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“What time tonight?” Rock poured them each a cup of coffee before he flipped the omelet he’d started. He offered to make Allison one too, but she’d opted for yogurt and fruit instead, like she had every morning he’d been there.
“About six thirty. And we’re meeting them at Siena. They’re going to stop and visit with Charlie and the baby this afternoon, so it makes more sense to meet around here instead of in DC.”
Her tidbit of news made the thought of the night ahead more tolerable. He’d suspected they’d be meeting her dad and stepmother at one of DC’s overpriced, five-star establishments. While Siena wasn’t his normal type of restaurant, he knew what to expect there, which meant one less unknown variable tonight. Unfortunately, the biggest one remained, Mark Sherbrooke. The guy had been friendly enough at the wedding, but circumstances had drastically changed. He might not approve of his only daughter dating a nobody Marine from Rhode Island. From the little Allison told him, her father sounded like the type who’d want the best of everything for his little girl. That included a man from an equally wealthy family.
“Out with it.” Allison walked over and took the coffee he’d poured for her. “You’re brooding over something. What is it?”
No way am I answering that one. “You need to tell your father what’s going on.” He transferred the omelet from the pan to a plate and waited. He already knew her answer regarding his statement, but at least it kept her from pestering him about what was really on his mind.
Allison’s smile told him she had something up her sleeve. “Tell you what. I’ll promise to consider it, if you tell me what’s bugging you.”
She planned on playing hardball. Her family deserved to know the truth, and he’d promised not to say anything. Getting her to do it was his only option. “Not good enough. I’ll share, but you need to tell your family.”
“You play dirty.” She twisted the heart-shaped emerald ring on her finger. He’d noticed she did that to the same ring whenever she was nervous or deep in thought.
As he watched her do it now, he realized it was the only piece of jewelry she never changed. Since they’d been together, she’d worn other rings as well as countless different bracelets, but the emerald ring always remained on her right hand.
“Okay, I’ll tell him.”
“Allison—” Rock stopped. “Did you say okay?”
She sighed and frowned. “You’re right. But he’s not going to take the news well. He and Abby will have to come here before dinner. I can’t tell them in a restaurant. Actually, we’ll probably never make it to dinner after I tell him.”
He guessed she’d made the understatement of the year. And he wouldn’t blame the guy if he lost it when he found out the truth.
“Maybe I should invite them back here after dinner instead and tell them then.”
As long as she told them tonight, he didn’t care when or where she did it. “Up to you.”
“Let’s do it after. At least then we can enjoy ourselves for a little.” She took a sip of her coffee and then gave him a look. “Your turn. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Damn. “Unsure of what to expect tonight.” So he stretched the truth a little. Big friggin’ deal. “Last time I had dinner with a girlfriend’s parents, I was a junior in high school and it was a Memorial Day cookout.”
“You met both Dad and Abby in January.”
“We talked for a total of ten minutes at the wedding.”
“Don’t worry, he’s going to love you.” She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “And before I forget, Sara wants to know if I’m bringing a guest to her wedding in June.
You talked to her at the fundraiser. Will you come with me? I’m the maid of honor, and I’d like you to meet the rest of the family. Everyone will be there.”
Even if he hadn’t spoken with Sara at the fundraiser, he’d know which Sherbrooke she referred too. Her cousin Sara was the President’s youngest daughter. “I can’t.”
“Oh,” Allison said before he could explain. Releasing his hand, she picked her coffee up again.
“Not because I don’t want to. I’m scheduled to leave June fifth and won’t be back for six months.”
“Six months? Why didn’t you say something sooner? The fifth is only a few weeks away.”
“I didn’t see a point in telling you in the beginning. Then you had more important things to worry about.”
“You should’ve told me.” For the first time since he’d met her, she sounded truly upset with him.
From his experience, telling a woman she was right took most of the fight right out of them. It always worked for his dad when he pissed off his mom. “You’re right. I should’ve told you back in March.”
“Agreeing with me doesn’t get you off the hook.” She tried to hide her smile, but the corner of her mouth twitched. “Will you be back for New Years? Every year the family has a New Year’s Eve party in Newport. You could meet everyone or almost everyone then.”
“Should be.” He’d heard about the party from his sister. According to her, it was a Sherbrooke tradition, which went back to the earlier 1900s and everyone from Hollywood movie stars to powerful politicians attended.
