That’ll be nice.”
“Come on. Let’s sit and eat. Sage was kind enough to bring the food over still hot so it’s all ready to eat. It sounds like your father is already poking around in it.”
“Um, I’m gonna head home now. Good seeing you again.” Sage sidled toward the door, putting her closer to Mustang.
He breathed in deeply and caught a whiff of whatever fresh, floral scent she wore. It mingled with the smell of Grams’ empanadas and he couldn’t resist. He wanted to keep her around for a little longer. “Why don’t you stay and eat with us?”
“I couldn’t impose on ya’ll like that.”
His mother shook her head. “Don’t be silly. Maria sent enough food for half the town. We’d love for you to stay. You can catch Michael up on all the goings on with the young people in town.”
“Yeah, Little Bit. Stay. Tell me everything I’ve missed.” He definitely didn’t want her to go yet and it had nothing to do with his wanting to hear what was happening in town either. The only person he wanted to hear about was Sage.
She hesitated. “Okay. I’ll stay. Thanks, Mrs. Jackson.”
“My pleasure, darlin’.” His mother bustled off into the kitchen, but Mustang held back.
He shook his head. “You sure have grown up.”
Sage cocked one dark brow.
“I’m glad you noticed.” The low, sultry tone of her voice cut straight through him.
She spun and followed his mother into the kitchen. He watched her hips sway and let out a long, slow breath. Gone without a trace was any resemblance to the little girl he used to know. How the hell was he going to keep his hands off her? It damn sure wasn’t going to be easy.
Chapter Five
“You really don’t have to come to the hospital.”
As Mustang sat and tried not to drool over the remains of breakfast left on his parents’ plates, his stomach protested being empty with a big rumble. The aroma of freshly cooked bacon still hung in the air, but grumbling belly or not, there’d be no food or even water for him until after the surgery.
His mother put down her coffee mug and frowned. “Of course I’m taking you to the hospital. You’re my baby and you’re having an operation.”
“Ma. I just turned twenty-six.” He couldn’t help but smile.
“I don’t care how old you are. You’ll always be my baby.”
“Damned inconvenient to schedule surgery in the middle of the week so your mother has to take off work,” his father mumbled from behind the morning paper.
Mustang drew in a deep breath to calm himself before he was tempted to use his one good arm in a way no son should think of using it against his father.
“It was the only day the surgeon could do it. Don’t take off work, Ma. I’m serious. You don’t need to come with me. I’ll drive myself to the hospital.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s fine. I’ve already called my boss and explained. They can do without me for one day. Besides, you can’t drive yourself home after surgery.”
An annoyed snort came from behind the paper and as stupid an idea as it was, Mustang was still tempted to drive himself. He didn’t care if he had to sleep in the hospital parking lot until he was up to the trip home. His mind reeled. Maybe he could say he’d already asked a friend to drive him to the hospital. Not that he had any close friends left in Magnolia, unless he counted Sage.
Mmm. Sage. Thoughts of her sweet smile and hot little body raised his spirits, but didn’t do a damn thing to solve the issue at hand.
He had walked Sage to the door after dinner. Maybe his parents might believe he’d asked her to drive him then. Though the fact that his trailer was missing when he was supposed to be in a car with Sage might be a clue he was lying, even to his dense, self-absorbed father. Maybe he could say it was parked at her house, but his mother might check with Grams.
Shit. He should have stayed in New Jersey.
“Well,
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