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“Why do you call your mom ‘Maman’ and your dad ‘dad’?”
“I don’t know, Henri’s preference, I think. Or he didn’t want to be called papa or pops.”
“Do you always talk so fast to each other?”
“Yes,” Nick’s mouth quirked.
Once in the elevators, they were quiet again. “I am hungry.”
“Why didn’t you eat?”
“Nervous. I didn’t offend your parents, did I?”
“No. They are so happy I have a date for the gala. One who can show up wearing an Elie Saab dress.” Nick guided her through the busy lobby and out to the parking lot .“Are you sure? I don’t think I am the kind of girl you’d normally choose.” Her tone sounded regretful.
“No, you aren’t. But I don’t usually bring girls to meet my parents.”
He opened the door for her, made sure she had her seatbelt on and closed it.
In the car, Mulberry looked at him and burst out laughing.
“What?”
“Your sister was going to set you up on a date!”
Nick laughed, thumbed a switch on his steering wheel and soft jazz filled the car.
“You saved me from that fate,” Nick grinned.
Despite himself, he was beginning to enjoy being in her company.
Yeah, you like it too much. Nick ignored the thought and continued to drive, unable to shake the feelings.
CHAPTER TEN – MULBERRY
Mulberry frowned at herself in the mirror of the guestroom in the home of her aunt’s friend. She tried to shake off her nervousness.
Truthfully, she didn’t know if she was ready for this gala, for her plan of being out in public to actually happen.
“Make-up time!” Her mom breezed into the room with a make-up kit.
Mulberry leaned closer to the mirror. “Definitely, needed more sleep.”
“Is Nick keeping you up?” Grace asked, a smirk on her face.
“Mom! No. He’s dropped me off at Axis Management every night and left. I guess tonight is going to be different.”
“You can come here. And we can go back to our house,” Grace said.
After the brunch at the hotel, Nick overhearing her stomach grumble took her for burgers at a restaurant with all-black leather and chrome booths with polished wood.
They’d kept the conversation light, but it hadn’t felt fake or like a chore. Mulberry actually enjoyed spending time with him.
“Why do you want to stay in the suite?” He’d ask her.
Mulberry had shifted in her seat, unsure how to explain it, just like she couldn’t explain it to her mom.
There was more to it than Axis Management being a secure fortress.
