Page 48 of Strawberry Cake
“Yeah.”
She bit her lip and leaned against the counter, staring into her mug. “I would be meeting your family.”
“You would,” he confirmed
“And you’re ready for that?”
“Is that too fast for you?”
She slowly shook her head. “No, I just… it means you’re serious.”
“I am.”
Their eyes met, Hope’s suddenly shy and hesitant. “What if they don’t like me?”
“They’d better, because I like you.”
She still worried her bottom lip, searching his face for any hint of a lie. “Do they know about me? Because now I feel bad I haven’t told my parents about you.”
“I honestly haven’t told them either. I was going to tell Mom, but then I got distracted with Mr. Grumps.”
Hope giggled. “Will Marco watch him for you?”
“Does that mean you’re coming along?”
“When and where are you going?”
“Cancun in three weeks.”
“I haven’t put in a vacation for this year, but I can talk to my boss. How much is it going to be?”
“For you? Not a dime.”
“But that’s a huge expense.”
“Remember your rule?”
“I call for a review when it comes to luscious vacations.”
“Well, you didn’t have much say in the location and I thinkit’s only fair that if the decisions are already made, I should pay. If we ever plan a vacation together, we can split it. How about you talk to your boss first and then we worry about money?”
“Fine, but know that I feel bad for taking you up on that offer.”
“Come here.” Hope set the cup on the counter and sat her fine ass in his lap, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. “I appreciate that you don’t want to take my money. It means a lot to me. But please know that I want to spoil you and adding a second person to a room I’ve already paid for will be nothing.”
“I believe you.”
He pulled her into a kiss and then spoiled her by cooking her a late breakfast. She spent a little more time with him, but left early in the afternoon to run some errands and clean her apartment that she’d hardly spent any time in over the last couple of days.
Once she was gone, he rang Marco, hoping he wouldn’t rip his head off.
“Hi, man.”
“Hi, I have a request, and I would appreciate it if you agreed.”
“Where is the body and who’s car are we taking?”
“Funny, but this one is more on the legal side. I need someone to watch Mr. Grumps while I’m in Cancun—with Hope.”