Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

The only thing that makes this night even better is that this beautiful girl in my arms is coming home with me tonight and I get to wake up with her tomorrow. I just need to figure out how to make that happen every day.

“Maybe I should just stay here and wait for you, or go to Whit’s and visit,” I tell Mike. It’s Sunday morning and we’re getting ready to go to his parents’ house for lunch. He called his mom yesterday and asked her to change the time so I could be there before I have to get on the road to head home.

“You want to go see Whit?” he asks.

I fight the urge to sigh in relief. “Yes, that would be great. I miss her.”

Mike grins. “Good. I thought you might say that. She and Aaron are both going to be there. I thought it would make you more comfortable. Besides, they’re at Sunday dinners just as often as Olivia and me.”

Damn! “I don’t want to intrude.”

He comes up behind me where I stand in front of his bathroom mirror fixing my hair. “You’re not. I want you there, and my parents are excited to meet you. Liv and Whit talk about you all the time.”

“They do?”

“Yep. They also know we’ve been… getting to know each other.”

“I’m going to kill those two.”

He buries his face in my neck. “It was me, Jamie. I told them. Well, they noticed when I kept checking my phone every five seconds the last time you were in. I was worried about you getting home safe.”

Well hell. How can I be upset about that? I wasn’t really upset with Whit and Liv, but I’m freaking out about meeting his parents. I really like him, but I know this—whatever it is—is unconventional, and I don’t know how to answer questions about us. Are we dating? Are we more than dating? I don’t know how to answer and I don’t want to say anything that is going to mess this up, whatever it is.

“I want you there. With me. Trust me, you’re not intruding, and my parents are going to love you. Besides, I’m sure I’ll be meeting your parents when I come to Chicago.”

My heart skips a beat. He’s still planning on coming to see me. More time with him. “Okay,” I concede. I know I’m being silly and just letting my nerves get the best of me.

“Thank you.” He kisses my neck before standing to his full height, his hands resting on my hips. I catch his gaze in the mirror in front of us. “You’re beautiful, James.” With a gentle squeeze to my hip, he releases me and backs out of the bathroom.

I rest my hands on the counter and lower my head, taking a few deep breaths. I don’t know why I’m so freaked out at the prospect of meeting his parents. We decide to take my car, since I have to leave from there, but Mike insists on driving.

When we reach their house, Mike gives my thigh a gentle squeeze before climbing out of my car. I’m nervous as hell. The ride over, we were both quiet, but comfortably so. I had time to think, and I know my nerves are because I want them to like me. I don’t know what we are or how we can make this work, but I want it more than anything. It’s important that they like me; the physical distance between us is a big enough obstacle.

Reaching for the handle, I climb out of the car. Mike is there waiting, holding his hand out for me. “Trust me?” he asks, pulling me into his chest.

“Yes.” I say it with absolute certainty.

“Then relax, babe.” He kisses the tip of my nose and pulls away. “Come on, looks like everyone else is here.” Fingers laced, we head inside.

“Finally! I thought maybe he changed his mind and decided to hog the rest of your time here all for himself,” Whit says as soon as we walk through the door.

“Thought about it,” he whispers just low enough for me to hear.

“Time to eat,” a female voice calls out.

Mike guides us to a huge kitchen with an open dining room. Olivia and David take their seats as well. An older gentleman who I assume is Mike’s father turns from the stove and I’m struck at how much Mike looks like him. “Dad,” Mike says. “This is Jamie.”

I reach my hand out for him. “So nice to meet you. Thank you for having me.” I rush to get the words out. Mike slides his arm around my waist and pulls me close. He’s trying to help me relax, and oddly enough it works.

“Jamie, we’ve heard a lot about you,” he says, reaching out to shake my hand.

“Hello, dear,” his mom says, joining us from the room just off the kitchen. “Had to clean up a bit.” She brushes down the shirt she’s wearing. “I always get a little messy when I make dumplings.”

“Thank you so much for having me,” I say, holding my hand out to her.

“None of that.” She waves me off. I drop my hand and look to the floor, so I don’t see it coming when she wraps her arms around Mike and I together. “I’ve heard so much about you. And this one.” She pokes Mike in the chest as she releases us from her embrace. “He’s smiling a lot more these days.”

Looking up, I find Mike watching me. “You were supposed to make the dumplings for me,” I say, trying to cover the fact that his mom just outed him.