He released a sigh, then nodded. “Love you, too.”
I stepped closer without touching him. “I really want to kiss you right now.”
“Later,” he said, heading for the front door. “Time to do this.”
Seeing Nick’s stiff posture on the short walk to the door convinced me I’d made the wrong move. He’d told his parents about me so easily. I should come right out with it and the gossip train be damned.
The door swung open before I could reach for the doorknob. In the doorway stood my mother, wearing a big smile on her face.
“Preston, baby,” she said as I stepped inside the house. My mother threw her arms open and hugged me. “It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you so much.”
I smiled and breathed in the scent of her familiar perfume. I closed my eyes and held her tightly. “I’ve missed you too, Mom.”
She finally let me go and looked at Nick. “Is this your ‘architectfriend’?”
Time to set the record straight right now.
“Yes, he’s the architect for my new restaurant I was telling you about. And he’s also my boyfriend.”
I draped my arm over his shoulder and pulled him to my side. “Nick Reed, meet Bianca James.”
Nick smiled as my mother hugged him. “It’s nice to meet you, Nick. You must be something special if my son has chosen you.”
“Mom,” I groaned and ran a hand over my stubble.
He chuckled. “Thank you? It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. James.”
My mother loosened her hold on him. “Call me Bianca, or Mama.” Then she winked at him.
He laughed nervously this time and glanced at me. “Thank you, Bianca.”
I unbuttoned my coat and took it off, then motioned for Nick to hand me his. “Where’s everyone?”
“Your Dad is on the way home, and Nonna is in the sunroom. Go see her. She’s been waiting for you. I’ve got to check on the sauce. I’ll join you in a moment with some wine,” she said as she walked away.
I took our coats and hung them on the coat rack by the door.
“You’re giving me whiplash, Preston.”
I pulled him into my arms, and he came willingly. “I realize that now. It just occurred to me that you told your parents about me from the very beginning. Not telling her would have been discounting who you are to me, and that would be wrong.”
Nick looked into my eyes, not quite sure what to make of my words.
“Come meet Nonna. I promise we’ll talk about all this when we get back later.”
I leaned down to kiss him, and my world righted itself. As long as I had him in my arms, I could survive anything.
We spentthe afternoon with my family before heading back to the city. My Nonna had watched the two of us together, and asked all kinds of questions, just as I’d expected.
Before we left, she hugged me with tears in her eyes. “I’ll be back, Nonna. I promise not to stay away so long.”
“I love you, Preston. Don’t let him go. The way he looks at you is genuine, not like the other ones.”
I glanced at Nick as he talked with my parents. “I won’t, Nonna. I’m going to do everything I can to make him happy.”
She patted my face with her soft hand, and I wanted to cry. I never knew when the last time I saw her would be, and the thought alone made me sad. “I love you, Nonna. I’ll call you when I get back to Portland.”
She nodded, and I let her go.
