Like I wasn’t nervous enough about meeting Jaxxon’s father, I had to hit every damn red light in Newport too. I was never late. Nice first impression. I knew this was too soon, I knew it, and it was absolutely Jaxx’s fault for not giving me proper warning.

Oh, yeah. No big deal, come to dinner with me and meet my dad. Right! Not wanting him to see what a complete control freak I was, I’d given in. Spontaneous events rocked my steady, organized world, but he had met Annie, so it was only fair, and I didn’t want to disappoint him.

“Oh my God, are you serious? You have the right-of-way, asshole, move already, Jesus!” My road rage was legendary, especially when I had somewhere important to be and every single stupid driver in the entire world was between me and where I needed to go. Just as I was about to blow a blood vessel, the Superman ringtone came through my car stereo and saved the driver in front of me from certain death.

“Hello?” I snapped, pulling into the driveway and grabbing the first parking space I saw.

“Hey, baby—”

I threw it in park and cut him off. “Jaxx, I know. I know I’m late. I just parked. This idiot wouldn’t fucking go and I sat there for like, an hour! I’m so sorry.”

His robust laugh sounded even better on my stereo. “Wow. F-bombs, huh? I like it. Kinda hot. Where are you? I’m outside. I’ll meet you.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Ugh. Sorry. I know. I’m a total trucker in the car.”

“Remind me to always drive.”

I smirked. “Like you’re any better.”

“I’m calmer than you are. Where’d you park?”

“Turn left out of Rothchild’s. I’m coming . . . ”

His nuanced chuckle made my face burn. “You sure as fuck are, as soon as I ditch my pops. Get out of the car, sugar.”

“Wow. You really said that. On my way.” I ended the call and killed the ignition before he could say anything else. I’d meet his dad with a flaming red face if I sat here letting Jaxxon talk to me. He twisted everything I said, and damn me if his quick and dirty comebacks didn’t make me want to jump him.

I flipped the visor down and checked my makeup once again. I hoped I hadn’t overdressed, but I wanted to make a good impression on Jaxx’s father. I knew his family had been close to his ex-wife.

I’d chosen a long-sleeved black sheath dress, short but tasteful, that hit just above my knee with a small slit on both sides. Classic, yet still stylish. I’d dressed it up with a pair of designer pumps. One of the many perks about being with Jaxxon was that I could wear sky-high heels and still be at least a foot shorter than him. Rick never let me wear heels.

Climbing out of my car, I grabbed my clutch and locked the door. I took a second to stop the butterflies swarming in my stomach. With a deep breath, I took a few steps toward Rothchild’s, but spotted Jaxxon almost at my car. Cool air chilled my skin and goosebumps tingled down my arms, but his gorgeous smile was the more likely culprit for my reaction. He wore black dress pants and a tucked in, long-sleeved, navy blue dress shirt, unbuttoned at the neck. Stunning. The man was stunning.

“Goddamn, you look good.” He whistled and turned me around by the hand. “You make basic black look sexy as fuck.”

“You’re gorgeous, as always. Sort of like you just walked off a romance cover.” I winked at him.

He laughed. “Oh, Christ. Do me a favor, don’t mention your people propositioning me to be the next Fabio, all right? I’d never hear the end of it.”

I leaned up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “Promise. Our secret.”

He took both my hands in his and pulled me into a bear hug before resting his hands on my hips. “Baby . . . My dad’s here, but ah, my sisters crashed the party. I guess Dad called them and had them meet us, didn’t give me the heads-up.”

“Your sisters?!” My face must have dropped, because Jaxx’s eyes narrowed and he instantly grabbed my hands as I stepped back. “Oh.” Not eloquent, but it was all I could muster. What happened to baby steps? This wasn’t fast, it was light-speed. Shit!

“Yeah. My fault. I didn’t tell him you were coming, since I just hit you up today. If you want out, I can get you out. No problem. I love my sisters to death, but they’re a lot. Your call.”

I nodded and backed up until my ass hit my car. Jaxxon advanced until he stood right in front of me, his feet on either side of mine. I played with one of the buttons on his shirt and he covered my hand with his. I looked up and studied his face, trying to decide if he really wanted me here. His dad was one thing, his sisters, though . . . That was a lot, and I couldn’t talk about Bridgette’s book at all. “Ah, it’s really up to you. I know you only asked me to meet your father. If it’s too soon to meet your sisters, I understand. I’ll go with whatever excuse you make up, and you know I can’t talk about Bridgette’s manuscript.”

He studied my face for a minute and smoothed my hair behind my ear.

I dropped my eyes to the cement. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to meet all these people—his people—when we were still figuring out . . . us. But he’d met Annie for me, and he was worth my sitting through an evening feeling like an idiot.

Running a finger down my cheek, he tilted my chin up. “Truth, baby. My sisters are close to my ex. If anything’s a concern, it would be that it’s too much for them, not you.”

I nodded and crossed my arms. “Is it too much for them?”

“Don’t think so.” Unwinding my arms, he kissed the top of both my hands. “If you stay, no word about Bridge’s book or it’s my ass. And It seems you’re her, and I quote, ‘fucking dream editor.’” He wrapped a hand around my nape. “So basically, they’re romance fans and Bridge thinks you’re some kind of rock star. Might not be too bad.”

“Rock star? More a hermit. On a selfish note though, I am happy to hear I’m her dream editor—little bit of a shock, but a good one.” I looped my free hand under his forearm and forced a smile. “Well, shit. Romance readers and an undercover novelist.” I took a deep breath and motioned to the restaurant with my purse. “If you’re sure you’re all right with this, lead the way.”

He pulled me to him by the back of the neck and leaned down to me. “First things first.” His lips landed on mine, hard. I worried about smearing my lipstick all over his mouth until he slipped his tongue between my lips and tilted my head back.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and opened to him, kissing him back just as hard. When I brought a hand to his face and leaned into him more, he groaned and pulled away.

“Let’s do this, before I say fuck it and throw you in the back of that car and make out with you like we’re in high school. Ever had car sex?”

Reaching up, I wiped the lipstick off of his mouth and grinned. “No. And I’m too old to start now.”

He bit my finger and sucked away the sting. “Bullshit, you are. A car-sex virgin. My night just got better.”

I laughed and pushed at his chest. “No. I mean it, Jaxxon.”

“Your days are numbered, sugar. Come on.” Taking my hand, he led me through the crowded parking lot toward the front of the restaurant. He opened the door and waved me inside. “After you. You ready?”

“As I’m ever going to be,” I said as I walked past him and into the entryway.

In seconds, he was beside me with a hand at the small of my back. He leaned down while we walked. “I love how you do that,” he said against my ear.

“What?”

“Even when you’re scared shitless, you hit it straight on.”

I chuckled at the irony of that statement and scanned the large room, trying to decide who in this sea of strangers were family to the man I was too quickly falling in love with. “Not really,” I mumbled. “Most people who know me might disagree.”

The warmth of his hand on the side of my waist slowed me down. He squeezed my hip. “I doubt it, Sparky. I’ve seen you in action. And I’m not most people.”

I glanced up at him, kissed my finger, and put it to his lips. “I’m very aware.”