Page 124 of Masters of Secrets

“She called on Wednesday to invite you.” Julie winced. “That’s when I found out she’d basically told the whole family. My cousins have been texting me almost nonstop since, trying to find out more about you.”

Connor snorted. “That’s funny. I have nosy coworkers doing the same thing about you. At least our friends don’t have to do that since they already know both of us.”

“Small blessings.” She gave him a crooked smile. “Anyway… I know it’s short notice, and honestly, if you just don’t want to come, that’s fine, too.”

“Do you want me there?” That was his only concern since it seemed like she was trying to talk him out of it.

She hesitated but squeezed his hand at the same time, which was confusing. A little bit of mixed messages.

“I do want you to meet my family, eventually. But I don’t want to put a whole lot of pressure on us before we’re ready. We just started seeing each other. But…” Her voice trailed off.

“But having me there would be helpful when it comes to your family.” It didn’t take a genius to finish the sentence, and he could tell she was struggling with the desire to have him there but also the desire not to push him into something he wasn’t comfortable with.

He could go meet her family. Was it earlier than he’d ever met a girlfriend’s family before? Sure. But hell, he was getting older. Things moved faster, right? Plus, she needed him.

Julie sighed.

“I don’t want you to feel like you have to⁠—”

“I don’t,” he said, reassuring her. She was watching him intently, clearly trying to read his expression. He smiled at her, hoping she’d seen the sincerity in his gaze, hear it in his voice. It was no hardship, and he wanted to help. “I’m happy to meet your family.”

“Right.” She sighed. “I don’t want you to think that I don’t want you to meet them. I just also don’t want you to feel forced to.”

“I don’t. I’ll meet them to help, and also because I want to. If we keep seeing each other, it’ll happen eventually, anyway. Why not sooner rather than later? If it makes you feel better, you can join me on one of my video calls with my parents sometime.” That was the right thing to say. He could see her relax. Not all the way, but he’d take what he could get.

“That would be nice.” The smile that now curved her lips looked much more genuine than the previous one.

Their server appeared at their table again, effectively halting the conversation.

“Can I get you anything else?” she asked hopefully as she picked up their plates. “Would you like to see our dessert menu?” Julie and Connor glanced at each other.

“I think I’m good,” Julie said slowly when he didn’t speak right away.

“Me, too.” He could always go for dessert, but he didn’t need it. However, answering in the negative made his nerves rachet up a bit more. That meant they’d be heading to Stronghold next.

On the other hand, getting it over with would probably be better than prolonging the wait. He wasn’t going to get less nervous.

“Just the check, then.” Julie was the one directing the server, but Connor was already reaching for his wallet. He hoped she didn’t think she was paying.

He wasn’t sure what the rules were when it came to being a submissive and paying for dinner, but he was still a gentleman, and they were on a date. Was it odd to feel a bit of relief when she let him pay without a fight?

Julie

The tension inside of Connor was twisting tighter and tighter as they walked toward the door to Stronghold. Julie pressed her lips together. Maybe she was asking too much of him. Maybe this was too fast. And on the same night that she’d asked him to meet her family, too.

Which might be a mistake if they couldn’t even go out with their friends together.

On the other hand, her family wouldn’t know their dynamic, which she was pretty sure was his problem with going into Stronghold.

She put her hand on his shoulder to stop him from moving forward, even though it was a bit of a stretch for her despite the heels she was wearing. As soon as he stopped, she shifted around to stand in front of him, her hand on his chest, head tilted back to look up into his face. The lights in the parking lot created odd shadows, making it harder to read his expression.

“We don’t have to go in.”

Taking a deep breath, he let it out, lifting his head to look past her at the front door of the building. Unlike Marquis, Stronghold was in the warehouse district, and that’s exactly what it looked like from the outside. There wasn’t much to see other than the front door and the long, featureless exterior walls. The club didn’t have a sign because they didn’t want to advertise what they were.

If you knew, you knew.

“I think I need to,” he said after a moment, his shoulders hunching slightly. “If I chicken out now, it’s going to be so much harder next time.”