Lola

I COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time I’d been so nervous. I hadn’t even felt this level of anxiety when I finally decided to lose my virginity. And that was really saying something since, in one of his displays of overprotective big brother-ness, Dom had tried to dissuade me from stamping my V-card by informing me that the first time felt similar to being ripped in half with a dull, rusted steak knife.

Talk about colorful imagery. That was something no seventeen-year-old girl ever wanted to hear. Did it stop me? Hell no. It sure as hell scared the shit out of me, but that was still nothing compared to this.

“Stop fidgeting. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” Grayson’s right hand left the steering wheel and reached for mine, forcing me to unlock my wringing fingers. There was something about that simple touch that eased my frazzled nerves. It shouldn’t have — I never should have allowed him to affect me in such a way — but he did. Instead of getting into a mental struggle with myself over it, I just sat back and released a heavy sigh, trying my best not to fixate on the fact that he kept my hand in his against my thigh.

“Well, I wouldn’t be nervous if you hadn’t tricked me into agreeing to lunch with your family,” I pouted from the passenger seat. “I can’t believe you used sex and bacon to get your way. That’s really low.”

He laughed, completely at ease. The stupid jerk didn’t have a care in the world. “Relax, baby. They’re going to love you.”

“You have to say that. They’re your family. I’ve never had a guy bring me home to meet his parents before, so excuse me for stressing about it.”

“You’ve never met a boyfriend’s parents?” he asked in complete bewilderment.

“First of all,” I stated, holding up my index finger, “slow your roll on the ‘boyfriend’ business. We had sex one time—”

“We had sex four times,” he interrupted. “It just happened to be over one twenty-four-hour period.”

“Semantics.” I waved him off and lifted my middle finger. “And second, I told you, I don’t date.”

“Not even in high school?”

I snorted and rolled my eyes at the windshield. “Whatever. Everyone knows high school doesn’t count.”

His thumb began rubbing circles on my wrist right at my pulse. “So what you’re telling me is I’m your first.” His smile was positively sinful. I wanted to leap across the console and lick him up and down.

“Stop being smug,” I warned. “This is a nightmare. I’m having dinner with my boss’s boss’s boss, who knows I accidentally publicly humiliated his son and am currently in a fake relationship with him to help restore his public image.”

“Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but the relationship stopped being fake the minute you got on your hands and knees and begged to suck my dick.”

I pulled in a loud gasp, ignoring the heat pooling between my legs, and dug my nails into the skin on the back of his hand. “I did not beg!”

“Oh you begged, all right,” he murmured, completely unfazed that I was currently trying to draw blood. “And I plan on making you do it again tonight.”

My head shot to the side just as Grayson rolled his lips between his teeth to hide his smile. “This isn’t funny!” I cried at the sight of the amusement laced through his handsome features.

“It kind of is, if you really think about it.”

“Argh!” I moved to yank my hand from his but he tightened his grip, preventing my escape. I quickly gave up the struggle, refusing to dwell on the fact that part of my relenting was because I actually liked him holding my hand. “I don’t do well in stressful situations. Never have. I have a tendency to say completely inappropriate things when I’m uncomfortable, so just be prepared. I’m liable to totally humiliate you and get myself fired all at the same time.”

His deep chuckle did something funny to my insides. “Don’t worry. My nana’s going to be there. The woman’s seventy-eight years old and thinks her age has earned her the right to say whatever she wants. Odds are even you’ll blush at some of the stuff that comes out of her mouth.”

I felt my lips pull into a smile at that information. Something told me I was going to get along great with Grayson’s nana. “Well at least we don’t have to put on an act,” I muttered. “Since they already know this whole thing is fake, we don’t have to pretend to be something we’re not. Thank God for that, right?”

“I told you,” he said in a growly voice, “it’s not an act anymore. Besides, my father’s the only one who had any idea it was a PR stunt in the first place.”

“What!”

“Look, just calm down, okay—”

The edges of my vision began to blur with red at being told to calm down. “Don’t you tell me to calm down, Grayson Lockhart! Just a word of caution — never, ever tell an Italian woman in the middle of a full-blown hissy to calm down. Are you really telling me your entire family, with the exception of your father, has thought this has been real?”

He shrugged casually, like it was nothing. “It is real.”

“Maybe now!” I yelped. “But that just started, like, yesterday!”

