“I have some things I need to tend to.Think about what I said,” Upton said to her before giving Darwin a curt nod.“Darwin.”
“What was that about?”Darwin asked after Upton walked away.
“Just Upton being Upton.”Katrina went up on tiptoe to kiss Darwin again, then took his hand.“Come on.I have so much to tell you.”
Now, did she lead with them having dinner with her parents that night, or save that until after she’d told him everything else she’d learned?
Chapter twelve
“Areyousureaboutthis?”Darwin asked as he and Katrina walked up to the front door of her parents’ house.
The home was located beside the vineyard, a few minutes’ drive from the resort, set behind an ornate wrought-iron gate with the Weber Vineyard logo.It was easy to see from the architecture that the house had been the inspiration for the resort, and he wondered if the inside was as fancy.
“Am I sure?”Katrina said as they reached the front door.Tonight, she was wearing a bright blue wrap dress that caressed her slender curves.“No.But reconnecting with my mom made me think I might be able to do the same with my dad.And Rhett, too, at some point.I just hope this isn’t a mistake.”
Darwin turned and wrapped his arms around her.Man, she was really nervous about this.Maybe having dinner with her parents was a bad idea.He bent his head to give her a soft kiss.“Whatever happens in there, I’ve got your six.”When Katrina stared at him in confusion, he added, “It means I’ve got your back.Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I’ll be there.”
She smiled and kissed him.“Thank you for that.”
Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the door again, sizing it up like it was about to snap at her.
“What has you the most concerned about dinner?”he asked, not wanting to push her to go inside before she was ready.“Are you afraid you and your father will end up getting into a fight?Or are you worried he and I are going to rub each other the wrong way?”
“Maybe a little of both,” she admitted, glancing sideways at him.“I’m also more than a little nervous at the idea of snooping on my dad while we’re there.”
Katrina had told him about the conversations she’d had with Khloe and Lakelyn, as well as Francesca.He’d been kinda surprised Katrina was willing to snoop on her own father, and that Khloe was willing to help.
Darwin wondered if he should tell Katrina that Kyla was doing background checks on her father and brother, but chickened out–again.It was one thing for her to decide her family might be up to something.It was completely different for him to be the one poking around without her knowledge.
“Well, let’s not worry about the snooping part of the evening yet,” he said.“Let’s get through the dinner first and then see how things go, okay?”
She nodded, giving him a grateful smile.“Sounds good to me.”
Katrina reached for the door handle, but then hesitated, fingers moving toward the doorbell, like she should ring it instead of walking into her childhood home.Maybe she didn’t feel like it was her home anymore.
The issue was decided for her when the door opened, Khloe standing there with a big smile on her face.
“I thought I heard you two out there,” Khloe said, motioning them in with a laugh.“What were you talking about for so long?”
“We were discussing if we should have brought a hostess gift,” Katrina said, giving her sister a smile as she took Darwin’s hand and led him inside.“I haven’t been here in a while, so I wasn’t sure.”
“Don’t be silly.”Khloe pulled Katrina in for a warm hug.“I know I speak for Mom and Dad when I say this will always be your home.Come on.They’re in the living room with Asher.”
Khloe led them through the huge foyer with its open atrium and twin curving staircases leading to the second floor.The place was like something out of some ritzy home magazine, and it was difficult not to stare in awe.
The living room was just as fancy, but Darwin was too busy noticing the dip in temperature when they walked into the space to appreciate the expensive decor.While Katrina’s mother might have wanted them to come to dinner, her father definitely didn’t seem to be there voluntarily.Jameson barely said hello to Katrina before giving Darwin a disapproving look.Grace was much more welcoming than she’d been the other night, giving both of them a hug.
“Let’s all go into the dining room, shall we?”Grace suggested.
Katrina took Darwin’s hand, leading him in that direction.The dining room was of the formal variety instead of the open concept he preferred.The table in the center was big enough to easily sit a dozen people, if not more, and one look at the place settings made up of multiple plates and a seemingly inordinate amount of utensils, made him think he was going to make a fool of himself tonight.Given the glint in Jameson’s eyes, it seemed the older man was looking forward to it.
Remembering his manners, Darwin pulled out Katrina’s chair for her even as Jameson and Asher did the same for their significant others.A smiling gray-haired housekeeper immediately appeared from what must be the kitchen, a tray in her hand.
“Good evening, everyone,” she said as she made her way around the table, placing plates in front of each of them.“Tonight’s appetizer is seared scallops on butternut squash puree.Enjoy!”
That sounded as delicious as it looked, Darwin thought as he reached for what he hoped was the right fork.
“Darwin,” Grace said, picking up her own fork, “Katrina told me that you enjoy your job.I’ve heard of Navy SEALs, of course, but I must admit, I have no idea what you actually do for a living.”
