After my private jet lands in Seattle, Samantha smiles happily as we walk to the SUV. We climb into the backseat while Milo and Via take the front seats.
I left Marcello in charge of things back home while I take a short vacation to meet Samantha’s family.
My fingers tighten around hers, and it has her saying, “They’re going to love you. Stop worrying.”
“I’m not worried,” I mutter. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m nervous. It’s my first time meeting ‘the parents,’ and I want things to go well.”
“They will.” She places her palm on my jaw and nudges my face toward her. When our eyes lock, she says, “And even if everything goes wrong and they hate you, I’ll still love you. Nothing will change that. Okay?”
I lean closer and press my mouth to hers, savoring the feel of my woman’s lips before I pull back and say, “I want everything to go flawlessly for you, baby. I know how much your family means to you.”
Her fingers brush over my jaw, her eyes soft with love. “It’s already perfect.”
I press another kiss to her mouth and push the worry back so I won’t cause her any stress.
While in Seattle, we’ll sleep at a hotel while spending our days with Samantha’s family.
When Milo steers the SUV up a short driveway, I take in the suburban house where Samantha grew up.
I recognize her mother from the photos I’ve seen as she steps out onto the porch, and the next second, Samantha’s out of the car like a lightning bolt, running to hug her mother.
Via gets out and stays in Samantha’s vicinity while Milo murmurs, “Good luck, boss.”
“Thanks,” I breathe as I shove the door open and get out.
Samantha’s father comes out the front door, and he’s next to hug his daughter.
Mrs. Blakely glances at me, her smile waning slightly while her eyes widen.
I can’t decide whether to shake her hand or hug her and luckily, I don’t have to. As she opens her arms, I place my hand on her waist and lean down so she can give me a motherly hug.
“Welcome to the family, Franco,” she says. “It’s nice to finally put a face to the name.”
I kiss her on both cheeks, then murmur, “Thank you, Mrs. Blakely.”
Pulling away from her, I turn my attention to Mr. Blakely, who’s looking at me with a scowl.
Here we go.
Samantha playfully slaps her father’s arm. “Stop, Dad.”
A chuckle escapes him, and as a smile spreads over his face, he holds his hand out to me. “Hello, Franco.”
I take it, and while we shake, I say, “Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Just call us Vanessa and Scott,” Mrs. Blakely interjects.
“Thank you,” I say before gesturing at Milo and Via to introduce them to Samantha’s parents.
When we walk into the house, and we’re busy removing our coats, Vanessa says, “Matt and Wendy will only be here for Thanksgiving day.”
“That’s a pity,” Samantha replies as she takes hold of my hand.
I interlink our fingers and grip her tightly as we follow her parents to the cozy living room.
Milo gives me a silent head gesture that he’ll be outside having a cigarette if I need him. Via’s still glancing around when Milo takes her arm and nudges her to go with him.
I wait for Samantha to choose a couch before I sit down beside her.
I notice all the framed photos on the mantelpiece, then Scott asks, “How’s business? I understand you supply medical equipment to hospitals.”
“Yes, I do.” I take Samantha’s hand again and place it on my thigh while covering it with my own. “Business is good. Samantha mentioned you’re a football coach.”
He nods, then asks, “Do you watch sports?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have much spare time,” I reply, my shoulders feeling a little tense.
“Okay, this is way too awkward for me,” Samantha jumps in to save me. “No talking about sports, politics, business, or religion.”
Vanessa smiles at her daughter. “I second that.” She gestures at the dress Samantha’s wearing. “Is that one of the dresses you got last time you were here?”
Samantha grins wide. “Yes. Franco loves them, so we need to go shopping for more.”
Vanessa’s face lights up. “We can go tomorrow.”
Scott’s eyes settle on me again. “While the women are out shopping, we can throw a couple of steaks on the grill.”
“Sounds great,” I murmur.
Vanessa glances between her daughter and me, then says, “I was a bit surprised when Sammie told us she’s dating you. I never got the impression you liked each other.”
I let out a chuckle. “Oh, I liked her. She was just too stubborn to notice.”
“No, you were too grumpy and insufferable,” Samantha argues.
I look at my woman. “Only because you gave me the cold shoulder.”
“You deserved my cold shoulder,” she chuckles.
Not considering her parents, I place my palm against the side of her head and press a kiss to her forehead. “Luckily, that’s all behind us now.”
Samantha’s eyes lock with mine, her love for me shining from them. “Yeah.”
Scott clears his throat, reminding us they’re in the living room, and it makes Samantha chuckle.
Vanessa’s watching us with a soft smile. “You look happy.”
“I am, Mom.”
She presses her cheek to my shoulder as the conversation continues, and slowly I relax.
Samantha
While Franco and Dad get to know each other better, I’m walking through the mall with Mom and Via.
Last night, Franco gave me his credit card, ordering me to spoil Mom rotten. When I asked how much I could spend, he said there’s no limit.
Just after I moved in with him, Franco and I agreed I would continue to work, but he’d take care of our expenses.
Right now, I have no interest to stop working. Besides, I like giving Franco crap at the office.
Not to mention the hot sex when he bends me over his desk.
“What do you think?” Mom suddenly asks.
“Huh?”
“Where’s your mind at?” she asks, holding up a cardigan for me to look at.
“Red’s not your color.” I dig between the other cardigans and find a light blue one. “This one will go with your eyes.”
Mom holds the red and blue one in front of her and turns to Via. “Which one do you like?”
Via instantly agrees with me as she says, “The blue one, ma’am.”
Mom drapes it over her forearm, and as we continue to look through the store, she says, “So he’s the one, sweetie?”
“Without a doubt,” I murmur, glancing at a couple of dresses.
“Have you talked about marriage and children?”
“Yes.” I grin at Mom. “We’d like to have two children, but we’ll see what the future holds.”
“Are you still going to work for him?”
“Yes.” Before Mom can throw the follow-up question at me, I say, “Franco is fine with it.”
“Really?”
I nod while holding a cute yellow dress in front of me.
“Oooh, I like that one,” Mom says.
I glance at Via, and she nods her approval.
When we walk to the counter to pay, Mom mentions, “He comes across as a very intense man.”
“It’s one of the things I love about him,” I reply while I look at some hats and scarves.
“He’s quite handsome.”
I grin at Mom. “Right?”
“Doesn’t it bother you when other women look at him?” she asks.
“No.” I place the clothes on the counter and add Mom’s items to the pile. “They can drool all they want. He’s mine.”
When Mom digs in her handbag for her wallet, I say, “Today’s shopping spree is sponsored by Franco.”
“Are you sure?”
I nod as I tap the credit card on the machine before tucking it back into my wallet.
I grab the bag, and when we continue to walk through the mall, Mom says, “I love how Franco looks at you.”
“Yeah? How does he look at me?”
“As if you’re his entire world.”
I let out a chuckle. “He actually tells me that on a daily basis.”
Mom hooks her arm through mine. “I’m really happy you met the one, sweetie.”
“Me too.”
