But it was true. The merger was the ice breaker he’d used as a lead-in to seduction.
His mother beamed. “Of course, how could I forget? Spencer spoke of nothing else.” She turned her smile on Curves. “Would you mind if I stole my son for just a moment?”
“Not at all.” She held up an empty glass. “I need a refill.”
He resisted the urge to watch her walk away and gave his full attention to his mom. “What’s up?”
She smiled but humor never reached her angry mom eyes. “When I asked you if I knew the girl you were bringing tonight, you didn’t tell me she was the one you were with in the catering van at Marcus’ engagement party.”
So shehadseen him shove Legs into the van.Fuck, fuck, fuck.“Uh…”
“Yes, I saw you.” Her smile didn’t falter, and her words dripped sugar. “I just didn’t interrupt because no mother wants or needs to see her son in a compromising situation.”
Aw, fuck. There goes any and all hope of getting it up for Curves.
Worse, though, was his mom thinking Legs had been a part of any situationship. “Mom, nothing happened with Le—er, Jo in the van. She’s not like that.”
“You mean she’snotlike the girl you were with in the manager’s office not fifteen minutes later.”
It wasn’t a question. She knew with certainty he’d fucked Tits in the country club and that he hadn’t had sex with Jo. She just wanted to hear him say it. Jesus Fucking Christ, how could she know?
“You broke your promise to me,” she went on, not needing an answer. “You promised to be good at Marcus and Charlotte’s party. One night. That’s all I asked.”
I’m sure Tits would say that I was very, very good.
Besides, his mom had set a lot of rules—hmm, just like Legs—but he’d only promised one thing, and that was to sit with the spaghetti virgin, and he’d done it. But this wasn’t the time to point that out.
“And now you’re doing the same thing,” she said, inclining her chin toward Curves, “when you have a very lovely girl sitting at our table. At least, she was until I planted my foot in my mouth.”
Avery glanced over his mom’s shoulder and found Legs laughing at something Blaze said.So that’s why she’s with the Sigmas.
“Melody and Charlotte are quite shocked at my behavior. I am as well, but I’m afraid I can’t say the same about yours, Avery Preston. I know I raised you to be affectionate because your grandfather was a cold man.” Her chin did that thing again toward Curves. “But I didn’t raise you to behave like this.”
“I’m pretty sure I learned this part from my brothers,” he grumbled. “You know, your older sons? They haven’t always been perfect.”
“Actually, you’re all just like your father. Wild and chasing anything in a skirt until he met me.” She glanced again at Legs, then pinned him with her best mom’s-had-enough stare. “Now,” she said, her tone normalizing, “if you’re not interested in Jo, fine. But she’s your date tonight, and you will show her the respect she deserves. Really, Avery, if you’re not interested in her, you shouldn’t have brought her.”
Duly chastised, he nodded. His dick would have to be content with another midnight five knuckle shuffle. He wasn’t getting any tonight. But he saw no reason to give up on their arrangement. He’d just have to revise his strategy. No hunting pussy at the events he and Legs attended.
“You’re right, as usual,” he conceded. “I’m sorry for being an ass.”
“So, you do like her?”
“Of course, I like her. She’s just different from other girls I’ve…been around. I guess I just don’t know how to act.” There. All true. As for the rest, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
“I do admit, she’s not your usual…flavor.”
He chuckled, loving his mom and the fact they were speaking in code.
“She’s not timid either,” she added. “I like that. She won’t put up with your shenanigans.”
“Funny, she used that word the night we met, said she wanted no part of them.” He sobered, remembering the results of that night. “I got her fired.”
His mom’s shoulders drooped, and she did that same clicking thing with her tongue that Legs did when she was disappointed or disgusted. “I thought as much when she said she was between jobs.”
“I tried to talk to her boss. I explained it was my fault, that nothing happened, but she wouldn’t listen. Jo’s friend said Giselle was jealous of her talent and looking for a reason to get rid of her, and that nothing I said would matter.”
Her brow creased again. “Is that the only reason you asked her here tonight? Because you feel responsible for her situation?”
