“For the wedding, of course. You know, I was thinking, I’ve beenwearing the same hairstyle for the past five years. This is the perfect opportunity to shake it up a bit.”
“Mama, who do you think is getting married?”
There was no point in asking. I already knew the answer.
“You, of course,” she grinned, dancing her way over to me to pull me out of the chair.
I was tucked into a waltz in a matter of seconds, dancing with her around the living room. “Mama?—”
“I always knew he would be my son-in-law. The whole town saw this coming. You two have been dancing around this flirtation for so long. Honestly, I can’t believe it took so long, but?—”
“Mama—
“Love takes time,” she sighed dreamily. “If only your father were here to walk you down the aisle. Of course, your brother is happy to do it. I already talked about it with him.”
“Mama, he hasn’t even proposed yet!” I shouted, yanking my hands out of her tight grip to stop the twirling she was putting me through.
For just a moment, Mama looked shocked by the announcement, but quickly recovered. “Well, of course he hasn’t,” she chuckled. “He has to wait a respectable amount of time, but I would guess that will happen within the month.”
“Mama—”
“And we’ll plan the wedding for Christmas. We don’t want to rush these things. People will think he knocked you up.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “You are being careful, aren’t you?”
“I’m not having this conversation with you,” I muttered.
“Because a young woman your age…Well, I would hardly ask you to abstain. This isn’t the 1920s, and I know all about how much a man as strong and sexy as Liam can tempt even the most virginal woman.”
I clapped my hands over my ears, begging her to stop before my ears bled.
She yanked my hands down, giving me that stern look that said I’d better listen if I didn’t want the belt.
“I’m just saying, we have a reputation to uphold. We don’t want the whole town gossiping about how you let him into your?—”
“Mama!” I shouted, going full-out crazy from whatever horrible analogy she was about to use.
“What is all the screaming about?” my brother called out.
I spun around, never so grateful in all my life for my big brother to barge in during a conversation. Rushing over to him, I threw my arms around him, squeezing him tight.
Chuckling, he patted my back. “Okay, there, Piglet?”
“Make it stop, Brody. She’s talking about sex.”
Instead of helping me out, he gripped me by both arms and set me firmly back a step. “Now, hold on a minute here. I think we need to discuss a few things if the gossip mill around town is anything close to the truth. From what I hear, you spent the night at his house twice.”
“Brody—”
“Now, I don’t wanna have to go kick his ass, but I will.”
Rolling my eyes, I swung hard, punching his arm with everything I had.
“Ow! Now, hang on a minute. I’m just trying to do my brotherly duty.”
“You’re supposed to be helping me!” I snapped.
“Well, the way I see it, if you’re already shacking up with him, he’d better put a ring on that finger, and double quick.”
“See?” Mama beamed. “I was right. Brody, darling, do you think my hairstyle is a little too old?”
