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Sydney couldn’t stop fussing, and Derrick, damn him, refused to leave her alone. The blasted man kept touching her, complimenting her, kissing her. Worst of all, he continued to mention the L word left and right.
Not only had the sex astounded her. He’d been attentive and helpful all afternoon while they ran around town doing her errands and straightening up her place. Who knew Derrick Warren could clean as well as cook? She made a mental note to thank Barbara Warren on behalf of women everywhere.
Not because she cared, personally. But because someday Derrick would make some woman very happy. A perfect husband.
And the thought of him with anyone else made her completely miserable.
“See, you’re thinking about me again,” he said as they pulled up outside his mother’s house. “I can tell when you get that pained expression on your face how much you love me.”
She groaned and settled her forehead against the window.
He laughed and put the SUV in park. “Face it, Sydney. When a Warren finds the woman of his dreams, she’s a goner.”
She turned to face him. “Your dreams, or your nightmares?”
“With you, probably both.” He dodged the punch aimed for his shoulder and snuck a kiss. “Quit stalling. My mother loves you already. You’re a smart, successful woman who’s snared her son. So if anyone should be nervous about tonight, it’s me.”
They left the vehicle and walked up the drive. “Why you?” she asked.
“Because not only will Dr. Barbara Warren be here to annoy you, but Dr. Dylan Warren will be as well.” He pulled her back and glared down into her face, his expression no longer amused. “I’m your Warren twin. Remember that.”
She liked his jealousy. It showed he cared. She couldn’t deny he was hers, nor could she deny, in her heart of hearts, the arrogant SOB was right. She did love him. And it scared her to death.
“Sydney? I’m waiting.”
“For what?”
“For some reassurance. Don’t make me grope you in front of my family to prove a point.”
Suddenly worried that they anyone inside the house might be able to see them, she tried to pull away from him.
He kissed her and pulled her closer, coming perilously close to knocking the wine bottle from her hands. When they parted, she rasped, “Derrick, okay. Cut it out. I’m yours, you big goon.”
“So romantic.” From behind them, Gage grinned like an idiot.
“What can I say? She’s in awe of my manly parts.” Derrick chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
Sydney felt warm all over. Until she saw the woman getting out of Gage’s truck after Hailey. The blood rushed from her head.
“Mother?”
Gage cleared his throat. “Ah, your mom apparently couldn’t get through to you on your cell to let you know she was arriving earlier than planned, but she had Hailey’s number. Hailey thought it would be a nice surprise to pick her up and bring her here.” He looked apologetic, and Sydney could almost hear what he hadn’t said.
Her mother had bamboozled soft-hearted Hailey into carting her all over Augusta so she could get the maximum dramatic effect from tonight’s surprise. Being surrounded by the Warren men could only have added pleasure.
Sydney wondered if her mother might tempt Derrick into straying, then immediately felt terrible for considering it.
“Sydney?” Derrick looked down at her with concern. “You okay? If you want, we can skip dinner and hang out with your mom.”
Not you can skip dinner, but we can skip dinner. She noted the difference, and she mentally hugged him for it. “No, that’s okay. I just hope your mom won’t mind.”
“I already told her; it’s no problem,” Gage mentioned.
Hailey and Isabel Fields joined them. Her mother, as usual, looked stunning, and more like Sydney’s older sister than biological parent. Long, wine-red hair trailed over her shoulders, perfectly coifed and lustrous. Isabel’s skin had that creamy, cover girl look that had graced countless magazines over the years. She wore a designer dress out of place with the casual evening, yet the woman would never wear anything but the best. The diamonds on her fingers and ears spoke of wealth—ostentatious and glittery. Just like her mother.
“Darling, I missed you,” Isabel squealed and rushed to Sydney. She air-kissed both her cheeks. “My, you’re looking well. We should get together for one of my shoots. Maybe next month in the Virgin Islands, where I’m contracted for an Avon ad.” Isabel beamed.
