My fingers stayed at the spot, surprised by the statement. My hand moved to her neck, and I tilted her head back so I could look her in the eye, read her expression while I replayed those words in my head. “That’s not what I see when I look at them. I see a woman who became a mother. And why is that a bad thing?”
Softness slipped into her eyes. “I guess you aren’t like other men.”
“I’m not when I’m with you.” If this were Fleur or somebody else, I’d probably find motherhood to be a turn-off. If I went on a date with someone and they said they were a single mother, I wouldn’t be interested at all. But it was different with Emerson, even when it shouldn’t be.
She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at the clock sitting on my nightstand. “Ugh…I should go. I’ve got to get dinner on the table.”
I hated it every time she left. I wanted us to stay this way, to have the night together, to make dinner and watch TV in the living room, to wake up the next day and go to work together. I was a busy man with so much shit to do, but I’d rather spend time with her than think about those things. But I didn’t complain—because this was how it had to be. “There’s something I need to tell you before you go.”
She remained beside me, looking over at me, her hair hanging down the front of her shoulders. Her freckles were visible even in the dark, at the top of her cheeks, giving her beauty a dash of cuteness. “What is it?”
“Since you’re going to meet my parents, there’s something I need to tell you about my mom.”
“I’m sure she’s lovely, Derek. I’m not worried about it. I mean, she loved you as her own when she didn’t have to, and even if she’s difficult or judgmental, I’ll always feel affectionate toward her because of that. If she doesn’t like me, I’ll get her to like me.”
Wow, she was so far off the mark. “It’s nothing like that, baby.”
“Then what is it?”
“Well…you’ve already met my mother.”
“I have?” She raised an eyebrow. “When? Does she work at your company?”
“No…it’s Cleo.”
She stilled at the revelation, needing seconds to process what I’d said. “Cleo? As in, the woman who trained me to work for you?”
I nodded. “It was her idea to keep it a secret, not mine.”
She closed her eyes then covered her face with her hand. “Oh my god…you’ve got to be kidding me. She’s your mother?” She dropped her hand and gave me an incredulous look. “Oh shit…”
“I know she likes you, so—”
“I’m so embarrassed right now.” She fell back onto the bed and covered her face with both palms. “I told her you were hot like three times…”
That made me grin. “It’s not a big deal, baby.”
She pulled her hands off her face. “Then I told her how incredible you were and how I love working for you…blah, blah.”
“Why is that a bad thing?”
“Because it was probably obvious that I was hung up on you. I gushed to her like she was a girlfriend, you know?” She sat up again, her eyes widening like something dawned on her. “Now it makes so much more sense. She said her husband was really good-looking, but she was never worried about him cheating… It was your dad…who’s hot.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Did you just call my dad hot?”
“Come on, you know he is.”
I chuckled. “I…I don’t know what to say to that.”
She got out of bed and started to pull on her tights. “This is so mortifying. Why didn’t she tell me she was your mom?”
“She said you wouldn’t be yourself, which is fair.”
“Ugh.” She slipped on her heels then pulled the sweater dress over her head. “So fucking embarrassing.”
I got out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants. “It’s not embarrassing. You said you were attracted to me. That’s not egregious. You’re a woman and I’m a man.”
“Look.” She turned back to me and held up her hand. “How would you feel if you met my father and told him you thought I was hot without knowing he was my father until later?”
I shrugged. “If I’m dating you, then obviously, I think you’re hot—so that’s implied anyway.”
She rolled her eyes and left the bedroom.
I pulled on a shirt then went after her. “You’re overthinking it. I know my mother likes you.”
“How?” She grabbed her purse and pulled it over her shoulder.
“Because she dropped a couple hints about me asking you out. She wouldn’t have done that unless she liked you. Come on, everything is fine. You’re reacting emotionally because you’re embarrassed, when there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re physically attracted to me, and I’m physically attracted to you. But we’re also emotionally attracted to each other, and that’s what matters. We have both, so that’s what matters to them, and that’s what makes them happy.”