Page 67 of Let Me Love You

“If you don’t stop looking at me like that while wearing my clothes, wife, I’ll have to undress you again.”

I lick my lips, but I’m still a little sore. I have another idea though. I blink my eyelashes at him and say, “How about I pop your cherry, and we watch a movie now and eat popcorn?”

Victor slides into his boxers and puts on his button-down shirt. As he’s doing up the buttons, he says, “I think that sounds perfect.”

As he hurries off, I sit on the edge of his bed, finally able to take it all in. Unlike the rest of the house, the room has pictures on his bedside table of his dad and sister. Not surprisingly, his mother isn’t in any of the pictures. I turn to look at the other side of his bed and find a picture of Summer and me.

My mouth turns dry, and my tongue is heavy. Everything about tonight felt too … easy. Like I’m slowly getting comfortable with him without even realizing it. Seeing the picture of Summer and me in his bedroom reminds me that this is more than sex for Victor.

For some reason, he wants us for the long run, but this world isn’t meant for Summer and me. We don’t fit in, and we never will. I have to remember that before one of us gets hurt.

Who am I kidding? We’re past the point of no return.

Chapter 30

Serenity

We barely had time to stop at our place, change, and get to Victor’s parents’ house on time. After our detour last night, we made a mad dash in the morning to pick up Summer. I was torn between having her come—unsure how his mother will treat my daughter—and leaving her at home. But I’ve left her too many times recently, deciding it’s best for her to come. So, we agreed to go to his parents as a family unit.

A family unit.

Sitting in the back of his SUV, I wipe my sweaty palms down my knee-length silky dress, but I have to suck it up. Summer sits between us in a powder pink tulle dress. If she notices my anxiety, it will set her on edge, too.

Victor climbs out and comes to my door, opening it for Summer and me.

He looks as handsome as always in his dark gray tux and designer shoes. I don’t even recognize the brand. That’s how out of reach he and his family are to me. I need to remember that instead of thinking things like “family unit.”

He stretches out his hand, and I take it. Even after our nighttime activities, my hand still tingles at the contact. “Are you ready to go inside and meet my mom?”

I chuckle as I wipe my hands on my gown again. Anything that will keep me from turning on my heel with my tail tucked between my legs. “No, not really, but let’s rip it off like a Band-Aid, right?”

“Right.”

He offers his arm, and I clutch it like it’s my lifeline while my other hand holds Summer’s. The building that looms ahead of us looks like a hotel, but I think it’s a house. His childhood home.

The setting sun casts an orange glow over the circular driveway and the fountain that spews water in the center. Wide double doors are propped open, allowing guests to enter at their own leisure.

Victor leans down and whispers in my ear, “I have a dinner planned with my dad tomorrow in case my mother doesn’t behave today.”

My pulse pounds in my ears. His mother’s disapproving frown while Victor was about to marry Harmony pops into my mind. That’s the only time I’ve seen her, and I was hoping I wouldn’t have to again. If she didn’t approve of Harmony, she certainly won’t of me.

“You should’ve started with that, and I would’ve said to ditch tonight.”

He throws his head back and laughs.

“Victor.” A feminine voice interrupts us. I pull away and glance up. Isabella’s jet-black hair is pulled back, just like at our wedding. “Mom is waiting for you.”

I freeze. We haven’t even entered their home yet, and his mother has already summoned us.

“Tell her I’m coming.”

She nods and turns to me. “It’s nice to see you two again.” Then she disappears inside.

Considering I didn’t have a lot of time to speak to her at the wedding, Victor had warned me Isabella wasn’t warm and fuzzy, so I guess that’s about as friendly as she gets. I shrug. It means Harmony and I will have to work some of our magic on her. No one can hang out with my sister without cracking a grin.

Before we take a step, I say, “Promise me that if she’s mean to”—I motion down at Summer. Her little ears don’t need to hear it—“we’ll leave.”

He places a hand on each of my arms and meets my gaze. “If she’s mean to either of you, we’re leaving. I promise.”