We were already way past the courting stage.
Her mother took a giant step backwards as if the two of us had a terrible disease that was catching. “Better late than never,” her mother chided.
I managed to crawl out from under Christine, helping her to her feet.
“Mrs. Carrington,” I started, trying to be nice, but my little mate stopped me by smashing the back of her hand against my chest.
“I brought a date.”
“Yes, I can see you did. You look… untethered,” her mother said by way of greeting. Music was flowing through the house and I could hear voices, lot of voices.
Christine took a deep breath, ready to launch into her mother. I squeezed her arm, trying to remind her this was temporary.
“Yes, well, it’s because I’m so much in love, Mother.” She squeezed me back, nuzzling against me. “Sheila Carrington, thisis Danny Wright, my boyfriend. In fact, we might have an announcement of our own tonight.”
When she threw me a little look, I developed a very bad feeling. What was she up to?
“Well, Danny. I’ll be so eager to learn how you met my daughter. Please come in.” Sheila’s smile faded as she opened the door wider. “And don’t usurp your father’s evening, Christine.”
“What about Delaney’s engagement?”
Her mother laughed. “Secondary to your father’s planned evening. We’ll get to that.”
I was already on edge, futzing with my tie. The house her parents lived in was huge, putting the one I’d grown up in to shame.
However, I sensed there was no life in the place given the stodgy furniture that appeared as if collected from every antique shop in the world.
“Such a pleasure to meet you, Sheila. Your daughter has told me so many things about you.”
She eyed me with in a way someone would a damaged piece of furniture. Too bad humans couldn’t detect shifters in their presence. I guess I could put on a little show and drop my canines just for kicks and giggles. Maybe later. “All good, I hope. Let’s get you both a drink. We have guests. I do hope you’ll be on your best behavior, Christine.”
While the comment was directed toward her daughter, I was the one bristling. Already I had an opinion about the woman and it wasn’t very nice. She was controlling, so much so she’d managed to suffocate her daughter. Yet she was suffering. I could feel the apprehension she had while standing in her expensive Pradadress and heels that cost more than what Christine made in a month.
There was something very provincial about her, yet she was jealous of her own daughter and her resilience and ability to escape what she likely felt was a prison. That’s why she tormented her daughter.
And why I would find fucking with her so enjoyable.
Call me a very bad boy, but I couldn’t help myself.
She led us toward where a bar had been established, directing us to help ourselves.
“I’m going to find your father. I’m certain he’s quite eager to meet your boyfriend, Christine. We all were.” She offered a tight-lipped look before moving away.
Christine’s smile fell, shifting into what could only be described as a venomous look. “Keep me from killing her.”
“I’m not certain I want to. What would you like to drink?”
She popped to the bar, not bothering to wait. “I’ll have a nice tall beer with a tequila chaser.”
Her choice of drink brought a laugh. “Make that two.”
As soon as the bartender had poured the shots, she handed me one. The look in her eyes was practically murderous.
I knew I liked this girl, but she was just giving me more and more reasons. “Here you go. A toast.”
“What are we toasting to?”
She tossed back the entire amount, slamming the glass onto the bar’s surface. “Hit me again.” When a man appeared in the doorway alongside Sheila, she snarled under her breath. “To bloody, violent murder.”
