"I don't know if that's a good idea."
I frowned."Why not?"
"I'm feeling a little off after lunch.I'm not good company.And clearly you disapprove of how I act around my mother.She disapproves of me, period.It's a lot."
I didn't like being lumped together with her mother."I'm sorry if I made you feel that way.I was worried about what her being here meant for the project.For us."
Her jaw tightened."She doesn't have any influence over me."
I wasn't so sure about that because she'd just said she was in a weird mood after hanging out with her and didn't think we should see each other tonight.The woman was already affecting us."Then why are you cancelling our plans?"
Belle sighed, and her shoulders lowered slightly."I didn't want to subject you to my mood.My mom makes me crazy, but you shouldn't have to deal with that."
I leaned against the shelf."Isn't that what people do in relationships?They are there for each other."
She chewed her lower lip."That's true."
"What would you say if I told you I want to take you upstairs and make you forget everything that happened today?"
Her lips curved into a smile."I'd say yes, please."
"I'll put this in the back while you shut everything else down."I grabbed the empty box, and took it to the storage room.
When I returned to the front, she was just turning off all the lights.I didn't mind if she wanted to work late, but she needed a break.Her mother shouldn't make her feel less than.
Belle was a good person.She was selfless and kind and shouldn't have to take shit from anyone, much less her own mother.
There was one other thing that bothered me about her visit today, but I didn't want to bring it up in case I was overthinking things.Belle hadn't introduced me as her boyfriend.Was she worried about what her mother would think?That I wasn't good enough for her daughter?
That played into all my insecurities.What country-club mother would want me with their daughter?No matter how successful my business was, it wouldn't change what some people thought of me.
We headed upstairs, and when she closed the door, she said, "I'm sorry.I shouldn't have taken out my mother's mood on you."
I pulled her close, swiping a strand of hair off her forehead."Your mom is a force in your life.I get it.And you tried to push me away, but it didn't work."
"What are you saying?"
"I want to be here with you.I want to distract you from everything that happened today."
Her eyes darkened with desire."And how are you going to do that?"
"First, we're making dinner.Then we're relaxing on the couch while we watch a mindless movie."
She raised a brow in disbelief."No sex?"
"If it happens, it happens.But that's not what you need right now."I moved around her kitchen, looking in the freezer for the meat I'd bought the other day.I put peppers and onions on the counter, along with a knife and a cutting board."I thought we could make tacos.Why don't you chop the veggies while I brown the meat?"
When she didn't move, I glanced over to find her watching me.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded."I'm just surprised."
"We can do something else, but I need to eat.I get cranky when I'm hungry."
She laughed and shook her head."You surprised me.That's all.You're sticking around even though I'm not in the best mood.And you want to distract me.It's different."
I sighed."You're not used to people being here for you.I don't like that it's your reality, and it might take a while for you to get used to me.But I want to be here for you."
