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I put on a brave face. “Bring it on,” I said lightly, and she laughed.
“Have you been married before?” That was a softball, one I didn’t mind fielding. Drew watched me with keen interest over his mother’s head.
“No.”
“Do you have children?”
“Nope.”
“Is that something you want one day?” There was trepidation in her voice, and her pace even slowed as she seemed to hold her breath, waiting for the answer.
“God, no,” I said with a shiver. Mrs. Carter relaxed. Drew’s mouth screwed up, and he looked away from us. I barked out a forced laugh. “You’d probably like lots of grandkids, but I’m definitely not the person to help with that.” I realized I’d implied Drew and I were in a serious enough relationship to be considering these things when the truth was, we weren’t anything at all.
“I would like grandchildren very much,” she said with a wistful look before she turned her head to Drew. “But my children have been more of a blessing than I could have ever asked for.” His head snapped to her, and she nodded, something unspoken between them that I didn’t understand. She stopped walking, slipped her hand out from the crook of my elbow, and cupped his cheeks. “I forgive you, baby.”
Drew’s eyes glassed over, and he gathered her in his arms, careful not to hug too tightly. He whispered something in her ear, and my throat closed as tears thickened it. But why? I hadn’t spoken to my mother in two years. Hadn’t hugged her since I graduated from college. At that moment, all the emotions I’d shoved down came to the surface. I wasn’t someone who got choked up. My family had knocked that out of me early in life. I’d had to be disciplined. Yet here I was, struggling to watch what was happening in front of me.Why had Drew brought me here?
When they finally released one another, she turned to me, her fingers grazing my cheek. “I know we’ve just met and that you and my son don’t know each other all that well. I have no right to ask this of you, but some situations make you brave enough to speak your mind. Take care of my boy, please. This”—she motioned up and down Drew’s body—“is tough, but inside, he’s a good man. Someone decent who deserves to be loved, and you’re capable of that.”
“You don’t know me,” I protested.
“I believe I mentioned that.” She winked at me. “But I think you and Drew have some things in common.”
“I don’t know what impression he’s given you about us, but we aren’t anything. Truthfully, I don’t even like him, and I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual. The sex was an unexpected surprise—” I clamped a hand over my mouth and turned beet red.
“Well, that’s a starting point,” she reasoned, and I flicked my gaze to Drew, who was watching our exchange without so much as a blink.
“Umm—” I was at a loss for what to say.
“I’ve caught you off guard. Just think about it. He likes you. If he didn’t, I promise you wouldn’t be here.”
Maybe she had asked Drew to show her he wasn’t heartless . . . but it was so confusing. He liked me?That was laughable.If he didn’t, I promise you wouldn’t be here.God, the man was confusing.
“Mama, you’re up.”
The incredible specimen of a man who had been with Drew at Paths of Purpose the other day approached with a stunning woman beside him.
“What did they give you for lunch?” she asked playfully, giving Loretta a kiss on the cheek.
From a distance at the shelter, it had been easy to tell Drew and this man were brothers, their looks were so similar. Up close, there was no denying it. Both were ridiculously handsome but each in their own right. Drew’s hair was lighter, their eyes a different—whoa, I’d seen eyes just like the ones looking at me only a short while ago. Maybe that kid belonged to this brother?
Loretta slipped an arm around my waist as though I was family, and I leaned into the touch despite knowing I should get out of there. “Easton, Mulaney, this is Sonya. She’s with Drew.”
What did that even mean? I most certainly wasn’twithhim. Both of their expressions grew wary. I’d learned a lot about reading people over the years. Some were easily fooled and others, not so much. Easton and Mulaney fell into the latter category. I didn’t need to spend any more time around them to know that. “Sonya, this is my other son, Easton, and his wife Mulaney.”
“Hi,” I said, suddenly feeling shy and a little intimidated. I hated that. I didn’t like the way they looked at Drew. I had this urge to stand in front of him to deflect the undercurrent of hostility for the second time today.
“Hello, Sonya,” Easton said, extending his hand. “I didn’t realize my brother was seeing anyone.”
I thrust my hand into his, shaking firmly. “We’re not. Just fucking.”
All the air went out of the room and silence fell . . . until Loretta giggled. All eyes went to her, and she shrugged. “Brutal honesty isn’t such a bad trait.”
Mulaney cleared her throat. “How the hell did you manage to get a woman like this in your bed?” The dig was at Drew. I got the impression she respected my bluntness.
“She hasn’t been in it yet,” he said dryly, throwing a wink in my direction.
“Should we go through all the details?” I asked innocently.
