Page 28 of Mine This Time
A man’s voice carried to us. I jumped away from Nash. “Who’s that?” I whispered frantically.
Nash’s low chuckle sent goosebumps chasing over my skin. “Sounds like my parents came for a walk. They must’ve seen me drive past their house. Don’t worry.”
If I weren’t already flustered enough from Nash’s dreamy kiss, the unexpected appearance of his parents only added to it. He slid his arm around my waist, his hand coming to rest just above the curve of my hip.
Although my body delighted in his closeness, and I savored his steady presence, I didn’t want to create the wrong impression. “Nash!” I whispered frantically.
His hazel eyes angled to mine, and he arched a brow in a silent question.
“It’s your parents! They’re going to think we’re together or something.”
There was no further chance to discuss that issue because they stepped through the trees. Nash’s father was an older, weathered version of him. His hair was the same dark blond, but it was flecked with silver rather than gold. His eyes crinkled at the corners with a warm smile as they approached us. He moved with a similar natural grace, albeit slower and with a slight limp.
Nash’s mother, simply put, was lovely. She smiled warmly between us. “Well, hey, Nash,” she drawled, her accent soft.
The rounded vowels of her words soothed me, although my heart was pounding along rapidly in my chest. Her hair was white and cut short, curling softly around her ears. Her dark brown eyes were curious as she looked me over from head to toe. She had a slender build and gave off a librarian vibe with her glasses.
“Hey, Mom, Dad,” Nash said, entirely at ease. “This is my friend, Mari Channing.” He still had his arm around my waist, and I felt a subtle squeeze from where his palm rested there. “Mari, this is my mother, Sandra, and my father, Nash. You can just call him Senior.”
Nash’s father chuckled. “He likes everyone to call me Senior because we always called him Junior and still do.”
Uncertain whether to actually call him Senior or not, I simply smiled. “Nice to meet you both.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Sandra said, reaching out to place her hand on my shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. “He’s teasing. We do call him Junior, but only sometimes. It is easier if you call his father, Senior. Otherwise, Lord knows people get confused.”
“Okay,” I murmured.
“What are y’all doing here today?” Sandra asked next.
“Mari’s visiting from out of town, and I promised her I’d show her the best of New Orleans. Can’t beat this view,” Nash replied.
“How nice,” Sandra said while Nash’s father winked.
“Now, where are you from, Mari?” Sandra asked nicely.
The inquisition wasn’t over yet.
“Most recently, San Francisco, but I’m in-between places right now. My trip took an unexpected turn. I’m doing a story on inns around New Orleans,” I explained.
Sandra opened her mouth for what I presumed was her next question, but Senior cut in quickly, reaching for her hand. “I’m sure Sandra would love to ask you a million questions, but we need to be going.”
Sandra opened her mouth to say something, and he interrupted again before she could even speak. “Remember? I need to get your car in for an oil change. Scheduled that appointment yesterday morning.”
Sandra looked from her husband to me, and then Nash. She smiled sweetly. “Oh, that’s right. Well, Mari, it was lovely to meet you. Nash, you bring her over for dinner now, okay?”
“We’ll see if we have time,” he replied, appearing unruffled by this exchange.
Moments later, we watched as they disappeared back into the trees along a path I hadn’t noticed when we first walked out here.
After their voices faded, Nash glanced at me with an apologetic smile on his face. “Sorry about that. I didn’t expect them to show up.”
“They’re going to think we’re a couple,” I muttered.
“Would that be so bad?” he murmured. He kept his hand on my hip as he angled to face me.
My pulse leapt, and I felt a bead of sweat roll down between my breasts. “I mean, not necessarily. But?—”
My words were cut off abruptly when Nash leaned down and brushed his lips across mine. He lingered for a moment before nipping lightly on my bottom lip and straightening. “It’s hot. Let’s go.”