Derrick cleared his throat and her mother’s gaze turned from faux-loving to interested.
“And who is this scrumptious morsel?”
Gage and Hailey glanced at each other, then at Sydney.
Before Sydney could answer, Derrick did. “I’m Sydney’s boyfriend. Derrick Warren, Gage’s brother.” He gave her mother a firm handshake, like pumping water out of a well.
He acted as if he were completely unaware that her mother was a woman, and Sydney wanted to laugh. He met her gaze and winked.
“Oh. Charming.” Isabel cooled a bit, then remembered herself and strode like a queen toward the front door.
To Sydney’s surprise, Isabel’s unexpected appearance didn’t bother her. The worry she might have felt, wondering how everyone would react to the drama queen, faded under Derrick’s concern.
“This is gonna be a long night,” Gage muttered.
“Gage, shush.” Hailey blushed.
“No, it’s okay.” Sydney sighed. “Might as well show you all my ugly parts at once.”
Derrick laughed. “Honey, I’ve seen every part of you. Nothing ugly yet. Well, except for that face you make when you—”
She slapped a hand over his mouth and glared. “Shut up, Derrick.”
He pulled away and grinned. “I was just going to say when you act like you’re right. You know, when you say Oh? all smarmy like?”
“Smarmy. What a big word for a little brain.”
“Oh, I like it when you get nasty, Syd.” The look he gave her made Sydney blush.
“Holy crap. Sydney Fields turned pink. It’s a miracle, Gage. Nothing ever embarrasses Sydney,” Hailey said with delight. “Well, except for her mom.”
“Who has just entered the lion’s den.” Derrick groaned. “Come on, Sydney. Let’s go rescue your mom.”
She blinked. “I think you mean rescue your mom.”
Derrick pulled her with him. “Just remember what I said. I’m the Warren twin you’re with, and you’re not allowed to be scared away by too many shrinks in one room.”
“My bet’s on Isabel.” Sydney shook her head. “I bet she insults your mother and her friend—hell, probably your entire family—before the night is through.”
“Maybe, but my mother will shrug it off and have your mom in therapy before the evening ends.”
Gage nodded. “I’d have to go with Derrick on this. You have no idea what Mom can be like.”
“She’s nice.” Hailey frowned.
“She’s scary,” Gage and Derrick said as one.
Personally, anyone that could handle Isabel Fields had Sydney’s vote. “Yeah, what are we betting?”
––––––––
“Well, this is something I don’t see every day—Barbara at a loss,” James Kincaid commented from behind her.
Across the room, Barbara Warren looked poleaxed as Isabel waved her hands madly, making some point the other woman couldn’t seem to comprehend.
James chuckled, and she regarded the handsome older man with interest. He worked with Derrick’s mother. Along with Dylan, that made three psychiatrists in the room.
Like all the other men in the house, James was handsome and muscular. It was no wonder Sydney’s mother couldn’t stop herself from making an even bigger ass of herself as she’d flirted with every one of them until Sydney wanted to bury her head between the couch cushions. She could only hope the man her mother eventually tried to take back to her hotel after dinner wasn’t Gage or Derrick. Because as nice as Hailey had been to Isabel, if her mother tried to mess with Gage, she was a dead woman, courtesy of a very possessive blonde.
It went without saying Sydney would kick her mom’s perfect ass if she looked crosswise at Derrick again. Though some perverse part of her wanted to see how Derrick would handle an outright proposition. A few more glasses of wine and her mother would find some way to get him alone, she was sure. She still didn’t know why she hadn’t turned around and demanded they leave the minute her mother had stepped through the door and eyed the male eye candy with calculated interest.
“Sydney?”
“Don’t worry, James. I promise to take her out of here very soon.”
He patted her on the shoulder. “No worries. And if I may say, it’s easy to see where you get your looks. Your mother is stunning.”
