“That’s a thing of the past.” He hooks his arm around the back of my neck, keeping me tucked in against him as we walk toward the last house.
A woman with wild golden-brown curls comes around the side of the house, a basket of roses in her hand.
She looks like a model that’s stepped out of some luxury country estate advertisement.
“Ma,” Adriano calls out, making her head snap in our direction.
Out of shock, I gasp, “No way, she’s way too young to be your mother.”
“Right? She looks amazing for someone who’s in her late fifties.”
Holy crap. I want all the secrets to her skincare routine.
The thought is fleeting and quickly drowned out by my anxiety.
When we’re closer to her, Adriano says, “This is Laurie.”
His mother’s eyes move over my clothes before settling on my face. “Hi, Laurie.” Her voice is so sweet-sounding, it’s hard to believe Adriano’s her son. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I don’t hear a hint of judgment or the usual rich people snobbery in her tone.
“Hi, Mrs. Rizzo,” I reply, and not knowing what else to say, I press my lips together and sway on the balls of my feet before starting to fidget with the hem of my sweater.
God, I feel like a teenager meeting a boyfriend’s parents for the first time.
A pretty smile curves her lips. “Don’t be nervous.” She glances between Adriano and me, then asks, “Has my son explained things nicely to you and made you feel right at home, or did he just throw you over his shoulder like a caveman and you have no idea what’s going on?”
A burst of laughter escapes me. “A little of both. He likes hauling me off my feet and tossing me around.”
She pins him with a scowl. “I told you not to traumatize her, and now I have to hear how you manhandle her?”
“Sorry, Ma. Some of it was unavoidable.”
“Right,” I mutter.
“You can call me Tori, sweetheart,” she says while taking hold of my hand and pulling me away from Adriano. “Come with me so we can talk without my son intimidating the crap out of you.”
“I want to introduce her to Dad,” Adriano calls out as she leads me to the back of the house.
“That can wait!” Tori replies. “The poor woman’s sanity comes first.”
I think I might just fall in love with her.
Chapter 17
Laurie
Feeling overwhelmed because Tori is actually showing an interest in me and seems to care about my well-being, I struggle to process the emotions it evokes in me.
We come to a stop at a lovely wrought-iron garden set with cute flower-pattern cushions.
“Sit down,” she instructs me while glancing at the house and asking, “Gia, be a dear and bring us some of the lemonade you made.”
Remembering Adriano told me about Gia, I glance over my shoulder and see a woman standing by the back door. She seems to be in her mid-thirties, and gives me a curious look before nodding and disappearing into the kitchen.
Tori sets the basket of roses down on the table, and as we take a seat, she gives me a comforting smile.
“I’m going to get right down to business.”
