Chapter 23
Davis sat in the kitchen at his parents’ estate. He was hiding from his mother, despite it being the day after Christmas. He’d seen her that morning, they’d exchanged pleasantries, and it had been very cordial. She tried to be warm toward her only child, but he’d refused her.
Since he was now positive it was she that said something to warn off or otherwise dishearten Luna, he was pissed. She had no right to meddle with his life, his future. To think she had the gall to tell Luna she wasn’t good enough for Davis made his blood boil. Luna had tried to tell him his parents didn’t like her without badmouthing his mother, and he hadn’t even believed her. He’d brushed off her concerns when he should have pressed for more information.
He was lucky she’d pushed past that. He could see why she wanted their relationship to remain under wraps. His parents could easily see them in the papers and put two and two together. Luna had worried they’d be discovered and something would happen to separate them.
“Thanks, Evelyn,” he said to the cook as she set a cup of coffee and a croissant on the table.
“You hiding, young man?”
He looked up at Evelyn, with her fisted hands propped on her ample hips. “Yes?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
He shrank back in his seat. “Telling you. I’m hiding.”
“Why?” She moved away from him and he relaxed. “Who’s bothering you?”
“Nothing you can do about it, Evelyn.” He watched steam puff up in her face as she lifted the lid of the pot on the stove.
“Bullshit. I have a big ol’ wooden spoon. Whose ass do I need to beat?”
He chuckled. “It’s my mother.”
“Oh.” She paused, seemed to deflate as she put the lid back. “Screw that.”
“Like I said.” He tore off a piece of the croissant and let it practically melt on his tongue. “These are amazing.”
“I know it.”
He chuckled again. “You’re a jewel, Ev.”
“Know that, too.” She kissed the top of his head as she passed behind his chair.
Tabitha entered the kitchen. “Door’s for you, Mr. Davis.”
He frowned. “Who is it?”
“I can’t say.”
“What kind of answer is that?” He pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “Can you bring them back here?”
“Yes, Mr. Davis.”
“Stop calling me that!” he shouted at her retreating back.
Evelyn snorted. “She ain’t gonna stop calling you that ‘til you’re the one signing her paychecks.”
Davis sighed and remained by the table in anticipation. He didn’t really know anybody in Richmond, but he supposed it could be a minor acquaintance that heard he was in town.
“He’s straight through here, Miss.”
His jaw dropped when he spotted familiar red hair.
“Thank you.” Luna turned from addressing Tabitha and smiled shyly.
“What in the hell . . .” He sprinted across the space that separated them and grabbed her in a hard hug. “Why are you here instead of at your parents’?”