“And narcissistic and loud.”
He coughed. “I wasn’t going to say that. I’m on my best behavior tonight.”
“Why? You’re around the Warrens.” She shook her head at Derrick and Dylan arguing over some stupid football game on the television, growing louder and louder. Gage continued to flirt with Hailey outrageously, his hands everywhere. Sydney had half a mind to order them into the nearest bedroom to get it over with already.
“The boys are usually on their best behavior around Barbara.”
She snorted. “The boys? Really? They let you call them that?”
“No. It annoys the snot out of them. Watch.”
He said something about the game the boys were watching, and she snickered when Derrick and Dylan turned twin frowns his way.
“See?” he murmured.
She really liked James.
Her mother chose that moment to walk away from Barbara, in mid-conversation, and sidle next to him. Sydney admitted inwardly they made a nice pair. James had the bluest eyes that just popped against his tanned skin and blue-black hair. Though he had to be in his mid to late fifties, he looked like man in his late forties. No wonder her mother hung on his arm like a limpet.
“What a wonderful party,” Isabel said on a breath.
Sydney wanted to offer her an inhaler, but like James, she wanted to be on her best behavior. Bad enough one Fields was acting like a simpering moron. “Yes. Barbara was really nice to invite us.” She emphasized the nice, but Isabel was too busy flirting with James to notice.
Giving up, at least for the moment, Sydney joined Barbara to do some damage control. “Hey Barbara,” she said with forced cheer. “Thanks so much for inviting us. My mom was a surprise. I hadn’t expected her until next week.”
Barbara grinned. And in that smile, Sydney saw Derrick. Genuine, caring and slightly mischievous. “Your mother is a very interesting woman.”
Sydney groaned.
“I mean that in the nicest way.” But the look Barbara shot her mother hanging on James was anything but nice. Interesting. Before Sydney could distract her, Barbara took a deep breath and turned, putting her back to the pair. “The places she’s been, the places she’s going. Did you know she’s modeling next month in St Croix? And then apparently she’s on to Paris, and from there, Istanbul. Such an exotic lifestyle.”
“Yeah.” Too bad the old girl couldn’t have had a gig in Egypt—tomorrow.
“And to be my age yet still look so young.” As if Barbara herself weren’t stunning. The woman was gorgeous and had a grace that only true happiness and confidence could give a woman. “She must live right.”
“She lives with Botox,” Sydney said bluntly.
Barbara choked on laughter. “Yes, well, it seems to be working. In any case, I wanted to thank you for coming tonight. We haven’t had a chance to really talk, but I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear you’re seeing my son.”
Sydney glanced over her shoulder and saw Derrick frowning at her. When their gazes met, he hurriedly turned back to Dylan and yelled about some moron having the worse passing record in the entire NFL.
God, she really hated football. If it weren’t for those tight pants, she’d never watch the games.
“Ignore him. He’s showing off and keeping Dylan away at the same time. That’s how I know he plans on keeping you around.” Barbara squeezed her arm. “So Hailey tells me you’re a busy woman.”
The discussion turned to Sydney’s business. Then Barbara mentioned a few clients looking to move downtown. Before Sydney knew it, she learned she and Barbara actually had a lot more in common than affection for Derrick. Their fascination with several reality shows, gardening and a love of biographies took up the precious minutes leading to dinner.
Something in the kitchen beeped, and Barbara started. “Goodness. I didn’t mean to talk your ear off. I really need to get dinner ready.”
“I’ll help.” Sydney started to walk with her into the kitchen when Hailey interceded.
“Go mingle. I haven’t had a chance to hang with Barbara all night.”
When Sydney frowned, Hailey mouthed Isabel and followed Barbara into the kitchen.
Sydney looked for her mother but didn’t see her.
“If you’re looking for the sexy barracuda, she went that-away. To the powder room,” Dylan said.
She turned to him and smiled. “Thanks.”
