“I’ll keep my ears open and let you know if I hear anything,” he said.
After checking their coats, James escorted her into the function room. It was already crammed to capacity, the music of a string quartet battling with the clink of glasses and pre-dinner chatter. Laura flashed a wide smile and acknowledged several acquaintances.
“I think we should grab a drink,” she said.
“Hell, yeah,” James said. “Liquid fortification sounds like a grand idea.”
In charity, they navigated their way to the bar.
“I’m going to tell my parents about Dallas,” she said. “His older brother Quinn knows and he’s threatening exposure anyway.”
“He wasn’t impressed?”
“No.” Laura sighed. “A long story, but the truth is I’m tired of hiding my feelings for Dallas. If they disown me, so be it. I’m doing well with my temping and working at the pub. I’m making friends at both places.”
James handed her a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. “It’s a big step.”
“Maybe, but it’s better for me to tell them than have gossip reach them first—if they don’t know already. Just because the car was registered to a loan company it doesn’t mean they didn’t set the man on me.”
“I admire you, Laura. In other circumstances, I’d have proudly married you.”
“That’s the nicest rejection I’ve ever received.”
“Steven likes you too.”
“Laura, why ever did you decide to wear red? You stand out like a traffic light.” Her mother spoke from behind her. “And you’re not slim enough to wear a dress that tight. Every male is ogling your backside.”
Criticism. Suppressing a sigh and the ready words that tickled the tip of her tongue, she turned to face her mother. Her mother wore a soft dove gray dress with black accents. Her hair was in its usual smooth chignon. Stylish, but cool and unapproachable.
“Hello, Mother.” Her gaze went to the corpulent man standing behind her mother. His expensive and well-cut suit hid some of the damage garnered from long business lunches and countless social outings. “Father.”
“I’m glad to see you’re here with James,” her mother said. “At least you’re displaying a modicum of sense.”
“James and I see quite a bit of each other. We’re friends.” Laura took a deep breath. She might as well get this done while the opportunity presented itself. “Are you paying a private investigator to follow me?”
Her mother gaped. Her father’s expression didn’t falter.
“No,” her father said. “We didn’t think it had come to that yet.”
In other words, they were confident she’d come ’round to their way of thinking, and seeing her here with James cemented their confidence. “Who is we?”
“The family,” her mother said. “Your father and your brother and sisters.”
They’d discussed her like an errant child. Her shoulders stiffened under James’s casual touch, even though he meant to comfort her.
“We expect you to tell us where you’re living, and how you’re supporting yourself. We were shocked to learn you’re no longer working at the charity.”
“So you did check up on me?”
“You’re our daughter,” her mother said without apology.
Laura pressed her lips together and fought her need to grimace. In their own way, they loved her. She accepted that, had always known they cared. But she required a happy medium, where they didn’t smother her hopes and dreams.
Her father’s eyes narrowed, a rush of emotion flickering across his face. “You’re living with James. He said you weren’t, but seeing you together now, it makes sense.”
“No,” James said.
“I’m dating someone else.” Laura spoke at the same time as James. The longer she delayed, the harder this would be. Her stress levels were soaring already. She raised her chin. “We’re living together.”
“When are we going to meet him?” her mother asked, disapproval dripping from her leaky faucet style. “And why are you here with James if you’re with someone else.”
“Laura and I are friends,” James said. “I required a date, and she agreed to attend the dinner with me.”
“Who are you living with?” her father asked.
Laura swallowed, feeling like a disobedient kid.
James handed her a glass of white wine, and she took it while fighting the impulse to run the chilled, smooth surface over her hot cheeks. She sipped her wine and strove for control before she uttered the words that would detonate a bomb under her family’s collective butts.
“I’m living with Dallas O’Grady.”
