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“If Gabe finds out that he’s marrying into crazy,” Melanie said, “he’ll break off our engagement.”
“Your parents aren’t crazy,” Nikki said, but then she lifted her hands in surrender. “Okay, your parents are a little out there, but it’s only because they love you so much. I’d give anything to have parents like yours.”
Melanie snorted. “You wouldn’t say that if they were yours.”
Nikki yanked Melanie’s phone from her hand and managed to dial Melanie’s mother before she could get the device away from her. Melanie ended the call and shoved her phone back into her pocket. She had her mouth open to chastise Nikki, when her phone rang. She didn’t have to look at caller ID to know it was her mother. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then answered. She didn’t want the police to show up at her place because she didn’t pick up.
“Is everything okay, Melanie? You called but I wasn’t fast enough to answer.”
Melanie imagined her mother practicing speedy call acceptances like she was a Western gunslinger trying to perfect drawing her weapon.
“Everything is fine, Mom. I just butt dialed you. Sorry.”
“That’s okay. I haven’t talked to you for days. How’s work?”
“Uh, well, I took some vacation days.”
“Then why haven’t you visited? Your dad made this great new beer. He’s been dying for you to come try it out.”
Nikki was giving Melanie a blend of the evil eye and a look of chastisement.
Melanie pivoted to the wall. “Actually, I did want to call and ask if you and Daddy wanted to join me for dinner. I . . . uh . . . have someone I’d like you to meet.”
“A new boy?”
Melanie rolled her eyes. Would she be perpetually twelve years old to her parents? “Not a boy, a man,” Melanie said. “And he’s incredibly important to me, so I don’t want you to act all overprotective when you meet him.”
“So it’s serious? How come you haven’t mentioned you’ve been seeing someone?”
She hadn’t had the time. “Because I wanted to be sure he was impervious to criticism before I introduced him to you and Daddy.”
Mom snorted. “Mel, we aren’t that bad.”
They were that bad. “So, dinner?”
“Dad’s been working on a rack of ribs for hours. Why don’t you bring your little friend here? Around seven?”
Her little friend? Gabe was far from little and was much more to her than a friend, but Melanie said, “Okay, but if you start acting like jerks, we’ll leave, and you might not ever see me again.”
“Why would we act like jerks?”
“Because . . .” How should she put it? “Because he’s not an accountant.”
Her mother laughed. “That’s probably a good thing. I remember how well your last relationship with an accountant went.”
“You’re being a jerk,” Melanie pointed out. “See you at seven.” She hung up before she changed her mind. Perhaps she should have asked Gabe if he was okay meeting her parents on their turf. They’d have to be more civil to him in public. But maybe she was worried over nothing. Except for the overprotective-bordering-on-oppressive thing, her parents were wonderful people.
She sent Gabe a text. How’s the car doing? We’re having dinner with my parents at seven. Hope you’re not stuck on the side of the road somewhere. Let me know if you need a tow.
He didn’t respond immediately—she hoped that meant the driving was going well—so she continued to help Nikki pack while Nikki prattled on about various times she’d gone head to head with Melanie’s parents. They treated Melanie like a princess. It was anyone who dared cause their princess grief that they turned on. And Nikki had caused Melanie plenty of grief in the past. Melanie kept them separated these days. She loved her parents dearly, but Nikki was an important part of her life too. If Mom and Dad had issues with Gabe, she supposed she could just keep them apart as much as possible.
A message from Gabe came at about six. Just now saw this. I’m on my way back to the apartment. The car is running fine. See you in a few.
“I thought maybe he’d chickened out and headed back to Texas,” Melanie said as Nikki helped her pick out something to wear to dinner.
“He’s the one who wanted to meet them,” Nikki said, holding a slinky red dress up to Melanie’s front.
“Uh, I’m taking my fiancé to meet my parents, not picking up johns on a shady street corner.”
Nikki rolled her eyes. “You’re so gorgeous, yet you never show off the goods.”
“I show them off plenty to Gabe. He’s the only one who needs to see them.”
Melanie shoved the red dress back into the closet and pulled out a soft wholesome-looking green sundress that she knew her father liked. She paired it with flat sandals and a light sweater. The only make-up she applied was the lightest dusting of powder, some mascara, and a blush-toned lip gloss. Maybe by looking fresh-faced and sweet she’d counter some of Gabe’s overstated alternative look. She liked how he looked. In fact, his tattoos, piercings, and Mohawk turned her on, but it wasn’t the kind of look her parents would appreciate. She wasn’t going to insist he dress in any particular fashion when he met them. If he wanted to wear leather, a T-shirt that read FUCK AUTHORITY, and his Mohawk spiked straight to the sky, she wouldn’t have a problem with that. Whatever made him comfortable was fine with her. She’d love for her parents to accept him, but if they didn’t, it wasn’t a deal breaker. She loved him and didn’t care who approved or disapproved of their relationship.
Yeah, she told herself all that. But in her heart she’d be overjoyed if they approved of him.
A few minutes later, Gabe knocked on the door. She smiled at him, took from his hand the bouquet of white lilies and pink roses that he told her were for her mom, and kissed his cheek. He was filthy—hands covered in oil, grime, and general filth—and she had to admit he’d never looked sexier.
“Hope I have time for a shower,” he said, pulling his shirt off over his head as he headed for the apartment’s single bathroom.
Nikki offered his shirtless body an appreciative whistle before he closed the bathroom door.
“Aww, he bought you flowers?” Nikki said, touching the silky white petal of one of the lilies.
“No, he’s even sweeter than that. He bought my mother flowers.”
The shower kicked on, and Melanie stared at the closed door, wishing she had time to join him in there. She loved the dirty, sweaty version of Gabe, but might admire his wet and naked version even more. She couldn’t be sure unless she got an eyeful for comparison.
“If they don’t absolutely love him, they’re idiots,” Nikki said.
“Let’s hope they can get over their prejudices. If not, they’re the ones who’ll miss out.”
“Are you going to tell them that you two are engaged?”
Melanie lifted her left hand to show Nikki her naked ring finger. “Don’t see why I should. He hasn’t put a ring on it yet.”
“He hasn’t had time to put a ring on it.”
“I’m not upset about it,” Melanie said, staring longingly at the bathroom door. How late would they be if she stripped off her dress and joined him? “I figured we’d let them adjust to the idea of my new boyfriend before we force them to consider him my future husband.”
“Hey, if I was engaged to that delicious man, there wouldn’t be a person on the planet that I wasn’t proud to tell.”
Melanie grimaced, appalled by the connotation in Nikki’s words. “Does it seem like I’m ashamed of him?”
Nikki shook her head. “No, just that you expect others not to accept him for who he is.”
It was practically the same thing. She needed to get that vibe under wraps. If her parents picked up on it, they’d run with it. “I wish everyone saw him the way I do.”
“As a hot-as-fuck and talented badass with a great body and amazing green eyes?” Nikki snorted. “Trust me. Everyone sees him that way.”
But that was
n’t all that Melanie saw when she looked at him. “I see him as heroic, tender, a little hot-headed if he’s been wronged, but ultimately a good person.”
“I assume you’re talking about me.”
Gabe’s deep voice made Melanie jump.
Nikki giggled. “He caught you waxing poetic about him.”
