Briggs stepped forward and hugged her. “Mom, what are you doing here?”
He hugged his dad as his mother said, “We were driving past and saw the vehicles, and decided to pop in for a quick hello.”
His father laughed. “You decided, Mari.”
She just grinned at him before turning to Cece. “Oh, aren’t you just the most gorgeous little thing? Alex, do you see how gorgeous she is?”
“Mom,” Briggs said.
“What? I can’t compliment your mate?” Mari asked, then turned back to Cece and inhaled. “Oh, my darling, I can smell your nervousness. You mustn’t be nervous. We don’t bite.”
“Speak for yourself,” Brooke said.
“Oh, Brookie,” Mari said with a soft laugh. “Don’t scare the sweet human any more than she already is.”
“It’s really nice to meet you,” Cece said. “Briggs has told me a lot about you.”
Mari laughed. “I’m sure he hasn’t. Our boy talks about as much as his father, which is roughly ten words a day.”
“Hey, it’s at least twenty,” Alex said with a grin.
“Mom, we agreed I’d bring Cece to meet you tomorrow, remember?” Briggs said.
“Did you?” Mari gave him an innocent look. “I don’t remember that conversation.”
“Bullshit,” Brooke coughed into her hand, earning her a stern look from Mari and a grin from Alex.
“Leigh, honey, how did your research go? Was Eileen able to help you?” Mari asked.
“She did. Thanks, Mari.”
Briggs took Cece’s hand. “Mom, it’s great to see you, but we haven’t eaten since before the flight, so…”
“Oh my God, of course,” Mari said. “Be at the house in twenty minutes, and your dad will have the steaks on the grill. Brooke and Leigh will be there, oh and the Newtons as well, but it’ll be very low-key, I promise.”
Briggs glanced at Cece. She could see the emotions warring on his face… he wanted to be with his family but didn’t want to overwhelm her.
“Mom, we appreciate the invite, but -”
“We’d love to join you,” Cece said.
“Oh, perfect!” Mari smiled triumphantly and blew a kiss to Brooke before taking Alex’s hand. “See you soon.”
She and Alex left the kitchen, and when the front door slammed, Briggs groaned and slumped against the island. Brooke laughed. “Honestly, I’m surprised she waited this long. She wanted to be waiting here at the house, but Dad talked her out of it.”
She tugged on Leigh’s hand, and the two of them headed out of the kitchen. Brooke grinned at Cece over her shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Cece.”
“Thank you,” Cece said.
She turned to Briggs, sliding her arms around his waist and kissing his chest as Brooke and Leigh left.
“I’m sorry, Cece. I didn’t mean for you to have to meet everyone in my family in the first ten minutes.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “I think your family is adorable.”
“We don’t have to go over for dinner. I can text Mom and -”
“I want to go,” she said. “I promise, Briggs.”
