In the middle of applying eyeliner, a knock sounded at my apartment door, and I swore. I was dressed in only a bra and panties, my makeup half-done. I wrapped a towel around my body on the way to the door, deciding it probably wasn’t the best time for Shane to see me in such a state of undress. I was already behind schedule as it was.

I flung open the door and ushered him inside, rushing back to my bathroom before giving him a chance to speak. “Hi, I know I’m running late. Give me ten minutes.”

“You don’t have to get dressed on my account,” he called after me.

“Ten minutes,” I hollered back, remembering my mother’s don’t be late command in her voicemail. It was even more annoying now that I most likely would be.

I managed to finish my makeup without poking out an eye and threw on a simple black dress that my mother couldn’t complain about. After spritzing my hair to give it an intentionally messy look, I put on my favorite ankle boots and practically dragged Shane out of the apartment.

“I would say you look nice, but you’re moving too fast for me to actually see you.”

“Ha, ha. You’ve met my mother. You should understand.” I stopped at the curb, surprised to find a black sedan rather than Shane’s Lexus. “You hired a car?”

“It’s easier than parking. Should save us quite a bit of time.”

I smacked him on the bicep. “You could have told me that upstairs.”

He slid into the car and gave me an innocent smile. “You didn’t give me a chance, electric Emma.”

I settled next to him on the plush leather seat and glared. “There is no way you came up with that one on your own.”

Shane held up his phone. “Online thesaurus. I had exactly eight minutes and thirty-seven seconds to decide on the most fitting synonym.”

“Impressive.”

“What? My ability to use a thesaurus?”

“No, that I managed to finish getting ready in under nine minutes.”

He laughed. “Do I finally get a kiss now that we’re on our way?”

“Yes. I even waited to put on my lipstick for that very reason.”

“Good.” He brushed my hair over one shoulder and grasped the back of my neck, enveloping me in his spicy scent. “I missed you.” His breath was warm on my skin, and I shivered as his lips skimmed over my jaw.

“I missed you too.”

A hand slid up my leg and under my dress, stopping just short of the danger zone. His mouth met mine, but instead of the devouring kiss I expected, it was slow enough to tease me into a frenzy. I gripped the front of his shirt, wanting to rip it off, as he sucked on my bottom lip then nibbled on the upper one. In the back of my mind, I knew it wasn’t the time for this, but I didn’t want to care.

When he trailed his lips down the column of my throat, my head dropped to his shoulder. “We’re meeting my parents soon.” My voice sounded breathy, even a little needy.

“I know.” He placed one last kiss on my lips before releasing me and adjusting his pants. “You should talk about something boring to help me out.”

Hiding my grin, I said, “I’d rather talk about why you were in California for so long. Is the business struggling?”

“Quite the opposite, actually. My dad took on too many clients and fell way behind. I was able to attend quite a few meetings while I was there so he could interview and hire several new employees.”

“Do you think you’ll have to go back anytime soon?”

“Hopefully, not for a few weeks.”

“That’s good.”

“Now, tell me about this project you’re doing on the warehouse district.”

I explained the assignment and how I got the idea from visiting Loft25 during the day. He agreed to an official interview as a business owner and commercial real estate professional. Not wanting to put any additional pressure on Nicholas, I didn’t mention his potential involvement in Chelsea’s renovation. I would let him tell Shane and Cole when he was ready, if he decided to submit a bid.

“I’m glad my research was helpful.”

“Are you kidding?” I asked with wide eyes. “It has been invaluable already. I never realized you were so organized.”

He shrugged. “I started working for my dad as a teenager and spent a lot of time devising a better system for his files. I guess it comes naturally.”

We pulled up in front of the restaurant, and I applied my lipstick, steeling myself for whatever my mother had in store. “Last chance to back out.”

“No way.” He squeezed my hand. “It’ll be fine. And we’re even a few minutes early.”

My parents were waiting at the restaurant entrance, and my mother gave me a tight smile. “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to make it.”

