Mom pulls the door open and stops short. Her mouth gapes, then closes. She blinks a few times. I grin. No matter what I said about being interested in someone, I doubt she actually expected it to go anywhere. Once she realizes what’s happening, she’ll be ecstatic, and it’s nice to surprise her in a good way for once.
“Mom?” I prompt. “Are you okay?”
“Better than okay.” She eyes Harley like the woman is a damn unicorn. I mean, she kinda is, but Mom doesn’t know that. “Why don’t you introduce me to your lovely friend?”
That’s more like it. I wave a hand from one of them to the other. “Mom, this is Harley Isles, my girlfriend. Harls, this is my Mom, Rochelle.”
Harley extends a hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Green.”
Mom raises trembling fingers to her lips, eyes shining with emotion and—are they tears? She needs to pull herself together before she freaks Harley out more than she already is. Then, all of a sudden, Mom seizes Harley’s hand and yanks her into a hug with a lot of force for someone the size of a pixie.
“Just look at you. You’re a blessing. The answer to my many,manyprayers.” Releasing Harley—except for an iron grip on her shoulders—she steps back. “Welcome. Please, come in.”
I can see Harley having second thoughts, and the look she sends me the instant Mom turns to search for Pops is on the verge of panic.
“You have a beautiful home,” she says, nevertheless, as we enter the living area. “I hope I’m not putting you out by turning up like this.”
“Not at all!” Mom’s eyeballs threaten to pop out of her head as she whirls around wearing a smile that terrifies me. “We couldn’t be more pleased to have you here. Dev’s never brought a girl to visit us before. I’d almost given up on him.” Her expression softens. “You must be something special.”
She is. And while Harley is clearly taken aback by Mom’s enthusiastic response, it’s also obvious that Mom is growing on her. The woman drives me crazy at times, but people do seem to find her endearing.
“Very special,” I agree out loud, pleased when Harley’s cheeks flush.
“Jamal!” Mom raises her voice loud enough to be heard from the street. “Devon’s new girlfriend is here!”
A few moments later—long enough to show that he won’t be bossed around—Pops appears in the doorway, where he pauses to study Harley. He takes her measure in a few seconds.
“Nice to make your acquaintance, Miss…”
“Isles,” she replies, shaking his proffered hand firmly. “Harley Isles.”
He smiles, and it’s warm and fatherly, with none of the manic energy Mom brings to the room. “A good, solid name. Don’t let my wife scare you off, Harley. Devon is our only child, which means we can come on strong at times.”
The tension fades from around Harley’s eyes. “I don’t scare easy. I’ve been in the ring more than seventy times, and it takes a lot to get to me.”
“Oh?” He peers at her more closely. “I see the scars here”—he gestures to her forehead—“and here”—to her brows. “Is that from MMA?”
She shakes her head. “Muay thai. I’ve just returned from training in Thailand for years.”
Pops whistles. “That’s a lot of commitment.”
She nods. “Once I commit to something, I give it my all.”
Her gaze creeps toward me, but when she sees me looking, it skates away. My chest flutters. I want that. I want her to give me her all. Hopefully tonight is another step in the right direction.
“Goodness.” Mom’s hand rests over her heart. “How unique you are. I can see why Devon likes you.” She turns to Pops. “Can you escort our guest to the table? I’ll dish up the food and be there soon.”
I thread my fingers through Harley’s and squeeze her hand. “Thank you,” I murmur, low enough not to be overhead.
“For what?”
“Staying calm.”
A smirk twists her lips, too evil for my liking. “Thank me after I’ve finished digging up all the embarrassing childhood stories you never wanted anyone to hear.”
ChapterTwenty
Harley
