Apparently, she did.He hasn’t even kissed me yet. Goodbye.
“What was that all about?” Blake asked as they walked to the car.
“Mercedes was just being a mother hen.” Boy, that was a big lie. How could she tell him her roommate wanted her to sleep with him tonight? She couldn’t. End of story.
“I promise I’ll get you home before you turn into a pumpkin.”
“Wouldn’t it be your car that turns into a pumpkin?”
As she adjusted in the seat, he leaned in and helped her buckle. He’d never done that before. Was it a date thing? When she was secured, he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.
“You smell incredible.”
Good thing the light in the car was dim, so the red she knew was in her cheeks didn’t blink bright neon.
“Thank you.”
He rounded the car, and once he’d started it, she placed her hand on his arm. “You smell good, too.” Did he ever. It was a light woodsy scent that reminded her of fall, which it still officially was for a few more days.
“Aftershave. I don’t wear it much at work to avoid any issues with allergies. I thought, since this was a special occasion, I’d go all out.”
“I’m glad you did. The paisley tie looks nice, too.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d recognize me. I thought I’d need to remind you.”
“Luckily, Mercedes reminded me who was picking me up tonight. Otherwise, I might not have known it was you.”
Reaching over, he squeezed her hand, then put the car in gear. The half hour it took to get to his parents’ house whizzed by as she rattled on about the hospital and the Christmas party she’d gotten roped into helping plan for the children. Roped in by him, though his schedule had been so busy he hadn’t made many organizational meetings. Filling him in with the details as they drove helped keep her nerves from exploding.
What had she been thinking meeting his parents? Yes, she already knew Annie and Harrison, but his parents indicated another level that they definitely hadn’t reached yet.
Her heart pounded against her rib cage as they pulled up the driveway. The house was enormous. A huge chandelier glowed through the large window above the double doors.
Blake pulled to the side of the house and around back. When he opened the door and the light came on, he said, “My parents arranged for valet parking, but I like knowing where my car is and being able to get it quickly if there’s an emergency.”
Always the responsible doctor, except he wasn’t on call tonight. They snuck in a side door, and he took her coat, handing both hers and his to a woman in black pants and a white blouse.
Holy cow. What had she gotten herself into? Her apartment would fit in this back hallway alone. Blake tucked her hand into his elbow and led her to the main room. That chandelier was massive. It hung from the ceiling between two sets of stairs that curved from an upstairs landing almost in a heart shape to the first floor.
“This is where you grew up?”
He nodded and looked somewhat apologetic. “Yeah, I know. It’s a bit much.”
“It’s beautiful, but I’d hate to have to clean it.” She laughed to try and ease the tension.
“My parents have plenty of people to do that for them.” He seemed preoccupied as he searched the room. Her gaze roamed over the people here, as well, looking for Annie. She could use a friendly face.
“Blake, it’s about time you arrived. You should have been here to greet our guests.” A lovely woman, probably mid-fifties, glided toward them, her voice low and soft. Her professionally coiffed, silvery blonde hair was stunning against the deep midnight blue silk of her dress. One that was nothing like what Carli wore.
“Mother,” he said, pressing a barely-there kiss to her cheek. “They aren’t my guests. I don’t live here anymore and haven’t for a while.”
His mother gave a tiny shake of her head, causing her small silver earrings to sway and the light to catch the glittering pear-shaped sapphires. “You are a member of this family still.”
“Yes, and I’m here earlier than most. I needed to stop and pick up Carli.”
Was it her fault he wasn’t here on time and his mom was mad? Not a good start to meeting the parents.
Pulling her closer, he introduced them. “This is my mother, Audrey. Mom, this is Carline Jameson.”
