Ugh, maybe.As long as my mom doesn’t try to marry me off to an optometrist again.I’ll text you later!
Determined to make the apartment presentable and conceal any evidence of my decidedly un-country club lifestyle, I grabbed the vacuum and got to work, a plan crystallizing in my mind.
I could handle one dinner with the parents.Smile, nod, deflect.Then maybe after, Emmett and I could rendezvous for a nightcap—a little incentive to get me through the evening.
* * *
A little over an hour later—theapartment tour complete—Dad pulled up to the valet stand at Gianni’s.
Inside, the warmth of the restaurant instantly wrapped me in a blanket of comfort.It was my favorite for a reason.The sizzles and pops from the open-plan kitchen welcomed me back, and the smell of simmering sauces and freshly baked bread had me salivating.
“Hello, there.We have a reservation under Winters.”
“Ah, of course, Mrs.Winters.The other member of your party just arrived a moment ago.”
“Other party?”
“Yes!Right this way.”
My stomach dropped as she led us toward a table.I saw the back of a head of sandy brown hair, sitting atop wide shoulders—shoulders my legs had recently been wrapped around while their owner licked me to a screaming climax.
Shit, what is he doing here?
“Here we are!”
Emmett turned, and his handsome face came into view—complete with blindingly beautiful smile.
I forgot to breathe.
“Emmett?”I stammered.
He flashed me a wink before turning to my parents.
“Mr.and Mrs.Winters.I hope you don’t mind me crashing your dinner.”
My heart pounded in my ears as my mother’s eyes widened.“And who do we have here?”she asked.
Emmett spoke before I could open my mouth.“I’m Emmett, Callie’s boyfriend.”
Dad blinked at him, but quickly recovered and extended a hand.“Emmett, nice to meet you.Please, call me Paul.”
“Paul, great to meet you, as well.”
“Callie didn’t tell us she had a boyfriend.”Mom surveyed Emmett head to toe, no doubt assessing his suitability.
“Well, I suppose it’s still quite new.”He shot me an apologetic glance.“But we’re both very happy.”
There was a heavy silence as my mother continued to scrutinize him.“Well, do join us then, Emmett,” she said, her chilly demeanor finally melting into politeness.As the evening unfurled, I watched him weather the storm of Mom’s curiosity with unfaltering charm.
“So, Emmett, what do you do?”
“Actually, I’m Callie’s boss.I lead Special Projects at Price Industries.”
“You’re EmmettPrice?”My mother turned noticeably giddy.
“The one and only.”
I nearly choked on my wine.Of course, she would be thrilled that Emmett came from money.My mother lived for prestige and status.She was probably already mentally planning our wedding.
