“Why are you nervous? You have met your parents before, I haven’t.” I pointed to my chest. “I’m the one who has to scrounge up dinner party topics and act as if their son is the best thing since sliced bread.”
Andrew looked at me from corner of his eye. “You don’t think I’m the best thing since sliced bread?”
“Whole wheat, maybe, but defiantly not potato,” I joked.
“Baby, I’m cinnamon raisin swirl. A challenge with a sweet reward.”
I barked out a laugh. “Ha! You were not a challenge. I could have had you at the snap of my fingers.”
“Really? Is that what you think?” He flicked on the turn single and directed the car to the side of the road. “We will see about that.”
“I’m not having sex with you, Andrew. I don’t want to show up at your mother’s with my clothes wrinkled and smelling like a whore house.”
Andrew unbuckled his seat belt.
“I’m serious,” I warned.
A yelp escaped my lips as he threw my seat into reverse so that I ended up flat on my back. He climbed across the gearshift and loomed over me. Lust blossomed in his gaze, weakening my resolve. Andrew’s fingers grazed my bare inner thigh while we locked eyes.
“Do you want this?” he asked huskily.
I gulped. “No, get off of me. Your parents are waiting for us.”
“They can wait.” He continued his journey to the outer edge of my black lace thong but didn’t stop like I wanted him to. Andrew’s hands grabbed my hips and pulled my crotch against his trousers. “I’ll ask you more one time. Do you want this, Haven?”
My name sounded like honey dripping from his lips. Need coursed through my veins. Fuck yes, I want this.
Gripping his t-shirt, our mouths inches from each other, I whispered. “You know I do.”
Andrew grinned wickedly as he lowered his head and stole my breath with a soul-shattering kiss. The windows fogged up with our desire.
As we broke apart, I whimpered. “More.”
Ignoring my request, he climbed back to the driver’s side with a tent in his pants. “See, I am a challenge. You broke in under a minute.”
Outraged, not to mention hot and bothered, I yanked my seat to an upright position and glared at Andrew. “Are you fucking kidding me? You did that to prove a point?”
“It worked, didn’t it?”
Frustrated, I was beyond speaking intelligently. “Argh!”
“Was that English?”
“Hush.”
Laughing, he pressed the start button and put the car in drive. Thank God I wasn’t a dude or else I would be meeting Andrew’s family for the first time with a hard on.
Stately gates opened to a gravel driveway framed by an immaculate lawn. It wound up the hill where a French chateau stood, looking as if it belonged in one of those snooty TV shows about British monarchs. I couldn’t imagine having this as my vacation house. Why would anyone need this much room for five weeks out of the year? Wealthy people were a weird bunch and I had a feeling things would get weirder over the next two days. Partly because there were hedges carved into various animals staring at me.
I turned to Andrew, straight faced. “There isn’t enough room for me here. I think I’ll get a room at the Motel 6.”
“Ha, ha,” he said. “Before we got out, there are a few things I want to mention.”
“Oh God, you lied didn’t you? Your parents have no idea I exist.”
“Of course they know you exist. Jesus, don’t be a drama queen,” Andrew snapped.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I looked out the window, hurt. “You didn’t have to invite me here.”
“I’m sorry, Haven. My family, while wonderful, is….”
Snapping my head around, I filled in the words he couldn’t say. “Is in a higher class than me? Is that? Are you embarrassed to be seen with the girl from the other side of tracks?”
“Don’t pin your insecurities on me.” He paused. Heaving a sigh, he ran his hands through his hair. “We got off track. My parents are conservative, especially my mom. It would save us both a heap of trouble if you didn’t mention we were living together.”
I lifted my shoulder in a shrug. “Sure, whatever.”
“My siblings though have a more modern view on life but most importantly….” He flashed an encouraging smile. “Be yourself.”
Yeah, right, be myself as long as I acted polished and groomed like a Stepford wife. Regret about agreeing to the visit churned in my stomach. The front door to the mansion opened as we stepped out of the car. With his mother’s honey chestnut hair and unlined face, it became obvious where Andrew got his good looks. Behind his mother was Andrew’s father, a man in his early fifties with gray a speckled beard. His hand rested on her lower back.
His mother’s arms spread open. “Andrew!”
“Hey, Mom! Happy anniversary.” He dropped his luggage and folded himself into her embrace. “Thanks for having us.”
Stepping back, his mom cradled his face in her hands. Devotion twinkled in her gaze. “Of course, sweetie. I’m just happy you could make it. I know how busy your schedule is. I’m sorry we couldn’t make it your art show by the way. Your father and I had a work function.”
“No worries.” Andrew smiled at his father. “You look as old as ever.”
“And you look as ugly as ever.”
The two man sealed their inside joke with a hug and clapped each other on the backs. Holding my purse to my chest, I waited for Andrew to introduce us. Snowflakes melted on my exposed feet and my teeth rattled together. I stared at the house longingly, where I imagined a roaring fire and mug of hot chocolate were waiting for me.
Andrew’s mother’s sapphire colored eyes found mine. “Hello! You must be Haven. Andrew told us so much about you.” She glided down the front steps and took my numb hand into her palm. “Oh darling! You are freezing. Let’s get you inside.”
“I’m ok,” I said weakly.
“You are not ok! You are frigid.” She lowered her voice as she winked. “What women do for fashion, huh?”
I immediately felt myself warm toward her. Andrew’s mom was the kind of mother I longed for as a child. Welcoming, kind, and made you feel as if you were part of the family within five seconds of meeting her.
“I’m Candice, but everybody calls me Candy,” she said while ushering me into the house.
“It’s nice to meet you, Candy.”
The nickname was an odd fit for a former Amish girl turned wealthy housewife. I would have to ask Andrew the context behind it later. We stepped into the grand foyer with a double staircase and a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. While there wasn’t a picture frame out of place, coziness emitted from the space. You could tell a lot of memories took place here.
Breathing in the scent of apple cider, I grinned. “It smells like fall.”
“My husband and I met in October so every year for our anniversary we gather the family and make gingersnaps, apple cider, DIY wreaths, the whole nine yards.”
“Wow.”
“You’re overwhelming her, Mom,” Andrew said to my left. “Remember we are supposed to ease guests into our craziness.”
Candy waved away his remark. “You hush. I can already tell Haven is going to be a master gingersnap baker.”
“I thought that title went to me.” A young woman dressed in ripped jeans and a college sweatshirt walked into the room. She looked like Candy’s mini-me except rounder in the face. “I have a trophy to prove it.”
Trophy? Andrew’s family was really into tradition.
His sister glanced over at me and showed off a blinding set of white teeth. “Are you my brother’s new girlfriend?”