With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

water
    with his hands balled into fists and his lips in an angry line.
    Matt followed, not knowing exactly what to do. He wanted to make a good impression on Aubrey’s
    family and here he was looking like a drowned rat, wallowing around in their creek.
    The tall man shook his head, and a no-nonsense expression crossed his face. “Later.” His nose
    twitched, and he turned his attention fully on Matt.
    Great. His nervousness was obvious, which made Matt even more nervous.
    Reaching out a hand, the man approached. His features softened into a smile.
    This was, without a doubt, Aubrey’s dad. They had the same smile and the accompanying twinkle in
    their eyes. The aura of power radiated off this man. He was an extremely strong werewolf, but that smile With Abandon
    made him approachable. “You must be Matt. Welcome to Reynolds Hall. I’m Howard Reynolds, Aubrey
    and Keaton’s dad.”
    Exposing his neck in respect, Matt shook the older man’s hand. “Thank you, Mr. Reynolds. It’s a
    pleasure to meet you.”
    “Please, call me Howard, Matt.” Unconcerned with Matt’s sopping state, he pulled Matt to him in a
    half hug and patted his back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you finally. Keaton has told me so much about you. I feel like I know you already.” Releasing Matt’s hand, he stepped back and his gaze raked over Matt and
    Aubrey. “What happened? Why were the two of you in the creek?” The amused expression was one Matt
    had seen often on his own father’s face. It was that expression that said he thought he knew what happened, but he was asking anyway, even though he didn’t expect a straight answer.
    A pang of homesickness hit Matt, but with it the trepidation left him. It was hard not to be at ease with the fatherly manner Howard exhibited. The same urge Matt got with his own father, the urge to make him
    laugh, niggled at him. So he answered exactly as he would if his dad had asked the question. “Aubrey
    pushed me in.”
    Howard threw back his head and laughed, his shoulders shaking.
    Aubrey sputtered. “I did not.”
    A giggle burst up inside of Matt and spilled over. The next thing he knew he was back in the water.

    Matt loved the Reynolds. To think he’d been worried seemed silly now. Being with them was like
    watching an episode of Leave it to Beaver . They weren’t as loud and rowdy as his family, but they loved each other and it showed. They were down to earth and fun. And there was Martha… Matt took up the spot
    she’d just vacated at the stove, stirring the sauce while she got more spices from the cabinet.
    “Matthew, if you don’t stop that I’m gonna swat you.” Martha shook her spatula at him for the
    dozenth time. Her tone said she meant business, but the smirk on her full lips and the gleam in her eyes belied the threat. If she weren’t such a tiny, loving thing, he might’ve been concerned, but the elderly black lady had practically smothered him with affection since the moment he’d showered and changed.
    “I can’t help it. I’m supposed to help.”
    “You are not, sugar.” Joanna patted him on the way to the refrigerator. “You’re a guest.” It was quite
    easy to picture Aubrey’s mom on the porch of Reynolds Hall in hoop skirts, with a lace fan and a mint
    julep. Aubrey and Keaton had both gotten their height and coloring from her. But Aubrey had also inherited her charm.
    Matt groaned. He didn’t feel like a visitor, even though they’d actually set him in the kitchen with
    cookies and milk when he arrived. Was this what it was like to have a mother? He had a mother, but she
    was way different than Joanna and Martha.

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    J.L. Langley
    “Aubrey says you’re a fantastic chef.” Joanna pulled out a glass pitcher filled to the brim with tea and shut the fridge. “You can help cook next time.”
    Aubrey said that? “I’m going to hold you to it.” Grinning, he stole a homemade roll and took a bite.
    Mmmm…
    Martha laughed and popped him on the hand with her spatula. “You bad boy. You’re just like
    Aubrey.”
    Joanna bussed his cheek on her way out of the kitchen with the pitcher of iced tea. “He is not. He’s a
    sweetheart, more like my darlin’ son-in-law. He’s even pretty like Chay.”
    “Oh, good gawd. Is she singing Chay’s praises again?” Aubrey came in through the back door. He
    strolled past where Matt was perched on a barstool and swiped the roll right out of his hand. He looked gorgeous in his