Page 20 of Perfect Enough

I shot her a look that said to be quiet before continuing. “Brown hair. Blue eyes.”

My mother grinned. “Total opposite of Drake. Good.”

My own smile slipped away. Why would she bring him up?

“Is he nice to you, Soph?” Chloe asked, diverting my attention from my mother.

Turning my glaring eyes away from Mom, I tried to relax. So far, everything I was saying was true, so this wasn’t so bad. “He’s very nice, and a perfect gentleman. He makes me laugh.”

Chloe’s smile grew into a grin.

“When can we meet him?” my mother asked.

I instantly stiffened and prayed neither of them saw it. “He golfs. Did I mention that?”

They both shook their heads.

“Too bad you hate golf,” Chloe stated.

My mother cleared her throat. “When can I meet him?”

“I’m not sure. We’ve just started seeing each other, Mom. I’d like to take things slowly, and introducing him to my mother isn’t going slow.”

“I’ve got to side with Soph on this one, Mrs. Montgomery.”

Giving my best friend a grateful smile, I thought that would be the end of it.

“What’s his last name?” my mother asked.

“What?” I asked, hearing my voice shake slightly.

“What is this boy’s last name?”

“I told you,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “No, you haven’t told us his last name.”

A sudden lump formed in my throat, and I tried to speak, but nothing came out. When it looked like my mother was about to say something, I suddenly blurted, “Shaw. It’s Josh Shaw.”

Chloe gasped. “Shut the hell up!”

My mother turned and looked at her. “Chloe! We have little kids running around here.”

Ignoring my mother, Chloe blinked a few times and stared at me. “You’re dating Josh Shaw? Of theShaw RanchShaws?”

That caused my mother to whip her head around and lock her eyes back on me. “What?”

I brushed away a nonexistent speck of nothing from my desk. “Yes, Chloe, he’s a member of that family.”

Chloe laughed loudly as my mother’s mouth fell open. “Sophia, that family is richer than Chloe’s!”

“Mom!” I nearly shouted.

“She’s right,” Chloe stated.

“Well,Joshisn’t. The money belongs to his family. Josh works on the ranch, and he’s also a firefighter in Hamilton.”

Chloe started to fan herself. “This keeps getting better! A cowboyanda firefighter?”