“Why?”
“You’re a Roarke. A famous prominent New York family.”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t shit daisies.”
“Umm, you said a bad word,” Andrew said looking up at Devin.
“Sorry. I’m human like everyone else.”
“She’ll also probably try to marry us off, and I know how you feel about marriage,” I said, wanting to make sure he understood what he was getting himself into.
“It all depends on the in-laws,” he said with a cheeky grin.
If that was true, I’d be better off staying away from him, because I knew his parents wouldn’t accept me.
“We’re here, Mom, Dad,” I said opening the door.
“Come meet Devin,” Andrew said running to the kitchen.
“Remember, you asked for this,” I whispered as my father entered the room.
“I’m Graham Moore,” my father said, as he scrutinized Devin even as he extended his hand.
“Devin.”
He didn’t use his last name, which only meant he was concerned about my mother freaking out.
“Hello, I’m Alys—” My mother stopped short when she saw him. “You’re Devin Roarke.”
“I am. It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Moore.” He extended his hand to her.
My mother looked from me to Devin. “I …ah…if I’d know a Roarke was coming I’d have cooked something—”
Devin waved her comment away with his hand. “Whatever you’re cooking smells delicious. Thank you so much for including me.”
“What brings you to our neck of the city?” My father was still frowning, like he didn’t quite trust Devin.
Devin smiled as he looked at me. “Serena.”
Both my parents’ eyebrows shot up to their hairline. Then my mother got this hopeful look. I glanced at Devin to see if he noticed it. In her mind, we were married already and probably had more kids.
“Remember, I helped with his parents’ anniversary party,” I said.
“Oh, yes, of course. But that’s done, isn’t it?” my father asked.
Devin gave his head a disapproving shake toward me. “The party was a success. Convincing Serena to see me in a non-professional situation has proven more difficult.”
“Oh!” My mother gasped.
I rolled my eyes.
“Serena is a smart woman who has a son to think about,” my father said, maintaining his fatherly duty.
“Andrew is a great kid.” Devin ruffled Andrew’s hair.
“Devin has an airplane and he’s going to take me for a ride, huh Devin?” Andrew tugged on Devin’s hand. Devin winced a bit, probably because it sounded like showing off to have a plane.
“I did say that.”
“Well…let me go get dinner finished,” my mother said, fluttering her hands about. “Honey, why don’t you help me,” she said to me. I knew that meant she was going to grill me.
Then again, that would leave Devin alone with my father who clearly wasn’t sold yet on him. Maybe he’d scare Devin away enough that I didn’t have to worry about his change of heart over relationships.
18
Devin
I meant what I said about being willing to see where this relationship with Serena would go. If over time, this draw I felt to her remained or grew stronger, chances were that I’d want to marry her. With that said, maybe agreeing to meet the parents wasn’t the best idea. My intentions were good in that I wasn’t using her just for sex. But I think she was right in that her mother was already planning our wedding and her father was ready to interrogate me.
At least Andrew was still around. Maybe he’d protect me.
“Want a drink, Devin?” her father asked. Was this a test? Should I say no, so I don’t look like a lush? Do I say yes to be polite?
“An Irish boy like you probably likes whiskey,” he said.
I nodded. “I like whiskey. You must be Irish too.”
He nodded. “Full bred. Alyse too.”
“Am I Irish, Grandpa?” Andrew asked.
“Through your mom, yes.”
I supposed that meant his father wasn’t Irish. I’d tried to push away thoughts of Andrew’s father. It was crazy how unsettling it was to think of another man touching Serena. And clearly, he didn’t respect her as he left her pregnant. What sort of dumb-fuck would do that?
I’d taught her a lot about sex the week I was with her five years ago, but she’d still be naïve about men, I supposed. And someone took advantage of that. I hated the idea of that too, although I could see she loved her son.
I wanted to ask about the boy’s father, but I knew I shouldn’t in front of him.
“What is Irish?” Andrew asked.
“It’s people who are from Ireland, or born from people from Ireland,” Mr. Moore explained, as he handed me a glass of straight whiskey.
“Are you from Ireland?” Andrew asked him.
“No, but my parents were as were your grandmother’s,” he said.
Andrew turned his inquisitive eyes to me. “Are you from Ireland, Devin?”
I shook my head. “No. My grandparents were. I’ve been there though. It’s very pretty.”
“Did you fly in your plane?”
Inwardly I winced, not wanting to flaunt my wealth. I didn’t want Serena’s parents thinking I felt I was somehow better because I had money and family prestige. “Yes. My ancestors started a pub there over a hundred years ago, and my grandfather moved here, opening one here.”
Andrew’s eyes narrowed in curiosity. “What’s ancestor?”
“That’s like a grandfather,” Mr. Moore explained, finishing off his drink.
“Dinner,” his wife called out. He held his hand out to direct me toward their dining table. Their apartment was bigger than Serena’s which felt too small for her and a small boy, but she seemed to make it work. I wondered if her focus on her career was to make more so she could get a larger place. She might do better to start her own business. Maybe we could add event planning to Roarke businesses. We hosted events set up by others all the time. Maybe we should get rid of the middle man. I wondered if Serena would be interested in doing that for us.
“Devin you sit there next to Serena,” she