I shot Shane a knowing look. Even slightly early, we were late.

My dad made up for my mother’s lukewarm greeting with a hug. “Good to see you, sweetheart.”

“You too, Dad.”

Shane turned on his megawatt charm as he greeted my parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Harris, it’s such a pleasure to see you again so soon. Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” my mother replied. “Someone has to let us know what’s going on with Emma. She never tells me anything.”

My mother had always liked using my ex-boyfriend Matt as a spy, and it seemed she was hoping Shane would be just as useful to her. Personally, I wouldn’t bet on it. Not that I was a betting person. I left that to my boyfriends.

Once we were seated, Shane took over the conversation, making suggestions to my parents about the best things to do and see in Las Vegas. Even though I had lived here for over three years, I’d only skimmed the surface of Vegas tourism and had very little to offer on the subject. I doubted Shane had even visited all the places he recommended, but he was so convincing, it was impossible to tell.

“I will never understand why people love it here so much,” my mother complained. “There is an utter lack of morality. On the way to the restaurant, we walked by two couples, and in the middle of the street, the girls started kissing. While,” she said, pausing dramatically, “their boyfriends watched! I’ve never seen anything so depraved in my life.”

“You’ve clearly never watched anything on HBO, then,” I muttered as my heart started racing with an unwelcome mixture of anger and fear. If she was this appalled by public displays of affection on the Strip, how would she react if she found out about Cole and Nicholas?

It wasn’t as if the thought had never crossed my mind, but it seemed like a vague, distant problem that I wouldn’t have to face in the real world. With my parents sitting across the table from me and Shane, it suddenly felt way too real. I considered myself a relatively independent woman, but did I have the courage to come out to my parents about my rather scandalous relationship? Would I ever?

I didn’t grow up in a particularly conservative household, but it was small town Indiana, which meant certain things were expected of me. Marriage, children, and holidays with my family were at the top of the list. Any deviations from that plan were considered unacceptable to my mother. She still hadn’t gotten over my choice to attend college in Vegas. Would our relationship survive something a hell of a lot more dramatic?

Shane squeezed my knee, and I looked up, realizing I’d missed something. “I’m sorry, what?”

My mother repeated her question slowly, like I had trouble understanding her usual speed. “Would you care to join us for a show tomorrow evening?”

Knowing I would have to see them again regardless, a show was more appealing than another painful meal. “That sounds nice. What show?”

“We’ll have to see what tickets are still available.”

“Okay, let me know and I’ll meet you there.”

Frown lines appeared on her forehead. “You’re not spending the day with us?”

“I’m swamped with schoolwork.”

“What about you, Shane?” my father interrupted. “Are you up for a show?”

“I would love to, sir, but I’m needed at the club tomorrow night.”

“Call me Harold. How is the club business these days?”

Shane and my father fell into an easy conversation about Loft25 and commercial real estate in California versus Nevada, giving me a short break from my mother. There was still something fishy about this entire visit that had me on edge. My mother had never been able to hide her disdain for Las Vegas, and clearly nothing had changed on that front. Why were they here?

“Emma will probably know as much about Vegas commercial real estate as I do when she’s done with her project,” Shane told my parents when he’d answered all of Dad’s questions.

“What project is that?” my dad asked with interest.

“It’s for my externship. Didn’t Mom tell you about it?”

He gave my mother a confused look. “No, she didn’t.”

“Oh.” That was odd. “I was chosen for an externship this semester at the Las Vegas Daily. I’ll be there two days a week to learn all about the newspaper business. For the class part of it, I’m required to research a topic, conduct interviews, and write an article. I’m focusing my article on the warehouse district where Loft25 is located. It’s just starting to go through the process of revitalization.”

“That sounds interesting. We should go over and take a look this weekend.”

“Oh, please. We don’t need to go to the other side of town to see some rundown old buildings,” my mother griped. “There are plenty of those in Indiana.”

