“That’s a little more like it,” I said, grinning.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Of course. But, why am I here?”
“Mostly for an apology. But also, so I can meet you.”
I heard a lovely voice hit my ears with the perfect southern lilt to it. I dropped Everett’s hand quickly and turned around, watching as a very petite woman strolled my way. She wore heels like they were naturally attached to the ends of her legs and she had this beautiful head full of shining blonde hair. Her eyes were a dazzling blue. And a pair of eyes I recognized.
Everett definitely had his mother’s eyes.
“I’m Ruby, and the incredibly rude man you’ve already met who is standing on the porch is Kane, my husband.”
“Andrea. It’s nice to meet you,” I said.
“Oh, I know who you are. And it’s so nice to finally meet the woman making my son so very happy.”
My eyebrows hiked up onto my head as Everett’s hand came down onto the small of my back.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk yet, Mom,” he said.
> “Oh, then I think I just spoiled something. No matter. Come inside. Let’s get you some tea, some lunch, and then we can talk,” Ruby said.
His mother took my arm and linked it with hers before we started into the house. We walked up the beautiful stone pathway that led to their porch, and I glanced over at Everett’s father before we walked in. He looked positively ashamed of himself, and he should have been. His son had the gall to stop by my place yesterday and apologize, but I hadn’t heard a damn thing from him. Ruby led me into the house and I gawked at the expanse of it all as we walked through the grand foyer. Two staircases lined the side of the entrance room, heading up to the second floor. And dangling from the ceiling was a beautiful silver-and-crystal chandelier.
“Your home is amazing,” I said.
“You’re too kind, Andrea. It took us years to build it, but it’s the home of my dreams.”
“You mean the home of you and your husband’s dreams?” I asked.
“Until he apologizes to you for the absolute donkey he made out of himself, he doesn’t get dreams.”
I pursed my lips and cleared my throat to keep from laughing.
“Here, have a seat. Our chef is almost done with lunch,” she said.
“I’ve got that,” Everett said.
His mother relinquished me and I watched as Everett pulled out my seat. I sat down and thanked him and was relieved when he took the seat next to me. I eyed him carefully, trying to communicate all of my confusion and awe and shock in a small glance toward him. But all he did was offer me a gentle smile. And his hand.
Which I gladly took without a second thought.
“I hope that soup and sandwiches are okay for lunch. Our chef makes the best tomato basil soup. And his garlic toast has to be eaten as if it were a soup spoon. Promise me you’ll try it,” Ruby said.
She sat in front of me and Everett’s father promptly took a seat next to her.
“I promise,” I said.
“Wonderful.”
She turned her gaze over to her husband and things got very awkward in an instant. I peered over at Everett as his thumb stroked my hand, seemingly trying to calm me down. But I didn’t need to be calmed down. I needed to know what the hell was going on.
I felt like I had stepped into the Twilight Zone.
“Kane, you better start with that apology,” Ruby said curtly.
“Mrs. Wilder, it’s—”