Ha. I don’t worry enough. I’ve been letting myself forget everything and just enjoying my time with Marina. If we’re not working, we’re together. And lately, I’m not working much at all, which means . . .
“Turn here,” she instructs as she points her finger, breaking my train of thought, and I hit the brakes to slow down, turning right onto a long, tree-lined driveway. It seems to go on for miles and my stomach cramps with nerves at the thought of coming face-to-face with Scott Knight. I haven’t met a woman’s family as her boyfriend since I don’t know when. Ever?
This fact should make me feel like a twenty-eight-year-old loser, but damn it, I haven’t found the right woman yet. As crazy as it sounds, in the little time we’ve known each other, I’m starting to think she’s it. She’s the one. Marina.
Shit. I know my friends love this. Archer doesn’t fault me too hard because he’s hopelessly in love with my sister. Matt, on the other hand, revels in my lovesick misery. He’s also figuratively holding his hand out every chance he gets, demanding we hand over that one-million-dollar payout.
Jackass.
“How long is this damn driveway?” I mutter, earning a little laugh from Marina. Just as I ask, the thick trees disappear, revealing a circular driveway and a somewhat modest house with a spectacularly landscaped yard. I figured for sure Marina grew up in a sprawling mansion, the lone child who ran the house.
Guess I was wrong.
I park the Maserati in front of the four-car garage—the one sign of excess I see—surprised when Marina leans over and gives me another kiss. This one is longer, her lips lingering on mine, her hand curling around the back of my neck and holding me close. I exhale on a rough sound of pleasure and part her lips with my tongue, letting myself sink into her delicious, seductive mouth for a while. Forgetting all about my worry and the fact that I’m making out with Marina in front of her parents’ home.
You’re f**king making out with Marina in front of her parents’ house, you a**hole! What the hell? Are you sixteen and can’t control yourself?
Well. That was like an ice-cold dose of reality.
Pulling out of the kiss, I smudge my thumb across her lush bottom lip, smiling at her as she glares up at me. I don’t think she likes that I ended our kissing session. “We shouldn’t be doing this,” I whisper.
She pouts. “Why? I can’t resist you. You know this.”
Her simple admission makes me smile, but I don’t let myself get too hung up on it. “We’re at your house. Your parents are waiting inside to meet me, and I want to make the right impression. Not be the guy who’s caught kissing and feeling up their daughter in his car.”
“You weren’t feeling me up,” she points out.
I grin. “Yet.”
Marina rolls her eyes. “Whatever. And don’t worry about my dad. He’ll take one look at your precious car and fall in love.” Smiling, she leans in for another kiss, but I dodge her at the last minute, making her pout again. “Come on.”
“Yeah, you got that right. Come on.” I open the door and climb out, rounding the front so I can open her door. “Let’s go meet your parents.”
I take her hand and pull her out of the car, hoping like hell she doesn’t notice my sweaty palm. She flashes me a sweet smile and leads me to the front door, her h*ps swishing seductively when she walks, her ass looking perfect in those jeans she’s wearing.
Yeah. I’m a total goner for her. And she knows it too. I never, ever thought a woman would have me so totally by the balls, but this one does. I don’t mind either. In fact, I like it, knowing she’s mine. Knowing I’m hers.
Archer finds my capitulation into couplehood amusing. My sister thinks it’s the cutest thing she’s ever seen, and that’s a direct quote. Matt laughs every time I talk to him, asking if I’m completely whipped yet. He knows how reluctant I was to let myself get caught by a woman.
Now I’m walking into the so-called trap and seriously thinking I never want out of it.
Marina doesn’t bother ringing the doorbell, and we walk inside to find the living area empty. It’s a wide, open space, full of comfortable furniture that has seen better days and lots of family photos on every available flat surface. On tables, bookshelves, hung on the walls, I’m surrounded by Molinas and Knights, all of them watching me, making me want to squirm where I stand.
Yeah. I think I’ve lost my damn mind. This is what a case of nerves does to a man.
“Dad!”
Marina lets go of my hand, and I watch as she hurries toward her father who’s just entered the living room. She practically throws herself at him, giving him a big hug, which he returns. I know they’re close. She complains that she hasn’t seen him much lately since he’s been out of town, working all the time.
He’s scrambling. Trying to sell off property and cars and whatever else he can get rid of to gain some cash flow. I know this through friends and acquaintances in the business. They all talk. Knight’s been going into San Francisco a lot lately to broker deals. Yet he’s still holding on to that one property I want.
And I think if I work it just right, I can make it mine.
You are such a complete a**hole. Marina’s going to think you’re using her to get to her dad.
That had been true, once upon a time. Not any longer. I care for this woman. Hell, I’m falling in love with her. Being in the middle of this situation, not quite knowing what to do . . .
