Laughing, he squeezed her fingers. “Will not. We won’t stay long, anyway. I’m sure you want to get home to your little girl, Mommy.”
She grinned. “I do. Thanks, Ethan, for understanding me.”
He dropped a swift kiss on her lips as they pulled up to the entry.
Dallas eyed the building. It was kind of fancy with its high asymmetrical walls of glass and chic fountains. Her heartbeat picked up, and her breathing quickened. Putting a hand to her chest, she willed herself to calm down. She would not let this woman get to her.
The driver opened her door, and she stepped out.
Ethan followed her. He tucked her hand at his elbow and led her to the door. Pausing, he gave her a quick kiss. “I’ve got you.”
She took a deep breath and nodded. “Let’s go.”
At the main dining room, he paused, scanning for his mother.
No wonder Linda and her cronies liked the place. The sleek, modern furniture and beautiful garden views from the massive windows gave the room a vibe that said money with a capital M. Despite her earlier bravado, Dallas felt smaller, her confidence dwindling.
Ethan led her across the room half-filled with dining members to the table where his mother presided.
Linda had eyes only for her son. Standing for a hug and kiss, she said, “I don’t know why you had to stay in that hotel. You’re welcome at the house. Separate bedrooms, of course.”
“Mother, we have separate bedrooms at the hotel.”
Now she turned her gaze to Dallas. “Yes, but do you use them?”
Ethan stepped back and put his arm around Dallas. “I’ll not allow a repeat performance of our last meal with you, Mother. We’ll leave now if that’s what you’re planning.”
Linda widened her eyes in alarm. “No, no. Please, we’re going to have a pleasant lunch. Chef and I have something wonderful planned, and you’re both going to love it.” She waved them into their chairs and sat herself.
Dallas kept her eyes on Ethan and away from the gaze of the woman across from her, a look which she knew would be feral as soon as her son turned his back.
He caught the attention of a waiter and ordered wine.
Linda asked, “How was the symphony, son?” Her eyes clung to Ethan.
Reaching for Dallas’s hand, he said, “I’ve never seen anyone enjoy it more than Dallas did last night. Experiencing the music with her enhanced my enjoyment of the evening.”
Linda took a long swallow of her Manhattan and looked out the window. “How nice.” After another drink, she turned to Ethan. “The next board meeting is coming up in a few weeks. Did you receive the letter?”
Dallas took a sip of wine. There was an undertone to Linda’s voice. What was she after?
Though Ethan hadn’t taken the reins of the company, as his dad had planned for him, he did accept a seat on the board and made sure he knew what was going on with the family business. “I’m planning to attend. I always do.”
Linda picked at a fold in her napkin. “You remember Melinda? Her daughter, Tiffany, will be in town from Boston that weekend, and Melinda’s invited us to dinner.” She smiled brightly. “Please say you’ll come. You haven’t seen Tiffany in years. She’s dying to see you again.”
Ethan’s mouth tightened into a grim line. “I’ll be returning home directly after the board meeting, and you can give Melinda my apologies. I won’t be seeing Tiffany nor any more of your cronies’ daughters. Is that clear enough for you, Mother?”
She huffed and turned to the window. “Quite clear.”
Dallas sucked in her bottom lip to hide a smile. It was hard to determine Linda’s expression. She’d been given so many Botox injections, her face appeared frozen in the same expression no matter what she felt.
A woman Linda’s age walked toward their table. Dallas compared her own outfit to what the woman wore and smiled a little. She’d made a perfect choice. Instead of passing them by, the woman stopped and patted Linda’s arm to get her attention. “Hey, honey, I didn’t know you’d be here today.”
Linda gave the woman a hug and an air kiss. Nodding toward her son, she said, “Of course, you remember Ethan.” Then she turned her gaze and frozen smile on Dallas. “Helen, this the woman I was telling you about. Dallas, this is my good friend, Helen.”
Dallas stood and held out her hand.
Helen stared at Dallas, sweeping her hawk-like gaze from top to bottom, then reached out her hand for a genteel shake. “Nice meeting you.”
Her tone of voice said it was anything but nice, however, Dallas replied in a friendly voice, “You, too, Helen,” and sat down.
By the time Linda’s fourth friend stopped by the table, Dallas had figured it out. It was a parade of homes, and she was the model house. None of the women were welcoming, and each one had heard of Dallas. She was sure lunch had been planned at the club so all Linda’s besties could take a gander at the money-hungry woman Ethan was dating.
Though lunch was probably delicious, Dallas hardly took a bite. Despite Linda’s intent gaze, there was nothing Dallas could do about her spasming throat and stomach.
When she declined dessert, Ethan did too. Laying his napkin down, he stood and pushed back his chair. “Mother, we need to get back. I’ve got a lot to catch up on before court in the morning.”
Dallas swept to her feet and grabbed her purse. Please, God, get me out of this room.
Linda frowned. “So soon? Can’t you stay for another glass of wine?”
Ethan gave her a peck on the cheek. “I’m sorry, Mother. We have to go.”
He must have sensed how uncomfortable Dallas was. She leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked to the door. “Thank you, thank you, a million times,
