Nope. This wasn’t a pregnancy-related issue. It was a meet-the-parents issue. And the closer they got to Baz’s dad’s house, the worse it got.
“I promise, they don’t bite,” he said, his tone reassuring.
“What if they ask me questions? What am I supposed to say?”
“Will it help if I demand they remain silent the entire time?”
She glanced over at Baz. “Would you?”
He grinned, his eyes on the road. “Of course.”
“Would they do it?”
“Not in a million years.”
When Baz reached for her hand, she linked her fingers with his. His touch soothed something inside her, even if it didn’t help ease her anxiety. She’d never met the parents before. Not in the traditional, let’s-take-the-next-step-in-our-relationship sorta way, at least.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She’d met Dante’s parents, but that was back when she was a clueless, naive teenager who’d thought her high school boyfriend hung the moon, so it didn’t count. Since he’d been the only semi-serious relationship she’d ever had, that had been an exception. As far as the rest, JJ wasn’t sure whether half the guys she’d dated evenhadparents.
“I don’t know how to do this,” she admitted, trying to take deep, steady breaths.
Baz squeezed her hand. “Sure you do.”
She huffed. “I don’t even talk to myownparents, Baz.”
His eyes flashed with sympathy when he peered over. He didn’t say anything, and she was grateful. The last thing JJ wanted was to get into a conversation about how she was estranged from her mother and her father, and they were estranged from each other. Their lives had been torn apart when her brother, Jeremy, ended his own life all those years ago, and JJ had never really put forth the effort to fix things. Even now, with a baby on the way, she had no desire to talk to them.
However, she knew Baz had a good relationship with both his parents. And oddly enough, they had a good relationship with each other despite the fact they were divorced. If she was being honest, that was one of the motivations for actually doing this. JJ was curious because she’d never met anyone who had a good relationship with their ex.
“They’re gonna love you, JJ. Just like I do.”
She seriously doubted that, but she appreciated the sentiment.
Half an hour later, Baz was pulling the truck into the vast estate that belonged to his wealthy father. JJ had been here before because Baz had utilized his father’s guest house as a safe space for her after her attack when Dante had staged his own kidnapping. Funny how whenever she thought about the thirty-seven-hundred-square-foot architectural marvel, she imagined air quotes aroundguest house. And while she didn’t know what Baz’s father’s house looked like because they had never ventured over to the main residence, she figured it was going to be impressive. Based on the accommodations he afforded those who were merely visiting, this was going to be an experience she wouldn’t soon forget.
No sooner did she think about it than the house appeared in all its wondrous glory. Like the guest house, it was an architectural eye-gasm. Two stories chock full of clean lines, white walls, and acres of glass had JJ’s breath lodging in her chest. If she could’ve designed a dream house, this would’ve been it.
Baz circled the enormous pond in front of the house and pulled the truck to a stop.
She peered over. “Are there fish in there?”
“It’s a koi pond,” he said as though that simplified things.
“Seriously?”
“My father has an affinity for beautiful things.”
Yeah, she’d heard he’d had numerous wives, so that seemed a given.
“Welcome to my father’s house,” he said, motioning out her window at the front door. Nope. Scratch that. Doorspluralbecause there were two enormous solid wood panels that kept people out. They had that burned wood design, darker in certain spots, with a high-gloss shine. If she had to guess, the doors were nine, maybe ten feet tall and about as wide.
“JJ?”
“Hmm?”
“Breathe, baby.”
“Easier said than done,” she mumbled, not taking her eyes off the house. “No valet?”
