Page 44 of The Billionaire's Marriage Dare

“Christian is—-”

“50 Shades,” the whole family suddenly exclaimed.

And it was Jane’s turn to laugh, realizing belatedly that 50 Shades had been something they had watched together on a whim, and it had been both the most awful and hilarious experience, with parents and daughters together while Christian Grey started having sex with a strung-up Anastasia Steele.

Christian made an effort to smile as four Coopers started looking at him with great interest. “You can all call me Chris—-”

The four shook their heads simultaneously.

“Christian,” Hetty said firmly, and her husband nodded in agreement.

Emma was grinning. “Imagine that. I have a Christian for a future brother-in-law.”

Christian winced at the emphasis.

Jane patted his arm, saying laughingly, “Just give it up.”

The whole family moved into the dining room, where it appeared the Coopers were still in the middle of dinner preparation. Christian was amused as everyone automatically moved into what seemed like their respective stations: Mike by the oven, Hetty bending over the stove to check on her stew, and Emma reaching for the knife as she resumed chopping onions.

“I’ll set the table up,” Jane volunteered at the same time and led Christian out of the kitchen.

As soon as the door swung shut behind them, Christian hauled her close and pressed a soft kiss on her lips.

She looked up at him, startled. “What was that for?”

“I like your family,” Christian said. “And I’m glad I do.”

She grinned. “So you were worried, too.”

Christian grunted.

Jane surprised him with a sudden hug, her arms going around his waist. It was rare for her to initiate contact, and he looked down at her, startled and slightly concerned. “What is it, pet?”

Her voice muffled against his chest, she whispered feelingly, “I’m really glad you like them, too.” And it was true. They had been together for a month now, and she had seen for herself that Christian hadn’t lied to her about the way he treated most people with either indifference or contempt.

When dealing with the former, he was rather brusque, almost cruelly so, and when dealing with the latter, he could be downright scathing.

And yet he liked her, Jane thought, and her family. It was a fact that she was still struggling to accept.

Christian’s phone started to ring, and Jane readily disengaged herself from him. “Go ahead,” she said with a smile. “I can set up on my own.”

“I’ll be with you as soon as I can.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard that before.” And usually, ‘as soon as you can’ meant Christian leaving the bed in the middle of the night and coming back to her side in the morning.

Jane started with the place mats first, and to her surprise, she had just started distributing dinner plates when Christian emerged from the outside. Fifteen minutes for a call? That was definitely a record maker.

But then she caught the look on his face, and his next words, spoken rather stiffly, confirmed what she already knew.

“I have to go.”

“Awkward,” Emma said.

Christian grimaced, and Jane tried to swallow back a laugh. She took hold of his hand, saying, “Excuse us, please.”

“But we want to eavesdrop,” Hetty protested.

“Ignore them,” Jane advised Christian, who by now had become stiff as a board. When they reached the front door and she was about to reach for the knob, Christian’s hand suddenly covered hers, halting its movement.

---