I could have sworn I heard him mutter, “It’s been longer than that,” under his breath, but before I could be sure, he continued on. “Truth is, things are always a little tense between my brother and me, have been for as long as I can remember. My father thought it best to keep quiet about anything that could add additional stress on my mother. He’s a bit protective when it comes to her. And, well… she’s always been a little—” He tipped his head back and forth, as if looking for the right words. “—exuberant when it comes to her sons settling down. Dad thought it best she didn’t know this was all for show, you know, to prevent any unnecessary upset.”

“Are you kidding me?!” I shouted.

I barely had time to process everything he’d just admitted before he swung the car into the driveway of a fancy McMansion. I immediately experienced hardcore house envy. It had a wraparound porch, for crying out loud! On the first and second floor. I’d always wanted a house with a wraparound porch.

It was a dream home.

“Wow,” I sighed as I stared out the windshield. “This place is beautiful.” I turned back to Grayson, my eyes a little wide. “You grew up here?”

“Yep.” He grinned, throwing the car into Park. “Broke my collarbone sliding down the banister and everything. My mom remodeled to exactly what she wanted as soon as my brother and I moved out.”

“Why wait?” I asked curiously.

He chuckled at a memory before answering. “We were rambunctious kids, had a knack for destroying shit when we were growing up. My mom’s trademark phrase was ‘See? This is why we can’t have nice things!’”

I giggled at his high-pitched tone as I stared back up at the massive house in spite of the nerves. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

I jumped in my seat at the feel of Grayson’s breath on my neck, spinning around to find he’d moved in… close. Less than an inch of space separated his lips from mine. “Wh-what are you doing?” I stammered, suddenly feeling too hot all over. Those green eyes of his darkened as the intensity behind them started to grow.

“Living up to my promise to touch you and tease you for as long as it takes.” His proximity had effectively muddled my brain, and I barely had a chance to pull in air before he pressed his mouth against mine. It was a gentle, closed-mouth kiss, but it was still powerful enough to sear right through me, instantly making me want more. Everything about him — his touch, his taste, his smell — was more potent than any drug in existence. Just being in his company gave me the most exhilarating high I’d ever experienced.

After what felt like an eternity — but was probably closer to a few seconds — he pulled back. Sorrow at the loss of his lips flooded me as my eyelids fluttered open. I don’t know how long I stared at Grayson dazedly before a knock on the driver side window scared me back into reality and caused me to let loose a shrill scream that reverberated through the close confines of the car.

“Christ, Mom,” Grayson snarled, sitting up straight and rubbing at his ringing ear. “Do you have to sneak up like that?” he asked petulantly as he pushed his door open. “You scared the hell out of her. Her scream nearly deafened me.”

I followed suit and quickly opened my door, stepping out of the car just as a petite woman with brown hair that was lightly streaked with gray spoke up. “Sorry. So sorry,” she replied, but judging by the enthusiastic smile on her face, she wasn’t the least bit sorry. “I’m just so excited. You haven’t brought a girlfriend home in forever!”

It just had to be said — Grayson’s mom was adorable! Totes adorbs and all that jazz. I wanted to scoop her up and put her in my pocket. Her hair was cut into a short, stylish bob that complimented the shape of her face perfectly. She had Grayson’s green eyes and had aged really freaking well! She hardly looked old enough to have a son Grayson’s age. She barely came up to his shoulder, putting her around my height, and her casual yet fashionable attire fit her tiny frame to perfection.

Despite the welcoming grin stretched across her delicate, pretty features, I still had an anxious hoard of butterflies swarming around in my belly as I rounded the hood of Grayson’s car and extended my hand in greeting.

“Hello, Mrs. Lockhart. It’s nice to meet you.”

She glanced at my hand and quickly dismissed it, moving in to wrap me in a tight hug instead. I was so stunned by the unexpected show of affection that my arms remained limp at my sides.

“Please, call me Cybil. I’m so happy to meet you too, Lola. We’re thrilled you were able to come today.” She released me from the embrace and stepped back, still smiling brightly.

“Oh… uh, well, thank you. I’m happy to be here.”

She held me by the arms as she scanned my face. “You’re so pretty. Grayson, you didn’t mention she was so pretty. The pictures in the papers don’t do you justice, darling.”

My body warmed and my chest squeezed at the thought of him talking to his family about me. I turned my head to find Grayson rolling his eyes. “Can we at least move this into the house before you start fawning all over her, please?”

Cybil let out a delicate “Psh” and hooked her elbow through mine, leading me from the car toward the house. “He’s just sensitive because I interrupted him copping a feel. Wouldn’t be the first time—”

“Mom! Come on!”

