Page 41 of One Bossy Date
By the time we left the dance floor, it was getting late, and my mother stood with her coat over her arm. “Sorry, lovies, I’ve had a long day, and I need to get to bed. And so shouldyouthree.” She was referring to us, plus our imaginary, unborn baby. I leaned in to kiss her cheek as she wrapped an arm tightly around my neck, then Zoe’s.
“Oh, and I’ve had a thought about our Christmas dinner this year.”
“Yes?” I raised a brow, waiting for her to voice the idea, which I saw coming towards me like an express train in a dark tunnel.
“Since Zoe will be moving in with you, let’s do it at your place. We can make it a nice housewarming-themed Christmas and celebrate your new lives together and the baby—possiblebaby,I know, I know—on the way. We’ll just need to have it on the twenty-second, okay? Like last year. It always seems to be the only day when everyone can make it.” She met our gazes, making sure we understood. “Does that sound good? Anderson dear? Zoe dearest?”
Zoe quickly directed her attention to me, questioning whether it was okay. It seemed like getting out of this whole fake-dating thing wouldn’t be happening any time soon. But, what could I say? “No, Mom, let’s not have dinner at my place.” Not an option. I gave Zoe an “Okay?” with a curt nod.
“It sounds amazing, Lilian. I can’twait.” Zoe smiled, holding my mom’s hands.
“Son?”
“No problem, Mom,” I said. “Get home safely.”
I walked her to the door and watched her get into the town car she’d taken this evening. For a brief moment, I pictured this scheme still going strong on the twenty-second of December—my plans for Chile would have to be postponed.
But if it meant my mom’s happiness, it just might be necessary.
16
ANDERS
After a slew of goodbyes and a long wait for Zoe’s gran to finish squeezing and kissing her, we were finally getting into the limo again. I opened the door for her, watched her scoot in—and watching all her breathtaking curves as she did—then leaned down to say, “I’m going to need your address for the driver, Zoe.”
She thought for a second. “Um, you know what? Just drop me at the boutique. I left some paperwork that I want to finish up before we open again tomorrow morning.”
“All right.” I relayed the store address to the driver, before removing my jacket and joining her in the back seat.
She didn’t want me to know where she lived, it was obvious. I didn’t push the issue.
“Wow, what a night,” Zoe said, settling into the seat.
“Yeah, it wasn’t exactly how we expected it to go, huh?” I said, loosening my tie.
“Not. At.All.” She shook her head. “But overall, it went well, right?” It was her attempt to try to make light of the situation.
I glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. “I mean…”
“It could have gone worse.Muchworse.”
“Well, that’s one way to look at it, I suppose.” Maybe she was right: what happened, happened, there was no need to dwell on it. We had to look on the positive side. “You impressed me though, with how you handled some of the tricky moments. The stories you have,tsk, tsk, tsk.”
“I don’t even know what came over me—I’m usually so truthful. Ihateto lie.” She threw her hands over her face.
“So do I,” I said matter-of-factly.
“Well, tonight, I think it was necessary, right?” Zoe said thoughtfully, her hands making sure her up-do hairstyle was sitting correctly. She narrowed her eyes and peered out of the window. “That douche, Brody, had me all riled up, and that’s when things got out of control.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” I said. “I thought you might punch him.”
“So did I, honestly. I was ready to kick his ass!”
We both grinned at that justified near-ass-beating, before Zoe turned her body to me, letting her knee rest against mine. I liked the feeling of her so close to me and that she was getting more comfortable in my presence.
“Look, Anders, all jokes aside. I am truly sorry that this got so out of hand. I really didn’t intend for your mom to get involved and think we’re going to move in together.”
“I appreciate it”—I thought about my next words—“but it might not be so bad if we’re going to stick with the charade a little longer.”