Page 39 of The Playboy and the Waitress

“My feet need a break.”

“Barefoot it is, I'm sure she just wants to catch up. We shouldn’t be there long.”

Quietly, we walk down the hallway and Dage has to pull me along a few times when I stop to look at something. I simply can’t imagine kids in this place. Everything is so fragile.

We take a flight of stairs to the next floor and just as we top them, once again, I'm floored at the size of this place. It seems like this whole floor is one large room. A beautiful Persian cat is laying on the back of one of the couches and I immediately make my way towards it.

She starts rolling on her back, showing off. “Oh, aren’t you just beautiful!” I reach down, petting her belly gently.

A male’s gentle voice has me looking up, “Don’t let her fool you, she will eat you alive. That rolling is simply a way for her to tempt her next victim. Hello Jenna, I didn’t have a chance to meet you properly at the party. I'm Dage’s father.”

I stick my hand out to shake his. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hart.”

“Gregory, dear, the Mister part makes me sound old. That darling little beauty who is shockingly letting you pet her is Buffy. She runs the house. We are simply allowed to live here.”

When Dage’s mother enters the room, I swear you can feel the temperature go down. She changed clothes, but she is still dressed up and I look like a creature they found off the street.

“I hope you two enjoyed the party as much as I did. I’m happy your schedules could be changed on such short notice; it wouldn’t have been the same if you were not here.”

I look around to see if she is talking to me. Apparently, for once I’m included in this conversation. Dage takes my hand, leading me around to a couch. When his mother looks down at my feet frowning, I sit down quickly, tucking them under me. Within seconds, I have a large, purring cat in my lap.

“Jenna, you can put her down if she is bothering you. I have never seen her take to anyone, even us. That cat is simply an ornament to be looked at and not touched.”

“She is fine, I love animals.”

“Dage, dear, you must tell me how much longer you will be away from us? I have so many projects I need your guidance with.”

“I will still be there a few months, Mother. I really like the area. Honestly, I have been contemplating moving there permanently.” He squeezes my leg gently, smiling over at me.

When his mother starts laughing, it startles me because I don’t think that’s a natural sound out of her. “Dage, you are such a jokester, move down there. I don’t even want to drive through that poor, pitiful area let alone live in such an environment. Nothing but homeless people and trailer trash.”

I know Dage feels me tense up beside him, but he doesn’t say a word to defend me. So, after I look at him for a second I do it myself. He is losing points quickly.

“Ma’am, where or what a person lives in doesn’t put a value on what kind of person they are.”

“If you believe that, dear, then you are delusional. Now, Dage…did Samantha find you this afternoon? It was nice to see her again after all these years, it reminded me of your younger days. She comes from such good stock.”

“Yes, I saw her, and a million other mothers who wanted to make sure I met their daughters. What did you do, put a bounty on my head?”

“You are being petty, Dage, everyone knows what a fortune you are in line to inherit from me and your father. Including the little beauty sitting next to you. What do your parents do for a living, Jenna?”

“My parents have passed, Mrs. Hart, and my father was a farmer. I had no idea until today,” I wave my hand around the room, “that Dage comes from such stock, as you put it.”

I pet the cat once again, then gently move her over onto the cushion beside me. “If you guys would excuse me, it's been a long day and I’m rather tired. Happy birthday, Mrs. Hart, and Mr. Hart, it was a pleasure.”

Dage starts to stand up with me and I motion for him to stay. “I know the way. You should stay and talk with your parents as we will be leaving early in the morning.”

I walk out of the room and I'm no more than a few steps away when I feel something brush my leg. Looks like the cat is coming with me.

CHAPTER17

Ifeel Dage come to bed a few hours later. I’m not asleep but he doesn’t know that. He tries to coax me awake a few times, but I simply turn over and snuggle down into the covers.

After a few minutes he finally settles down beside me and I feel his whole body relax into sleep. I lay here with my eyes open, praying for daylight because all I want to do is go home.

As much as I care for Dage, I won’t come here again.

I must have dozed off because Dage kissing me on the cheek startles me awake. “Get up sleepy head, come look at the snow that fell last night. It’s a glistening winter wonderland out there.”

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