“No, Sydney. Thank you.” He chuckled, but she had no idea why.
Knowing she needed to find her mother before the proverbial shit hit the fan—especially since Isabel had been guzzling wine like it was going out of style—she hurried down the hallway toward the bathroom.
She didn’t see anyone around, so she knocked.
“Out in a minute,” she heard James say.
“Sorry.” So where was her mother? In the bathroom with James, maybe? Then again, he hadn’t seemed like her usual type. He didn’t act like he had money coming out his ass, though he had the looks her mother liked.
Still... Where was Derrick?
She heard a low voice from further down the hallway.
“Really. You are the absolute best,” Derrick gushed.
“You naughty boy.” Her mother tittered from behind a half-closed door. “So many trophies, Derrick. Your mother has turned your bedroom into a shrine. Honestly, how did you do it all?”
He chuckled, and Sydney steamed. Normally her mother waited a while before hitting on her boyfriends. But something had Isabel in a pinch. And hell, Derrick was sexier than sin.
Hadn’t she warned him to watch out for her mother? So what the hell was he doing in a bedroom with her?
Sydney took a quiet step closer and peered through the seam in the doorway, keeping herself hidden. Dylan suddenly stood behind her, but before she could say anything, he put a finger to his lips. They both watched as Isabel thrust herself fully into the game.
Isabel put a hand on Derrick’s forearm and pulled him closer, as if to study one of his trophies. She acted off-balance, one of her signature moves. Then again, with all the wine she’d consumed, she might actually be unsteady. “I can’t believe how many awards you have. An All American? College championships? And your degrees...”
“Just like my old man,” Derrick said with pride. He put an arm around her mother and hugged her.
Hugged her!
Before Isabel could turn her face up and accidentally brush her mouth against his, Derrick squeezed her too tight. Isabel coughed. “Sorry,” he apologized then stepped away from her and peered at his trophy.
“Oh wait, this one’s Dylan’s.” He nodded and turned to her again. “You know, my brother had a hell of a right arm in the day.” He proceeded to list stats and names and games, his facts seemingly unending. So much for Isabel’s grand scheme for seduction. He talked to her as if she was a sports groupie or fellow player. Sydney half-expected him to slap her on the ass and wish her a good game.
Derrick had handled Isabel just right. He hadn’t offered a challenge, which she would have gone after like a dog after a meaty bone. Instead he played oblivious. Each time her mother tried to move closer and touch him, he shoved a playbook in her hands or gesticulated wildly about a past game.
He started to wind down when Dylan whispered in her ear, “That’s my cue.”
Dylan entered and knocked his brother in the arm. “There you are. Dinner’s almost ready.”
“Oh good. I think I was starting to bore Isabel with our old football stats.”
Dylan raised a brow. “Which game?”
Derrick started all over again. This time he and Dylan nodded and laughed as they reminisced, leaving her mother completely out of the loop. Ingenious.
Isabel’s practiced pout turned into an honest scowl. “Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’m going to wash up for dinner.”
Sydney hurried back down the carpeted hallway. She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and joined James, Hailey and Barbara in the dining room.
Isabel soon entered and sat down next to Sydney, who sat next to Derrick. Throughout the meal, Isabel remained mostly quiet. Back to her polite, charming self, trying to lull the hapless males into believing her harmless.
Derrick caught Sydney’s attention when Isabel turned to reply to James. He winked, and she knew it would be all right. Her lover had no intention of falling prey to her mother. One worry put to rest at least.
But when Derrick turned the table-talk to Sydney, she didn’t like it in the slightest. He complimented her business sense and laughingly told them what a hard time she’d given him—one he’d earned. She tensed, expecting to hear it any time soon. All day long he’d been throwing it around, using the word in nearly every sentence. So much for a reprieve at the family dinner.
“It’s no wonder I love her. Red hair does lead to a fiery temperament.” He winked at Isabel, who nodded absently.