Page 20 of His Secret Virgin
Curiosity compelled me to ask, “Tell me what, Mom?”
She winked at me. “That your father has decided that he doesn’t need to meet any young man you want to date before you can go out now. But again, I must tell you that dating someone you work with is just a terrible idea. I cannot stress that enough.”
I had no idea my dad had been planning on lifting his archaic rule. And I also had no idea who I would even want to date. What I did know was that Mr. Taylor immediately flashed in my mind.
“Well, there’s no one to date yet. Maybe I’ll meet someone, somehow, outside of work.” I didn’t know how that would happen, as I had no friends yet and had never made friends quickly. But maybe things would be different here in Manchester.
Things already felt different. I had to admit that I’d never felt the way I had when Mr. Taylor talked to me. The shyness that usually prevented me from getting to know people had all but disappeared when I spoke with him. And Mrs. Kramer made me feel okay, too. She was sweet and so much older that I hadn’t initially put her in the same league as one would put a friend.
But in what league did I put Mr. Taylor?
“There’s a pretty cute young man who delivered the newspaper today,” Mom said as she wiggled her eyebrows at me.
“A paperboy, Mom?” I wiggled mine right back at her. “Come on. I think I can do better than that.”
How about the owner of a multinational company?
Who was I kidding? Christopher Taylor would never be interested in me.
Mom walked toward the door. “Dinner will be ready in an hour. It’s Swedish meatballs. And your father called to tell me that Saturday evening we’ll be going to Christopher’s lake house for dinner. He’s set on introducing you to his daughters, I think.”
My stomach twisted. “No! I don’t want to meet them. I know we won’t have anything in common.”
Mom stopped at the door, turning to look at me. “Emma, I’m sure you three will have something in common. You’re all around the same age. If nothing else, you can talk about music. All of you kids like the same stuff in that area.”
I was really getting tired of my parents treating me like a child. I wasn’t some kid who needed her mommy and daddy to arrange a playdate with the other kids. “Mom, I don’t want to go, so count me out.” I wouldn’t be pushed into meeting anyone I didn’t feel comfortable with.
With atsk, she let me know how my father would feel about that, “Emma, you know your dad will make you go.”
I did know that he would try. “I’ll talk to him. Sometimes I can get him to see my side of things. Mom, it’ll make me look so…losery.”
“I do not believe that losery is a word, Emma.” With a huff, she blew her hair out of her face. “I know you didn’t like school, but you were taught to use better grammar than that, young lady.”
“Well, you do get what I’m saying.” Sitting at the end of my bed, I thought of a better way to word it. “I’ll come off as a loser who has to use her parents to meet other people my own age. And, by the way, I don’t generally get along with girls my own age.”
She rolled her eyes. “Emma, you’re not eighty. I know you don’t like to do all the stuff most girls like, but I think that might be because your father never allowed you to. Maybe you and I should go get our nails done. We could even get facials and haircuts from a fancy salon. Heck, maybe I’ll even get some highlights put in my hair; I’m feeling adventurous. What do you think about that? A new look to go with your new clothes and new job?”
I couldn’t deny that I found the idea very tempting. “Sure, Mom. Set it all up. Don’t forget my work schedule, though. Nine to five, Monday to Friday. I get an hour for lunch, but I don’t think that’s enough time to do any of those things.”
“No, it’s not.” She put her finger on her lower lip, the way she always did when she was thinking about something. “How about we do it Saturday morning? That way we’ll be all done before we head out to Christopher’s for dinner. You can meet his daughters as the new and improved Emma Hancock. It’s time your father allowed you a bit more freedom to grow.”
I would be shocked if he’d okayed any of this. “Okay, Mom. You set it all up, and I’ll do it.”
“Great.” She clapped her hands with a smile and then left me alone.
My father would have to do a heck of a lot of changing if he’d allow all that. And I knew he hadn’t done much changing at all. Twentieth birthday or not, Dad still saw me as his little girl.
As far as I knew, Mom had never questioned Dad about any of his decisions where I was concerned. He ran the family. She ran the house. And I did what they both told me. I didn’t see any of that changing.
My cell lit up, and I saw Valerie’s name on it. “Hi, Val. You’ll never believe how fantastic my day has been!”
“Tell me, girl!” she shrieked.
“Well, first off, I’ve got a new job. Assistant to the main man’s assistant,” I gushed.
“Wow,” she sounded a little surprised. “I have to be honest, I thought you’d start out in the mailroom. But you’ve got a nice title there, Emma. Good going.”
“It gets better.” I lay on my bed, looking up at the ceiling. “I’ve got my own office on the top floor with all the bigwigs. And I have a company car. It’s a brand new Ford Focus in dark blue.”
