"Oh. Well, I mean, we've just sort of been hanging out a little bit," I stammer, not sure how to downplay the situation.
She shakes her head, giving me a glimpse of tiny diamond earrings and an elegant necklace. Everything about her is classic and beautiful. "No, dear." Carol lowers her voice and leans in as if we were gossiping together at a café. "Dash has fallen hard for you, Bridget. He's quite taken."
Her head tilts slightly. "Lean toward that lamp, dear. Let me get a good look at you."
I hope my hair is behaving itself as I shift into the light. It's tricky to tell from the tiny preview window. Do I require Carol's approval in order to date her son? By all accounts, she is the head of the family.
She makes a slight ticking noise, shaking her head from side to side, showing perfect teeth as she smiles widely. "My, my. You really are pretty. And musical, apparently. Dash says that you play guitar."
"Just a bit. I mean, I'm learning. I'm getting better."
"You also work at that charming café on the other side of town… Acorns, is it? My friend Gretchen and I have been meaning to drop by there. Apparently their breakfasts are absolutely wonderful."
"They really are. Our new chef, Marco, is an absolute wizard at homestyle breakfast and lunch." I try to hold back a smirk, and fail. "The home fries are incredible, if you're of the mistaken opinion that potatoes are acceptable at breakfast."
Carol rolls her eyes theatrically. "That boy has some strange opinions about food. You'll discover his quirks along the way."
Dash's mother is acting like I'm a real girlfriend. As if this is a done deal. My heart is fluttering from a mix of hope, nervousness and joy.
"Well, I was just calling to check in," she says. "So nice to meet you, Bridget. I hope that Dash will bring you by soon, hopefully for dinner." Her eyes sparkle naughtily. "Or I'll invite Gretchen instead of Dash, and us girls can just have cocktails and get to know each other."
"Wonderful. I'll tell Dash you called."
"Toodles!"
Dropping the phone back on the table, my head is spinning. I was positive that Dash would run for the hills as soon as he found out about my family situation, and my jailbird father. That doesn't seem to be the case.
As soon as I hear Dash's truck in the driveway, I jump up, fluffing my hair and straightening my shirt. This feels like an important moment, even though any idea what to say has fallen out of my head and rolled under the couch to play with the dust bunnies.
"Your Mom just called. I didn't mean to answer it, sorry."
His grin is pure joy. "No problem. What did she have to say?"
"Just calling to say hello." He walks me backwards into the living room, hands snug around my waist. "She said you already mentioned me."
"Yeah. She was trying to suggest potential lady friends for me last time we talked, and I told her that I was already totally smitten with someone." He lifts me onto the couch, sitting close.
"Smitten?"
"Yup. I'm in deep smit. Ensmittenated."
"I don't think that's a word," I giggle.
"It will be when we write it into a country song."
"You're totally nuts."
He shrugs. "Maybe. They say being the youngest makes people weird." Glancing at my empty plate, he asks, "Did you have enough?"
"Yes, thanks. Should I make some sandwiches for you and Corbin?"
A warm hand slips around my back. "I grabbed a bite earlier. Corbin is crashing with Mom tonight, and going back to his house tomorrow. Oh, he's already on board with securing your house."
"Wow. So that means…" It feels like he's already made a decision. "You really don't care that I have a father in prison? You want to stay with me anyway?"
"Baby, could you honestly think I'd ever consider leaving?" His palm in the center of my back is so comforting. "We'retogether, Bridget. For as long as you want me. Whatever your father did has nothing to do with you."
Pulling my body against his, our lips crash together in a ferocious kiss. In seconds he has me pinned underneath him, nuzzling my throat. The total satisfaction of being surrounded by his huge frame does things to me that I can't explain. Every touch feels so perfect.
