Only one person has a key to this apartment besides me, Danny, and the landlord. Considering the fact that the landlord doesn’t even live in the city and he owes us twenty-four hours advance warning before paying a visit and Danny would boil himself to death rather than ruin my rare romantic interlude, it can only be only be one person on the other side of that door.

Only one person I know who’s obnoxious enough and clueless enough to try to walk into my house without announcement. Only one terrible person I’m stupid enough to have given a key to, but only under strict assurance that it would be used in case of emergency and for no other reason.

My mother.

“Oh shit,” I hiss, leaping away from Jackson.

“Who is that?” Jackson asks from the couch.

I want to die. I want to literally drop dead on this very spot. “My mom,” I mutter, as I pull my camisole back on, and dash to the door, and throw myself against it to get the chain latch in place before the key can do its job.

I can’t imagine what Jackson must be thinking. Yeah, I guess I forgot to mention when describing her that she doesn’t just bake well. She’s also an expert at killing the mood, butting in where she doesn’t belong and inserting herself into situations which have nothing to do with her.

“Lauren? Sweetheart? Why can’t I get the door open? And why is it so dark in there?”

This can’t be happening. It’s a nightmare. It’s got to be. I’m half-undressed, flushed and breathless with two dogs running circles around me, barking their little heads off. I pat down my hair, trying to compose myself and open the door as far as the chain will allow.

I peer out through the gap. I’m annoyed, but I don’t want to upset my mother. “Mom, what are you doing here? You know I gave you that key for emergencies.”

“I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t think you’d mind. I wanted to know how you got on with your sister and since you’ve been busy recently, I decided to make a batch of your favorite red velvet cupcakes and bring it over.” And damned if she’s not carrying a Tupperware cake saver full of red velvet cupcakes.

I exhale. It is almost useless trying to talk to my mother. “Didn’t you get my text?”

“Oh,” she says blankly, “I don’t think I did. Was it something important?”

“Uh, Mom… now’s not the best time for you to come in.”

“What? Are you locking the door against your own mother?”

“Of course not, but I have company,” I announce, standing between her and the rest of the house. The dogs are going nuts now, probably because they can smell the sweets my mother’s carrying. Draco tries to wriggle his way out through the gap in the door.

“No, Draco!” I bend down to grab him before he can run out into the hall, and Tyrion buries his nose between my boobs. Oh, my God, this is madness.

“Would you just let me in already? I won’t stay long and Draco obviously wants to see me even if you don’t,” she sniffs in that voice that is designed to make me feel guilty. “And since when do you have a second dog? Do I have a new grand-puppy you didn’t tell me about?”

I hate it when she treats Draco like her grandkid—a not-so-subtle reminder of the fact that I’m childless, like being single in my mid-twenties is a crime. “He isn’t mine,” I bite out as I get the dogs under control. “Here. Just come in, I guess.”

She’s already practically sticking her face through the opening, anyway. She breezes into the house the moment I get the chain off the door.

“So why didn’t you call first?”

“I tried to call, sweetheart, but you didn’t answer.”

I find that hard to believe—or maybe she’s telling the truth, since I’ve been a little too wrapped up in my guest to notice anything like the phone.

“Oh. Well. That still doesn’t mean you can just show up and use the key,” I complain when we reach the kitchen, where she leaves the carrier of cupcakes on the counter.

She takes in my state of undress with one quick glance, sighing and shaking her head. “I’ll never understand fashion nowadays,” she grumbles. “Look at you. You’re practically undressed, and with company. In my day that would have been considered underwear.”

“Mom, stop, please,” I whisper with my cheeks burning like they’re on fire. I can just imagine what Jackson must be thinking. “This is… the new style.”

“It’s very pretty though. And very flattering. Where did you buy it from?”

Oh Jeez, give it a rest! She’s got a twinkle in her eye and I can’t tell if she’s just winding me up. “I can’t remember, really, I bought it ages ago.” I’m not going to tell her it’s from Victoria’s Secret.

She unwinds the scarf from around her neck and my heart sinks because this means she thinks she’s sticking around. I do not want her to stick around.

“And who’s this?” she demands, her eyes lighting up as she spots Jackson on the sofa.

He’s sitting there clutching a cushion to his lap.

I just about manage to stifle a giggle. My heart is still racing. “This is Jackson,” I say, “He’s my neighbor. He—um, just came over for dinner.”

“It’s lovely to meet you!” she gushes.

“It’s good to meet you too, Mrs. Appleton,” he says, all charm and warmth now that his erection has gone down. “I understand you’re an accomplished baker.”

Boy, does he know just the right thing to say. She just about melts with pleasure—and I could kiss him for being so thoughtful. Or just in general, because I’d kiss him again for pretty much any reason because whoa—the man can kiss.

“Why, I am. I see my daughter’s been bragging about me.” She beams in my general direction.

I can only shrug with a grin.

“And if your red velvet cupcakes are any indication, I can see why,” he adds. He’s really laying on the charm thick. Like with a trowel.

Meanwhile, I’m biting the side of my tongue to keep from laughing hysterically. This is all a joke, right? It has to be. He’s praising my mother’s cupcakes when I slipped a freaking potion into his, while I’m standing here half-undressed with a dog that won’t stop trying to hump my damn leg.

Mom doesn’t notice my discomfort. She’s too involved with eating up the attention—to the point where she hurries into the kitchen and comes back with another cupcake from the batch she brought. “I keep telling Lauren that she should find a nice man like you. Are you single?”

I nearly die in horror. Will the humiliation ever stop? Has anyone ever died from it?

This really should be enough to negate any effect of the magic potion. It is certainly enough to cause Jackson to remove the cushion from his crotch and stand. “Yes, I am,” he confirms.

“Mom you should go,” I say quickly.

“Yes, yes, I don’t want to interrupt you young people, but maybe I can persuade your new...” She pauses and I give her a look. “…friend,” she says.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“To try one of my red velvet cupcakes.”

“Um…no. I’d better be going,” Jackson says instantly.

“Oh, I hope I didn’t interrupt your nice evening!” Mom says. “Please don’t go because of me. I can put the kettle on and we can all have a cup of tea if you like? Keep you warm Lauren in that little top of yours.”

I’m pretty much dying of embarrassment as the situation sinks in. I’m standing here in my underwear with my gorgeous neighbor who I couldn’t believe even agreed to come over. I’ve given him some strange potion that I have no idea is even safe! And my Mom is here!!

“I really need to go,” Jackson says, “But thank you so much for dinner and everything.” He smiles and kisses me on the cheek.

“You’re welcome.” What else can I say? Mom’s still standing right here in the room with us.

“Goodbye, Mrs. Appleton,” he says, offering his hand to Mom.

“Sally! Just call me Sally.” Ignoring his hand, she throws her tentacles around him in a bear hug.

As soon, she removes them he practically runs out of my house.

Great! I guess I’m not the first person to ever be cockblocked by my mother.