Dad sighed but didn’t say anything else, so I gave him a sad smile. How much different would my childhood have been if only he’d stuck up for himself and his children more often? “I’ll e-mail you photos.”

“Thanks.”

“I don’t know why you decided to apply for that externship thing,” Mom said. “You should be focused on what you’re doing after graduation.”

I was beginning to panic about that very thing. No senior wanted to go into his or her last semester without having some idea of what was coming next. Not that I would admit it to my mother. “It’s still January. I have time.”

“Have you given any more thought to moving home?”

“Cynthia,” my dad warned. “I thought we decided we weren’t going to discuss that this evening.”

“We didn’t decide anything of the sort. It’s the perfect time to celebrate the good news!”

“What good news?” I asked, confused. By the uncomfortable expression on my dad’s face, I had a feeling I wouldn’t agree on the good part of it, at least.

“My friend Sharon talked her husband into offering you a job in his law office after graduation. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Law office?” What the hell was she thinking? I’d never given any indication I was interested in the legal field.

“Yes, you’d just be an assistant or paralegal or whatever, but the job pays well with good benefits. You could even live at home for a couple of years to save money.”

Okay, now I knew my mother was losing it. I would gladly work double shifts at Starbucks before moving back home. Deep down, I loved my mother, but for the sake of my sanity, I needed to be at least a couple of states away from her.

I inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled, trying to keep control over my temper. “That was nice of Sharon, but I don’t want to work in a law office.”

“Emma, it doesn’t have to be for forever. It can be your starter job while you figure out what you want to do long term. I’m sure even Shane would agree that you have to be smart and take opportunities as they come your way.”

Here we go. I was surprised she’d waited so long to try using him against me. We’d almost made it to dessert.

Shane’s hand was suddenly back on my knee, his thumb stroking my skin in a soothing circular pattern. “Actually, I think Emma should hold out for a job she’s passionate about. She’s intelligent, capable, and personable—an excellent candidate all around.”

My heart swelled at his words. As charming as Shane could be, I knew he wouldn’t say those things if he didn’t believe them. I hated that he had to endure my mother’s drama, but I was exceedingly grateful he’d come with me after all.

Dad gave him an appreciative smile. “Very nicely put.”

“Yes, yes,” my mother said, “we all know that Emma is a wonderful student. But so are thousands of other new graduates. The job market is tough even for people with a college degree these days. I hear about it all the time on the news.”

“If it makes you feel any better, Mrs. Harris, I’ve already offered Emma a job with my real estate company.” Shane smirked in a way that told me he hadn’t given up on the idea of hiring me. “She hasn’t taken me up on it yet, but I’m hopeful.”

“But, but Emma isn’t staying in Las Vegas,” she spluttered. “It’s no place for raising a family.”

“Okay,” my dad said rather forcefully as he waved the waiter over. “I’ve decided on the chocolate cake for dessert. Anyone else want something?”

My mother looked like she was going to say more, but she must have decided to let it go. Dad so rarely put his foot down, everyone tended to listen when he finally did.

When Shane and I were safely back in the car thirty minutes later, I let my entire body relax into his. I felt like I’d been through a tornado and only barely come out alive. Why did she always have to push?

A terrifying thought suddenly occurred to me, and I sat up straight. “Oh my god. I’m just like my mother.”

He chuckled. “What are you talking about? Other than your hair color, you’re nothing like her.”

Except, he didn’t know about how I ambushed Nicholas today. I’d set him up with a potential client without him even suggesting he’d be open to such a thing. Granted, it was an opportunity to do what he loved—not work in a stupid law firm—but that didn’t excuse my behavior. I could have handled the situation so much better.

Shane tugged me back against him and started massaging my shoulders. “Relax, Emma.”

I closed my eyes and allowed myself to feel instead of think. Everything seemed so up in the air right then—my impending career, my future with the Ts, even my relationship with my parents. None of those issues would be solved tonight, though, so why not forget them all and fall a little deeper in like with Shane?

Oh, who was I kidding? I was already way past like.