“I need to go,” he said between ragged breaths. “I’m supposed to meet Lance.”
“I don’t want you to go.” There. For the first time, I’d said it.
He turned me to face him, and his eyes held mine. “Cher, believe me. If I could stay, I would.”
I could tell there was something else he wanted to say. “What is it?”
“I want to introduce you to my father and stepmother tonight.”
Of all the things I might’ve guessed he was going to say, that wasn’t even close. I’d expected a suggestion of something dirty he wanted me to do or perhaps further confessions about the nature of his business, but not an invitation to meet more of his family. You don’t hire men and then take them home to meet your parents.
“Why?”
“I think they’ll like you, and you will like them.”
“But we’re not… I mean, this isn’t…”
“They’re hosting an engagement party for my cousin Constance. They expect me to come, and I would enjoy myself more with you there.”
If he’d simply said he needed a date for an engagement party, I wouldn’t have thought it was odd, but he specifically wanted me to meet his parents. What did that mean?
I realized I hadn’t said anything else when he spoke again. “If it makes you that uncomfortable, then I won’t require you to join me.”
This was the first time he’d given me a choice like that. My head spun with the possibilities, but I knew better than to get my hopes up that he was starting to see me as more than a man he’d hired to please him.
“No. I’m not…” It would be a lie to say I wasn’t uncomfortable because I totally was. I had no idea how to behave at the kind of party I was sure it would be. I would feel as out of place as I had at Commander’s Palace, but I would go because Remy wanted me to, and I wouldn’t turn down any chance to spend time with him. “I’m nervous, but I want to go.”
His lips curved into a soft genuine smile, then he kissed me softly and slid from the bed. “I really do have to get going.”
“Do you need me to make you some breakfast while you shower?”
“No. I need you to go back to sleep. I want you well rested for tonight.”
“For the party?”
He shook his head, grinning. “No, for after it.”
My cock twitched at his words. I wondered what he had planned. I was sure whatever it was would be delicious.
29
Remington
I was filled with nerves as I turned into the driveway of my family home. I should be feeling relaxed. Based on Clark’s phone and email records, we learned that along with accepting shipments of illegal weapons, he’d committed multiple murders for the weapons dealers. Niall had met with Clark, and Clark had bought his story that he was investigating him for murder and gunrunning, and he’d agreed to take a plea bargain. He would coordinate with Niall as soon as he got more information about the next weapons drop which was expected in a few days.
Instead of being relieved that our plans were on track, all I could think about was my parents meeting Henri. I wanted to introduce him as my man, my future husband. I wanted to let my parents know I cared for him and ask them how to make things work between us, but it wasn’t the right time. This was my cousin’s celebration. While business was always conducted during family celebrations, it needed to be done away from the party space and only when it was urgent. Me wondering what to do now that I’d finally fallen in love wasn’t actually urgent, though it felt like it to me. It felt like the most important thing that had ever happened, but making sure the Landrys went down and the gunrunners understood how things worked in the city would protect my family’s physical well-being as well as our reputation. That was where my focus needed to be.
“Wow!” Henri said when the house came into view. “This is even more spectacular than I’d imagined.”
I tried to see the house through the eyes of someone who hadn’t grown up there. Over the years, I’d started to take it for granted. Sometimes I even resented the opulent display, the need for entertaining those we wanted to impress, but I also loved it because it was where I’d grown up. “It’s a bit much.”
“No, it’s lovely and… a little overwhelming.”
I parked the car and came around as Henri was opening his door. I took his hand and closed the door for him. He was even paler than usual, making his freckles stand out, his beautiful dark-red hair a stark contrast to his soft skin. I knew he was terrified. He was meeting the infamous head of a known criminal family. A man he was fully aware sanctioned murders, meted out his own form of justice, and had no remorse about it. Except my father was also warm and caring, such a contradiction, and I knew he would like Henri if they had a chance to get to know each other. “You’re going to be fine. Just be yourself.”
“But this is your family.”
“I promise you none of my family members are any scarier than Thomas Carrington.”
“He didn’t seem scary except when you were talking business.”
“He is very good at playing the affable, rich philanthropist, but he is deadly underneath.”
“And your family isn’t?”
I smiled. “My father is actually very similar in personality, except with him, I know the affability is real. With Thomas, I’m starting to suspect it is, but I’m not ready to pass judgment.”
“Will Lance be here?”
“Yes, none of us would be allowed to miss this. You’ll also get to meet my youngest brother, Corbin, and several of my cousins. Not all of them are active in the family
