Page 34 of It's a Widow Thing

Here goes nothing.“I’m sure they told her the truth. That I’m seeing an amazing woman and that they really like her.”

Her chin dropped and she grinned, allowing his anxiety to ebb a bit more. Baby steps. “That’s sweet. Does your mom always ask to meet your girlfriends?”

Michael finally felt like he could breathe. She’d use the g-word. Nowthatwas the sort of progress he’d needed. “I never talk to her about women. She’s on a need-to-know basis. Being under her scrutiny can be tough.” And there he went with another misstep. He knew it the instant it came out of his mouth.

“Would I be under her scrutiny?”

“No. Absolutely not. She’s so eager for me to meet someone, you could be missing all of your teeth and she’d still say you had a lovely smile.”Jesus. Am I trying to break the world record for the number of times a person can jam their foot in their mouth?

Sabrina’s eyes were a mile wide. She didn’t say a thing. She simply helped herself to more meat and cheese.

“What I meant to say is that she’s going to like you just as much as I do. I can’t even envision a world where she doesn’t think you’re as amazing as I do.”

“Good recovery, Michael.”

“So that’s a yes?”

She shook her head in dismay, then playfully poked him in the center of his chest. “You love to jump to yes, don’t you?”

“What can I say? I’m a big fan of that word.”

“Then yes, I’ll think about it.”

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Sabrina was soeager to go to the Echo Beauty groundbreaking party that she nearly sprinted for the door when she heard Michael knocking. “I’m coming.” She flung it open, confronted by him in one of his impeccable suits, facial hair completely on-point, and smelling amazing. He made one hell of a date. She’d give him that.

“I love it when you tell me you’re coming,” he said at an absurdly loud volume. While the door was still open.

“Shhh!” She grabbed his arm and tugged him inside. “You’re going to give Mrs. Jackson an aneurysm. You know how she is.”

“I’m just trying to spice up her life. I don’t get the impression that her husband is particularly adventurous.”

“He’s a risk analyst for an insurance company.”

“I rest my case.”

“I’m almost ready.” She kissed him on the cheek, then frantically checked the contents of her handbag.Lipstick. Breath mints. Business cards. Everything needed to be perfect tonight. “You look very handsome, by the way.”

“Thanks. You look like we should stay home and revisit that thing you said when you answered the door.”

“You are a very bad man. But I think we’ve already established that.” She looked herself over in the foyer mirror, smoothing her dress while scrutinizing absolutely everything about her appearance. “What do you think about these earrings? Should I wear my hair up?”

“You’re perfect.”

“Is this dress okay?”

“It’s better than okay. It’s criminal.”

That wasn’t necessarily the review she’d been hoping for. “Is it too sexy?”

He came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, peering into the mirror. “First off, you should know that you can’t ask me that question because the answer will always be no. Everything about what you’re wearing is perfect and you’re the most beautiful person I have ever laid eyes on.”

She blew out a slow breath through pursed lips. “Thank you. Sorry. I’m nervous.”

“Totally understandable. Tonight is a very big deal. It’s the product of a lot of hard work on your part. This event is a chance for you to take a victory lap. I suggest you do that. There are too few of them in life.”

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”