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“I know a few things, but I’m sure there’s a lot more to find out.”

I met his eyes. “Yeah. For both of us.”

“Guess we better get started,” he said lightly, reaching for the car door.

The drive to his place was quiet but content. We’d agreed to leave his car at the pet store. I could drive him by to pick it up in the morning. I’d have to head out early to change before I went to work.

Joey had offered to stay at my place again if it was more convenient. It was, but I wanted to spend the night in his space. Wanted our relationship to be an equal exchange from now on. So until we lived together, we could go back and forth.

Besides, Dakota would probably enjoy a quiet night without us going at it like rabbits in the next room.

I pulled into the driveway that encircled Joey’s house and pulled to a stop in front of the larger main house.

“Last chance to back out of meeting my parents,” Joey said.

I opened my door. “I’m not backing out.”

It was a good thing too, because the front door opened and Joey’s mother stepped out onto the porch. She was a pretty woman, with blonde hair piled into a loose bun on her head and an angular face with high cheekbones. Joey clearly got a lot of his good looks from her.

“Finally, we get to meet the boyfriend!” she said brightly, taking a step forward before pausing suddenly, brow furrowing. “Have we met? You look…”

I stepped onto the bottom stair, which put us eye to eye. “I’m Kit Willis. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Willis,” she said, face paling.

“Dakota is my sister,” I said.

Her gaze shot to Joey. Her concern was obvious. “You two are dating?”

“Yeah, Mom.” Joey joined me. “It was complicated at first, but it’s okay now.”

She looked skeptical. “If this is some ploy to hurt him⁠—”

“No,” I said quickly. “No, I love Joey. He’s made his amends, though I’m not really sure he needed to. It was an accident. A terrible one, but still an accident.”

“You love him?” she asked uncertainly, gaze flicking between us.

“Yes,” I answered.

“Yeah, Mom,” Joey said at the same time.

Her gaze dipped, seeming to take in the popcorn and cotton candy in his hands for the first time. “Did you two come from the carnival?”

“Yeah. It made me think of old times,” Joey said, holding out the snacks. “I remembered how much you liked the cotton candy.”

“Oh, you got this for me? You shouldn’t have.” She smiled, her face relaxing. It was obvious that Joey’s gift pleased her. “You better come in and say hello to your dad.”

Joey sent me a look, and I nodded, reassuring him I could handle whatever came next.

We followed Mrs. Whittaker into a spacious living room. Joey’s father was sitting in a leather recliner, an open beer on the table beside him. A movie was paused on the big-screen television. It was probably 100 inches, taking up most of the wall across from him. Damn. Who needed a movie theater when you had this?

He hit a button, and his electric recliner whirred as it lowered the footrest. “Well, who’s this?”

“Honey, this is Joey’s boyfriend,” Mrs. Whittaker said. “Kit Willis.”

“Willis?” His eyes sharpened as he got to his feet and extended his hand to shake. “Any relation to Dakota Willis?”

“Her brother,” I said, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you.”