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“She is going to love you.”
And now I want that to be true.
“I keep imagining myself screwing everything up.” I confess, hiding a grimace. “I’ve even had nightmares.”
“You won’t screw anything up. I promise.” Those green eyes of his. I feel as if he is looking right through me. Suddenly, I feel naked. “There is one more thing we need to discuss before we get there.”
“What?” I look down and see his hand is still holding mine.
“How did we meet?”
“What would be believable?”
He smirks. “We met in a coffee shop.”
“Very funny.” I pull my hand from his and brush hair from my face. I put forth some effort today and instead of my signature messy bun, I let Eve straighten my curls.
“Well, we did meet at a coffee shop.”
“Caleb will see right through that.”
“Then how doyouthink we met?” He stretches up in his seat to crack his back. His chest is puffed out and I silently wish he would pop a few buttons off his dress shirt so I can get a peek of what’s underneath.
“Umm…” I tear my eyes from him and look straight ahead, hoping he doesn’t notice me blushing. “How about at one of your restaurants?”
Theo cocks his head to the side, a frown creeping across his flawless face. “That’s boring.”
“Ok.” I tap my fingers on the armrest. “At the gym?”
He side-eyes me and I am unable to read his expression. “What?” I snort, folding my arms over my stomach. “I work out.”
“I’m sure you do.” His focus returns to the road. “But my family knows I never go to the gym.”
Never goes to the gym, my foot!
“What? Like never?” I exclaim. “How do you look likethatif -” I stop.
Hellfire. Hellfire and broomsticks, this wicked tongue of mine!
Theo laughs and I love how deep and warm the sound is. “I hike, kayak, paddleboard. Really anything that has to be done outdoors, I do.”
“I see…” I squirm in my seat, fully aware of how lean and muscular he must be underneath all those layers of winter clothes. “We met through mutual friends?” I whisper, suddenly feeling very warm.
“You want to wrangle more people into this charade?” He scratches his knee before bringing his water bottle up to his lips for a sip.
I rub small, circular motions around my temples and groan, “This is impossible. In real life, there is no way we would have met.”
“But we did.” Theo’s voice sends a tingle down my spine. “We could tell them the truth.” My eyes shoot over to him and before I can say anything he raises a hand to silence me. “Of sorts.”
“Fine.” I cross my hands over my chest. “We met in a coffee shop.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed, Cate.”
“I’m just nervous.” I glance out my window and see nothing except endless rows of pine trees. “I hate to sound like a child but how much longer until we get there?”
Theo flashes that mischievous smile of his. Those green eyes dancing in delight. “Eager to meet my family, huh?”
I shift in my seat. “More like I’ve got to pee, and I’d rather not pee on the side of the road.”
