“Lana,” her father said in that flat, emotionless tone he used when he was angry. “I didn’t realize you were going out this evening.”
She looked up at Max to find his face turned toward the street, his eyes closed and his mouth set in a tense line. Though whether he was doing it to keep from cursing at her dad or laughing at him, she had no idea.
She carefully and slowly disengaged herself from Max’s embrace, feeling colder the moment she was out of his arms. Turning, she frowned at her father. “Seriously, Dad? Were you standing there watching me through the window?”
Her father didn’t answer. Instead, he opened the door wider and gestured her in. “You should come in. It’s cold out.”
Lana immediately felt Max start to move away.
Oh, hell no!
She caught his hand and walked into the house, tugging Max in after her. Her father scowled, but Lana ignored him. What did he expect, that she’d leave her date out on the doorstep so he could slam the door in the guy’s face?
Lana’s mother was standing in the middle of the living room, wearing slippers and a cozy-looking robe over her pajamas. But rather than glowering like her father, her mother was smiling warmly at them. Her mom had always been a rebel of sorts and clearly approved of Lana figuratively tweaking her father’s nose.
“Mom, this is Max Lowry, one of Dad’s SWAT officers. We met at the awards ceremony, and he was nice enough to take me out to dinner,” Lana said. “Max, my mother, Nora.”
Her mother offered Max her hand. “Very nice to meet you, Max. Where did you two kids go for dinner?”
“Piggie Pies Pizza and Pasta,” he told her, and Lana saw her mother practically melt at the charming smile Max threw her way. “Lana recommended the place, and I’ve discovered she has excellent taste in restaurants.”
Her mother nodded, her smile broadening as she glanced over at Lana. “Yes…I’d have to agree with you on that. She definitely has excellent taste.”
“Piggie Pies closes at midnight,” her father said. He was still standing over by the open door as if he expected Max to leave now that he’d met her mother. “Where have you been since then?”
It was Lana’s turn to scowl this time. “They were nice enough to stay open a little late for us because we were having such a good time.”
“I see.” Her dad’s mouth tightened. “Well, it’s getting late. Officer Lowry should be going since he has to be up early for work tomorrow.”
Lana might have thrown her purse at her father if her mother hadn’t come to the rescue. “Oh, don’t be silly, Hal. Max has time for a cup of coffee at least. And it’s decaf, so it won’t keep him up the rest of the night. Now, close the door and come into the living room. You’re letting all the heat out.”
Her father hesitated for a moment, but at another stern look from her mother, he finally closed the door and came into the living room.
Lana’s mother looked at her. “Would you help me in the kitchen, dear?”
Lana hesitated, not sure she should leave her dad alone with Max, but her mother took her hand. She gave Max a helpless look as her mom pulled her toward the kitchen. Max grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement until her father moved to his side and glared at him again.
“Max is adorable,” Lana’s mom said the moment they were in the big eat-in kitchen. While still slightly open to the living room, the upper cabinets made it private enough to talk without Max or her dad hearing. “Is he nice?”
Lana smiled. “Yes, Mom. He’s very nice. And before you ask, yes, we had a very good time and hit it off really well.”
Her mother filled the coffeepot with water from the sink and quickly got the machine going. Then she turned and leaned back against the counter, her blue eyes bright with interest. “You two definitely make a cute couple. Are you going out with him again soon?”
Lana almost laughed. Her mother would be thrilled if she got into a serious relationship with Max simply so she wouldn’t be tempted to take a job far away. She’d even gone so far as to encourage Lana to drop her résumé off at companies in Dallas—and by encouraged, Lana meant her mother had sent the résumés in for her.
“We’re going out to dinner, then dancing tomorrow night.” Lana sighed. “Dad will love that.”
Her mother waved a dismissive hand. “Forget your father. He’s just being obtuse because he doesn’t want you getting involved with a cop. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. If a cop was good enough for me, a cop is good enough for my daughter. Especially when he’s as nice as Max.”
That made complete sense to Lana. Even so, she felt the need to point out the obvious. “Mom, we’ve only been on one date. Maybe you should wait a little while before you start shopping for china patterns.”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “Please. Unlike your father, I refused to spy on you and Max once you reached the porch. But I saw you two walking up the to the house together hand in hand. It’s obvious to me there’s some serious chemistry between you two. A mother knows these things.”
Lana didn’t bother to deny it since it was true. “We’ll see, Mom. Is the coffee ready yet?”
“Just about. Grab some sweetener and cream, would you?”
Lana did as she asked, even though she was pretty sure Max probably took his coffee black.
