Page 51 of Hat Trick
He seems to know exactly how I feel, because he kisses me and says, "For tonight. Just for tonight, we have this fantasy. No one knows who I am, no one will judge us. We're just one man and one woman...in love."
I gasp, looking up at him behind watery lashes. Could I do that? Could I pretend? Just for tonight? I bite my lower lip before nodding.
"Yes," I whisper, afraid if I speak too loudly it'll break the spell.
He kisses my lips again, before palming the back of my head and dragging me to him so he can kiss my forehead.
"Great. Let's go meet the parents."
I lace my hand with his and squeeze it. "I'm nervous." I admit.
He chuckles and shakes his head. "They'll love you."
"But what if they don't?" I tug his hand back a little, anxiously.
"But what if they do." He replies, winking to me. I take a deep breath in and out before following him to the reception area.
He drags me towards a table where it seems older members of the family sit. Without preamble, Luca marches us right up and pulls me to his side.
"Mom, Dad, I'd like to introduce you to my fiancé, Emily." Luca says with a smile, while I die a little on the inside.
An older woman who looks like Luca's twin gapes up at us in shock. A darker haired man with a mustache next to her narrows his eyes at his son.
Fuck. I try to break the tension and thrust my hand out at Luca's mother. "Hi. It's a pleasure to meet you both." I stutter out, praying they simply take my hand and accept it.
Luca's mother blinks at my outstretched hand and I die of embarrassment.Please, for all that is holy take my hand woman. Don't make it weird. Don't make a scene.
Finally, she blinks herself back to reality and takes my hand in a soft shake. "Emily." She repeats blandly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." I offer, trying to fill the awkward void.
"Ems, this is my mother Alice, and my father Chris." I disengage Luca's stunned mother before thrusting my hand out to his father. He takes it delicately and releases it immediately. I could not imagine a worse meeting-of-the-parents.
"So, Emily," his dad starts. "What do you do for a living?" Okay, this is a question I can answer.
"I'm Carter Rhodes' nanny, currently, and still in school to get my degree in child behavioral sciences."
"A nanny...and still in school..." his mother repeats, her meaning not lost on anyone. I have the sudden desire for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Luca slides up behind me, wrapping his arms around me.
"Isn't she great? Working and putting herself through college." I love Luca. I love his optimism. I love his rose-colored glasses. But at the moment, he's the only one wearing them.
"Carter has a baby?!" His mother shouts.
Luca grins. "Yeah, it was kind of a surprise. He didn't know about Annie until CPS showed up with her in a car seat and said, 'good luck'."
"Luca, can I speak with you?" His dad asks, standing abruptly. Luca shrugs and follows his father.
And I'm alone with the mother.
"Sit, dear." She commands. And I obey.
She sits for a moment, staring at me, contemplating. I shift uncomfortably in my seat under her scrutiny.
"What's your angle?" She asks finally.
"Angle?"
"What have you done? What do you have, to have my son so secure in your claws."
