“Are you with James?” Her mother’s voice turned coy, and Laura rolled her eyes. Of course, that would make everything better. Exchanging one prison for another.
“No.” No point repeating that James was happy with Steven. Her mother heard what she wished to hear.
“Who are you with?” her mother demanded.
“You haven’t met him.”
“Him?” Her mother’s voice was another ear-ringing shriek. “I thought you were with girlfriends. Some of those girls who work with you at the charity place.”
“No,” Laura said. Dallas was holding her free hand again, offering silent comfort, and she appreciated his support. Yet another difference. He didn’t judge.
Her mother sniffed. “Don’t coming crying to us if you get pregnant.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Laura said. “Besides, we’re using condoms.”
Dallas’s brows shot up, his wicked wink stirring a flash of heat and directing it straight to her pussy. She squeezed her thighs together, savoring the frisson of pleasure.
“I don’t know what we’ve done to deserve such a disrespectful daughter. I’m sure you’ll come to your senses soon.” The phone clicked in her ear.
“Another hang up,” Laura said and placed her phone on the table, staring at it as if it were a viperous snake. “Both my parents are furious at my behavior. No doubt, they’ll report to my siblings, and I’ll receive more irate calls.”
“You’re upset.”
“I wish they’d treat me like an adult. I received a good education and I wanted for nothing while growing up, but a prison is a prison.” She cut a portion off her muffin and popped it into her mouth. “This is delicious. I should try to make these. Is it weird my cooking repertoire is full of posh dishes?”
“Bizarre,” he said. “Can you make bread?”
“I’ve never tried.”
“When you have a spare afternoon, you should pop into the kitchen at the pub. Harry, our cook, is amazing. He’ll teach you as long as you don’t mind acting as his sous chef.”
“I’d love that.” Laura sipped her coffee and gave a happy sigh. Delicious. Her phone rang again. “My oldest sister.” She let the call go to voice mail and took another sip of coffee before switching off her phone. “Much better. I don’t want to spoil the rest of our weekend.”
“What happens if they find out who you spent your weekend with?”
“I’ll face that problem when I come to it, but I’m not going to lie. If they hit me with the truth, I don’t intend to deny it.” She ran her fingers over the top of his knuckles. “You make me happy. And that’s enough about my family. How are things at the new pub? When will it open, and will I get an invite to the opening?”
“Are you sure you want to walk into the Clare pub at my side?”
“I’d be honored.”
Dallas set his coffee cup down and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “Patrick is grappling with the staffing requirements. He’s still looking for a cook and kitchen staff.”
“The behind the scenes stuff fascinates me. I’ve never thought about the things required to run a business. So much juggling to get everything done.”
“That’s the challenge.” Dallas drained the remains of his coffee, and settled back while she ate the last of her muffin. “Are you ready for T-shirt shopping?”
“Yes. Why don’t you have T-shirts for the pub? You could use it for a staff uniform too. A lot of pubs have their own T-shirts on sale.”
“Because none of us has thought of it,” he said. “Great idea.”
“What you need is a catchy slogan and a decent quality T-shirt, maybe a typical style and one of the slim-fit ones for women. Two colors. Black and perhaps the teal color from your sign outside the pub, and you’re good.”
“I’ll bring up the idea with Quinn and Patrick next time I see them.”
“Really?”
“Don’t sell yourself short, sweetheart. Initiative is a prized quality with employers. You have it in spades.”
