I can feel Kat glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, and it's impossible for me to meet her stare. She's about to dive into my life, even though I've glimpsed a big part of hers. It's unreal how close I've gotten to her, but I want to shelter her from my parents judgment. She doesn't need to be in anymore fucked up situations as it is.
"Treat me with kid gloves, and I'll gladly kick you in the nuts," she whispers out of the corner of her mouth with a smile plastered on her face.
Damn. She picked up on my hesitation at stepping into the dining room, but my girl is fire and a hell lot of strength. I need to remember that she can take care of herself.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Princess. Just give my cock a light tap if you want to leave,” I say with a wink, and offer my elbow for her to loop her arm through. We stride in arm in arm, and I give a silent prayer that my parents don’t bring up my ex or the baby.
My father sits at the head of the table with my mother at his side and to the right. Diana Wilder, a woman with a posture of steel and a stone-cold facial expression as she flicks her gaze between Kat and I. Giving Kat a squeeze, I release her death grip on my arm before pulling out her chair, and wait until she’s seated before walking around the table to my mother. She offers her cheek to the side as I bend down to place a chaste kiss.
“Mother.” Her green eyes, which are darker than mine, narrow up at me before purposely colliding with Kat’s, who hasn’t stopped watching our interaction.
“Granger Griff Wilder. I don’t approve of hearing about your relationship from the other country club women. It’s a scandal, and I should have been informed of your latest lady friend.” She says that last bit in disdain.
With a sigh, I head back around the table, pull out a chair next to Kat, and sit down, placing my hand on her knee above her stocking. She really does look gorgeous tonight. Her pink hair is artfully clipped back with a few loose pieces framing her heart shaped face. To be honest, I love it when her long hair is down and carefree, but she does look classy and sexy at the same time. She’s wearing a navy blue velvet dress with black stockings and matching velvet blue shoes. Her whole outfit complements with her eyes, making them seem bluer and brighter. I like how she kind of matches me like a real couple almost. It’s standard uniform to dress up for dinner at my parents house, even though I hate it. I’d rather be wearing a loose t-shirt and jeans, but it made my chest puff up like an idiot, seeing the way Kat devoured me with her gaze when I stepped out of my bedroom earlier. I’m in a black suit over a white button-down with one button loosed so I can fucking breathe, and black dress shoes. I can clean up nice, and it feels good to know I can affect her just as much.
“Mrs. Wilder, I’m sorry you had to hear last, as that was never our intention. Granger and I’s relationship is fairly new, and we’re getting to know each other first before exposing ourselves as a couple. We didn’t even know our picture was being taken, and it’s already out in the open now,” Kat offers politely, even though you can see she’s boiling on the inside from her frown, but she hides it by taking a drink of the wine placed in front of her.
“Are you pregnant? That is the only explanation we could come up with for how fast your relationship is moving. Don’t think we didn’t hear about you two living together. I own the building after all,” Father says, steepling his fingers together and staring right at Kat with his unnerving hazel eyes that make most men cower in fear.
My blood boils because I know what he’s doing. A man with his power needs to test those around him to make sure they aren’t weak, or he’ll eat them alive and spit them out. Putting Kat on the spotlight does that, but she barely bats an eyelash as she holds my father's gaze in challenge. Damn, I’m proud of her.
“I don’t know why you would assume I’m pregnant. Did you ask us to dinner to share that you two are expecting another child?” she says calmly, her lips twitch once when my mother starts choking on her drink. “Granger was kind enough to offer me a place to stay for a little while. A relationship can bloom between two people who are attracted towards each other.” She hasn’t once looked away from my father. Instead, she holds his stare until he looks away, but I can tell he’s impressed.
“Can’t be too sure about a baby accident, we wouldn’t want that to happen with Granger being so close to finishing school and about to start working alongside his father.” My mother stares at me, her mouth downturned in displeasure. My fingers tighten on my glass steam at the extra dig she shoves my way by bringing up both subjects I refuse to talk to her about.
James comes in, interrupting our conversation, and I’m fucking thankful because the night is already spiraling down the drain. He places our plates in front of us—chicken and vegetables with a side salad. I’m glad as hell that they didn’t bring out duck and snails, that would have been way overboard and fucking disgusting.
Everyone is cutting into their chicken, enjoying the meal in peaceful silence, thank God. My father takes a drink of his wine and clears
