I don’t know what I was anticipating when I was going to meet Heath’s parents for the first time, but I didn’t expect Barb and Drew.

Heath’s mother is petite, and her bleached blonde hair is in a French twist. She’s wearing a pair of soft blue pencil trousers and a matching cardigan with a cream blouse beneath it. She’s even got a string of pearls wrapped around her neck.

Drew is tall and lanky like Heath. He’s wearing corduroy pants, and a plaid button up shirt. He has darker features like Heath, except he wears thick black framed glasses. He looks a little nerdy, and his mom looks uptight but when their eyes meet mine, I can tell they’re neither of those things.

“Mom, dad, this is Kinsley,” Heath introduces as he tugs me against his side in the entryway of the house.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell,” I offer with a smile.

Barb waves her hand between us and takes a step forward, wrapping her hands around my wrists and tugging me toward her. She envelops me in a hug and inhales a deep breath. “You, sweet girl, you call me Barb,” she murmurs.

Heath rushes off a few minutes later to get the food out of the oven, and I take drink orders. It isn’t long until dinner’s ready and once I’ve served cocktails we make our way to the table that I set earlier in the afternoon.

“So, tell us, Kinsley, where are you from and what do you do?” Drew asks after we’ve loaded our plates with Heath’s gourmet cuisine from a box.

My face instantly heats, and I know that my cheeks must be red. Heath wraps his fingers around my knee and squeezes at his father’s question.

Clearing my throat, I open my mouth to speak. “I was a secretary for an attorney in town, but due to unforeseen circumstances I had to quit yesterday. So, I’m going to start looking for something new on Monday.”

Heath’s fingers squeeze my knee even harder at my words. I move my hand down to his wrist and wrap my fingers around him. He loosens his grip slightly and I continue. “I’m from Dallas, but decided I needed a change and found my way here. I absolutely love this place. It’s just small enough to feel comfortable yet not so small that you feel suffocated.”

Drew nods, taking a sip of his red wine. “Will your parents be coming to visit soon, to meet Heath?” Barb asks.

I nod my head, swallowing a piece of food. “They’re making their way here in a couple of weeks. They’re excited to see my new town, and of course, to meet Heath,” I smile.

Heath’s fingers flex and I realize that with all of the chaos that’s happened between me and Heath, and with my job and the Walker’s I never mentioned to him that they were coming to town.

“I’ll throw a party,” Barb announces, and I hear Heath growl. She waves her hand, in a shooing motion toward him. “You’ll be fine, Mr. Anti-Social.”

“I’m an introvert, I’m not anti-social,” Heath mutters.

Barb rolls her eyes and I can’t stop the giggle from bubbling up. “You lock yourself in this house, doing your computer science research stuff. When was the last time you went to the grocery store?” she asks lifting a brow.

Heath grunts, and I cover my mouth trying to hide my smile. I look up at him and he turns his head frowning down at me. “Watch yourself, Sugar,” he warns.

Barb ignores him and continues planning a party for my parents. She even tells me all of the close family friends, and relatives she plans on inviting, only causing Heath’s scowl to intensify. We finish eating dinner and my nerves are completely gone by the time I take my last bite. Heath’s parents are fantastic.

My father and I leave the women to chat and come outside in the backyard. My exercise equipment is all set up still and my father lightly punches the bag that hangs from my porch. “How long have you really been with this girl?” he asks sipping his wine.

“A couple of weeks,” I shrug.

He chuckles, shaking his head. “I didn’t expect her, to be honest,” he mutters.

“You didn’t expect what?” I ask, my brows knitting together.

My dad chuckles, staring out into my back yard. “She’s lovely. She’s smart, sweet, and socially delightful,” he explains.

I frown, looking down at my foot, realizing that she is everything that I’m not. Except smart, I know I’m intelligent, at least when it comes to science. Life skills, maybe not so much. In that respect I know that Kinsley has the upper hand.

“She’s mine,” I admit.

My dad clears his throat, “Good. I’ve been waiting a long time for this, Heath. We’ve been worried about you,” he says. “Over thirty, and no real relationships. It’s scary as parents to see that.”

“I’m marrying her, dad. She’s the one, there’s no need to worry anymore,” I murmur.

My father’s head turns to look at me, surprise laced with a little relief shadows his features. “Marriage?” he breathes.

I nod. “She’s it. One hundred percent, the woman for me,” I state.

He smiles, taking a few short steps in my direction and wraps me in a hug. “Happy for you, son.” He rasps.

My parents stay for dessert. The entire time we eat, my mom and Kinsley continue to make plans for her parents visit. Apparently, my mother has decided to be their tour guide and is planning daily activities for the bunch. I’m glad I have the excuse of work and judging by my father’s face he is too.

When my parents leave, I’m surprised that it's well after eleven in the evening. My mom gives me a tight hug, and I know she’s just as happy as my father is, maybe even happier. She has a girl to hangout with now, a new friend and soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

“I love her,” my mother whispers in my ear when she gives me a hug.

I chuckle. “Me too, mom.”

She takes a step back and wipes her eyes before my father shuffles her out of the door. Closing the door behind them, I flip the lock and turn to Kinsley. She’s smiling but that smile fades as soon as her eyes catch mine.

“Upstairs, naked, I need to be inside you,” I growl.

She blinks, then her smile reappears and before I can even think about touching her, she’s rushing away from me and up the stairs. My lips turn up into a grin as I watch her sweet ass sway from side to side as she climbs the staircase in her tight skirt.