It sucks.
“Good to see you, sweetheart.” Her father gives Marina a kiss on the cheek, smiling down at her. “You look happy.”
I stand there, at a loss over what I should do. Approach them? Clear my throat? Yell that his daughter looks happy because I put that smile on her face and the glow in her cheeks?
Yeah. Can’t do that.
“I want you to meet Gage. Remember I told you about him?” She withdraws from her father’s embrace and leads him over to where I stand. “Gage, this is my father, Scott.”
“Nice to meet you.” I offer my hand and he takes it, somewhat reluctantly. Or maybe I’m overreacting. The guy sets me on edge just looking at him.
He’s tall, has a headful of salt-and-pepper hair, and his eyes are a pale, icy blue. Looking at me like he wants to hang me up by my balls too. “Gage. I believe you’ve been trying to get in contact with me.”
“Let’s not talk business today,” Marina starts, but I interrupt her.
“I have been. I know you’re a busy man, but when you get a chance, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Call my office. We can set up a meeting,” he offers breezily.
“I’ve been trying to do that for months,” I tell him, needing him to know I’m not in the mood to play games.
Marina shoots me a horrified glare. “Gage,” she whispers, trying to shut me up.
“Don’t get mad at him. He’s right.” Scott’s smile is easy. Too easy. “I have avoided his calls. I believe he’s asking for something I’m not quite ready to give up yet.”
Marina’s mouth drops open. “How do you—”
“Just like you know,” Scott says, smiling at her. “Everyone knows. This town is big, but it has a small-town feel, just like the gossip. And when a stranger comes into town, eager to buy up all the prime real estate he can, he gives everyone something to talk about.”
I can’t tell if this guy is merely tolerating me or hates my guts or . . . doesn’t mind that I’m here and dating his daughter. His only child who I know he’s very protective of.
Can’t blame him though. I’m feeling rather protective of her too. Something we definitely have in common.
“Ah, is this your young man?” Maribella Knight breezes into the room, a slight smile curling her lips. This is who Marina gets her looks from. Maribella is a beautiful woman, her features so similar to her daughter’s, I pretty much know what Marina’s going to look like when she’s older.
“Yes. This is Gage.” Marina smiles nervously. Just like her relationship with her father is so strong, the one she shares with her mother is a bit more fragile. “Gage, this is my mom, Maribella.”
“Call me Mari.” She extends her hand toward me, her gaze not as warm as her voice.
I take her hand and give it a shake, notice how limp it is in my grip. “A pleasure,” I say truthfully.
“I’m sure.” The smile she offers me is brittle, and her gaze narrows the slightest bit.
Yeah. I don’t think Marina’s mother likes me very much at all.
Marina
I KNEW MY mother wouldn’t like very Gage much. I don’t think she’d like any man I brought home. She has these certain expectations I’m afraid no guy could ever meet.
So I pretended her cold disdain doesn’t bother me. Throughout the afternoon and into dinner, she acted disinterested in him. But he did seem to get along with Dad. Now that shocks me. I figured my father would hate him on sight, considering Gage wants nothing more than to buy as much property from him as possible.
They have things in common though. They’re both savvy businessmen. My father’s only downfall is that he owned too much, too fast. It’s been hard for him to recover from the economic crash.
And they both love cars. In fact, their conversation revolved mostly around cars from the time we arrived. Gage even took Dad outside to check out his Maserati, which was love at first sight. At first I thought it was cute. After a while, I got bored.
Last, I’m hoping that they both care about me. Well, I know my dad loves me because, hello, he’s my father. But Gage? He’s never said the words to me, not that I think he would. He’s never even admitted that he cares about me, but what can I expect? We haven’t been together that long.
But Mom said something to me years ago, and I’ve never forgotten her words.
Sometimes, when you know, you just know.
That’s how I feel about Gage. It scares the crap out of me and makes me want to punch him—because near violence is my usual mode of operation when it comes to Gage—but really, I’m excited. Nervous.
I’m falling in love.
Finally, I was able to drag him and my father apart, and we left long after dinner. Mom gave me a look that said she expected me to come right back. Dad told Gage to come by the office any time, or at the very least, call.
So strange. I thought my father would hate him. I thought I would hate Gage, but look at me. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing, letting the bakery go. Gage could buy the strip of buildings, and my family would be in a better financial position. I know that’s been my father’s goal for a while. Maybe I’m the selfish one, wanting to hold on to a business that’s nothing but a drain for my family.
“You’re awfully quiet.”
I glance up to find Gage flashing me a quick smile before he returns his attention to the road. It’s near ten o’clock and he has the windows cracked, letting in the cool fall air. The roads are virtually abandoned, the night sky is like dark velvet dotted with brightly twinkling stars shining from above, and I haven’t felt this content in a long time. If ever.