Page 35 of Hands off his Dudette

"So, you're still not dating, and you're buying a house—needlessly, I might add—together?" She looked at Arnold, her eyes begging for sympathy. "I do not comprehend this world."

"I believe it is not uncommon for friends to purchase properties together in the city, ma'am," the butler supplied helpfully.

She sighed. "Very well. I suppose I can find a restaurant who would have me tonight—after all, it's just me, I won't be very hard to squeeze in, now, will I?"

Finn glared at Anna, pointedly.

"I'll let them know I'm willing to bypass the entree—I can just stay for a starter, or even a small little canape."

Anna gave in."How about you come eat with us, Arabella?"

His mother didn't even bother feigning surprise. "Oh, you think I could? Lovely, dear. I'll go get changed in that case."

The moment she disappeared, leaving a whiff of Chanel No. 5 behind, he and Anna both fell down on the sofa.

"Sorry, sorry," she said. "I caved under pressure."

"She's going to direct every single aspect of our lives until she leaves. And apparently, she's staying until the wedding. How do you deal with it, Arnold?" Finn asked the butler, who'd started to clean up the tea set.

The British gentleman smiled. "Arabella is the fruit of her education—but she's also kind, thoughtful…and she pays me extremely well."

Fair.

"Why is she always dissecting me that way, though? My hair, and my shoulders sagging, and my job…you remember when she said I'd put on a bit of weight?"

Finn winced. He'd had to buy a lot of chocolate to make up for that. "She dissects you because she likes you," he told her.

Anna snorted. "Yeah, right."

"I do believe the young master is correct. Mrs. Johnson often speaks of you quite fondly, and proudly, to her acquaintances, Miss Bullen."

She blinked. "For real?"

"Have you seen her room full of dolls? She's always wanted a daughter. Mom never quite knew what to do with Trick—or me, for that matter—but she would have dressed you up and pampered you if you'd let her."

Anna was shaking her head. "No way. And she's always on my case about dating you, like she thought I was only friends with you because I wanted in your bed."

If only that had been true.

"If I may, I believe you're quite mistaken, ma'am," Arnold said, taking the tray to the kitchen, and leaving them alone.

Anna was still pouting.

"Come on, let's cheer you up. We have a tree that needs decorations."

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