She elbowed her husband like she had at the bar and the two of them laughed but followed their daughter down the hall.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of your summons?” she asked Jocelyn.
“You went to have lunch to see Chance.”
“So you’re admitting you’re seeing him?” she asked.
“I never said I wasn’t seeing someone. I told you it was new and I never talk about it this soon. How did you figure it out?”
“The Fierces want to match you two up,” Jim said.
“Why would you tell her that?” Stacy asked, throwing her hands up. “Now Jocelyn will walk away.”
“No,” Jocelyn said. “I won’t. Do you think I’m naïve? I saw how Grant and Garrett watched Chance and I talking to each other that one day. I don’t need interference. I don’t think Chance knows anything about what they do. You need to tell them to back off.”
This was much more serious than she realized if Jocelyn was nervous over that.
“It’s hard to tell them no,” Stacy said. “They do what they want, but they aren’t overbearing about it.”
“Like my mother is?” Jocelyn asked.
“Did Chance text you we were there?” she asked.
“He sent me a picture.”
She frowned. “I didn’t see him take the picture.”
“He took it at the other end of the bar and had his camera hidden in front of him. You were in the background and he angled it. He didn’t know what was going on.”
“Was he mad?” she asked.
“Nowyou care?”
“Why haven’t you told us?” Jim asked. “You know I know Chance.”
“Because I’m not sure what you think of him.”
“He’s a good guy. Should I think otherwise?” Jim asked.
“No. He is. But I don’t always think he thinks that.” Jocelyn waved her hand. “Never mind. Please, can you just let us handle this on our own? Nothing more. No one needs to know.”
“The cat is kind of out of the bag now with the way you’re reacting.”
“What’s going on in here?” Gabe asked, opening Jocelyn’s door. “I can hear the yelling in my office.”
“Your sister is dating Chance Drummond,” Jim said. “And your mother got pushy and wanted to go see him at the pub and she was caught being sneaky.”
“You went with me,” Stacy argued.
“Wow. Grant and Garrett got to you too,” Gabe said, shaking his head. “I missed this one. I mean I knew it, but didn’t realize it was working.”
“You knew?” Stacy and Jocelyn asked at the same time.
“What’s the big deal?” Gabe asked. “Royce and I noticed how they were looking at the two of you. It was all over their faces. Just didn’t know how they were going to pull it off.”
“They haven’t,” Jocelyn said. “Nothing. They know nothing about this and haven’t said a word to me. This is all me and Chance just running into each other again.”
“Like me and Elise,” Gabe said. “Do your own thing, but if you’re up front and tell them you’re on to them and know they want to help but want to do it on your own, they will respect it.”
