Page 93 of Man Seeking Woman

Chapter Twenty-three

Ella

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Iwanted everythingto be perfect. Unapologetically perfect.

August's mother would be there any minute and I desperately wanted her to just accept me, accept this baby, acceptus.

Fixing her seat at the table, August walked in behind me, swooping his arms around my belly and hugging me. Digging his chin into the top of my shoulder, he kissed the skin at the base of my neck and over my collarbone.

“It looks beautiful, El, don't worry yourself too much about it.” Tender kisses made their way across the back of my neck, up to my hairline, and down to the exposed skin of my back. “She's going to feel however she feels, it doesn't matter how nice the table looks.”

“I know, I'm just not used to all this.” Laying my head back against his chest, I tickled my fingers across his arms. “People usually love me. Only your mom and Justin have given me a hard time.”

“That's because Justin is a dick and my mother is so rich she's used to being right all the time, even if she's horribly wrong. Can you imagine no one ever correcting you? Ever? It went to her head, now she's a walking Google with bad information. She will always pick the opposite of what you or anyone else wants, that how she works.”

Giggling, I moved my hand up the side of his face and into his hair. “It's just hard. I want her to like me.”

“And she will,” he said, spinning me on my feet to face him. Pinching my chin in his fingers, he tipped my head up so I was looking him in the eyes. “And if she doesn't, I really don't give a shit. I know what I want, and no one, not even her can change my mind.”

Lifting my head higher, August leaned forward and kissed me. His lips were soft, tender, kissing me like two lovers in Paris. Pulling away, I could still feel the tingle of where his lips had touched mine.

The front door swung open and Fran came waltzing in with her arms out wide. “Finally,” she said, tucking her gloves into her purse and dropping it onto the counter. “The traffic was horrible. This is why I hate coming up to this end of the city, there are too many people. I wish you would have gotten that place on the East Side instead.”

“Hey, Mom, I'm so happy you made it.” August went to her side and took her jacket.

“Why are you taking my jacket?” she asked, quickly adding, “Don't tell me your maid is on vacation again, August? Lord I don't know why you insist on doing so much when you have good help.”

“I sent her home for the night, this is a special dinner.”

“Special? Why? Are you buying me another breast enhancement?” Looking down at her chest, she squeezed her breasts between her forearms. “I guess it could be time. These are getting a little old.”

“God no,” August snapped, shaking his head. “This isn't about you, not everything is about you all the time.”

“Well it should be.” Winking, Fran strolled into the kitchen, running her finger along the counter top. “Who cooked? Please tell me you at least had Valerie cook before sending her home?”

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