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I can see how a place this fresh and open produced someone like Amelia.
We’ve barely gotten out of the car before I notice the curtains fluttering. Her mom is definitely watching us.
I reach for Amelia’s suitcase as well as mine.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Making your parents like me,” I say. “Anything else heavy and impressive I can carry for you?”
She laughs, and with my free hand, I catch her to me for a quick kiss. I can taste the smile on her lips, and it’s intoxicating.
Amelia’s hands come up to my chest, her cheeks flushed. “What was that about?”
“Acting. I’m supposed to be after your virtue, right?” I wink.
The front door opens, and her parents emerge. Amelia’s mom is like a shorter, softer version of Amelia, all big brown eyes and messy brown curls. Her smile is open and hopeful.
Amelia clearly gets her height from her dad. He’s looking at me with a square, impassive face and tightly folded arms. He’s definitely got the strength of someone who’s spent most of his life working on heavy machinery. And he doesn’t seem too impressed with me.
Amelia goes to her parents, hugging them both. I follow behind with the suitcase.
“Oh baby,” her mom says. “I couldn’t believe it, when that man called...but this is him?”
“This is him,” Amelia says. “Mom, this is Cole Ashford. Cole, this is my mom, Amy. And my dad Bill.”
“Pleasure to meet you both,” I say, holding out my hand to shake. But Amy bypasses my outstretched hand and gives me a warm hug. I return the gesture automatically.
“Aren’t you handsome,” Amy says, as she steps back. “Amelia told me so much about you. Well, once she finally told me anything about you.” She lets out a hearty laugh.
“Mom,” Amelia says, embarrassed, but I grin. I like Amy. She’s open, honest, and willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. A rare combination.
Bill frowns. “In my day, you asked the parent’s permission to propose to young woman.”
“Dad,” Amelia hisses.
“It’s fine,” I say. I meet her dad’s eyes squarely. “I’m sorry for the disrespect, sir. But I’m going to be honest. If you’d saidNoto me, I would have asked her anyway.”
“Because you’re selfish,” he says.
“Hell yes,” I say. “And I’m sticking close as long as she’ll have me.”
Bill studies me.
I don’t blink.
Bill gives a grudging nod. “S’pose you’re better than the other fool she brought home for Thanksgiving. He looked squirrelly.”
“He did not!” Amelia protests.
“He did look a little squirrelly, dear,” Amy admits. “But enough about that! Cole, come inside, and tell me all about how you proposed to my daughter.”
Everyone troops inside, and I blow out a quiet sigh.
It’s going to be a long weekend.
After we’ve settledour things in Amelia’s old room, we all sit down around a worn wooden table in the kitchen. The room is old and small, but the food is delicious. Fresh biscuits, hearty beef stew, homemade apple cake for dessert.
I genuinely like Amelia’s parents. Her mom keeps dropping hints about how Amelia should move back to Texas. And her dad keeps throwing sharp questions my way, like he’s ready to throw me out of the house if he finds out I’m just taking Amelia for a ride. But I don’t hold that against him.