“I can’t tell you how many times I had to yell at him to start locking the doors when he was a teenager. All by himself in the bathroom or his bedroom,” she muttered thoughtfully. “Who doesn’t lock the door when they’re doing something like that? I’ll tell you what, it got to the point where I spent my days stomping through the house just so I wouldn’t open a door and get an eyeful of something no mother should see!”

I choked on my spit trying to hold in my laughter at the thought of a masturbating Grayson being caught by his mom.

“It only got worse when he started dating,” she huffed. “Nolan was no help at all. He just gave the boys a box of condoms each and told them to let him know when they needed more. I’ll tell you, darling, raising boys is enough to drive you mad.”

I smirked over my shoulder and gave a horrified Grayson a wink as we crossed the threshold. “You know, Cybil? I’d just love to hear all the stories you have about Grayson growing up.”

His face was thunderous as he closed the front door behind him, and it took everything in me not to burst into laughter.

“Glad you could make it,” a deep, familiar voice said. I glanced to the side to see Grayson’s father joining us in the foyer, a stylish woman in her seventies wielding a cane at his side.

“Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Lockhart.” I wondered if I sounded as skittish as I felt. Even though he and Grayson had so many of the same features, something about the man’s commanding presence made me twitchy.

“Nolan, please,” he said, offering me his hand.

“Nolan,” I repeated, exchanging a firm handshake with him, none of that limp-wrist crap so many women did. A strong handshake shows strong character. It was one of the few things I’d believed true from my father.

He released my hand and tucked his into the pocket of his Chinos, and I was suddenly self-conscious about my clammy palms. God, please don’t let me have sweated all over the guy. Please, please, please, please, pretty please. Thank you and amen.

“Ooh, hoo!” the old lady whistled, using her cane to come closer. She leaned in, inspecting me up close, and beamed, obviously pleased with what she saw.

“I’ll hand it to my grandson. What he lacks in brains, he makes up with taste. You’re stunning, my girl! Gray went and got himself an exotic Latina.” She did a saucy little shoulder jiggle and I fell a little bit in love.

“She’s Italian, Nana,” Grayson replied dryly.

“Even better!” the woman declared, banging her cane on the floor. “She can make me a lasagna!”

“Mom. Please.” Nolan had the good grace to look embarrassed, but there was no reason. I loved Nana.

I took the woman’s soft, papery hand in mind and leaned in to whisper, “Can I adopt you? You’d fit right in with my family.”

She cackled loudly and I caught of whiff of whiskey on her breath. Day drinking too? Nana was totally my kind of chick!

“Honey, I think I’m going to like you just fine.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” I giggled.

Nana took two steps back and did a sweep of me with her eyes. “And child-bearing hips too!” She turned to Grayson, expression serious as can be. “You keep hold of this one, son. She’ll carry your babies real good.”

“Looks like I’m late to the party,” a man called out, drawing everyone’s attention. I turned to look at the man moving into the entryway and froze. Not because he looked so much like Grayson, but because of the venom behind his brown eyes as he glared in Grayson’s direction.

“Deacon,” Grayson muttered, tipping his chin in the man’s direction. “Good to see you, brother.”

Oh wow. The guy with the obvious chip on his shoulder was Grayson’s brother. And it didn’t take a genius to see there was some serious animosity between the two of them. Deacon looked like he wanted to smash Grayson like a bug. Grayson’s entire body went stiff and alert, like he was just itching for a fight.

“I’m sure it is.” Sarcasm dripped from his words as he lifted a tumbler full of amber liquid to his lips and took a healthy drink, eyeing me over the rim. “And who do we have here?”

“This is—”

I stepped forward and offered my hand to Deacon before Gray could do something stupid, like refer to me as his girlfriend. “I’m Lola. Nice to meet you.”

He took my hand and, with a mean smirk at his brother, lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss on my knuckles. “Most definitely.”

I suppressed a shiver and pulled my hand away. I took a step back into Grayson’s chest and he wrapped a protective arm around me. I was suddenly thankful for the security his large frame offered.

I didn’t know what was going on between the brothers, but I didn’t want to be in the middle of it.

It seemed like we all stood silently, watching the standoff between the two men, just waiting for something the happen.

Then the sound of a woman’s voice broke the tension surrounding all of us. “Hey, stranger. It’s been a while.”

A gorgeous woman with long, lustrous red hair came waltzing into the fray, a bright, blissful smile stretched across her face. I’d never seen such a beautiful woman in all my life. And the way she looked at Grayson made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“Fiona?” Grayson asked, surprise and joy clear in his tone. “Oh my God, Fee!”

What the what!