Page 63 of Falling for the Boss's Son

He pulled up in front of the house and put the car in park before turning to face her.

Cassie unbuckled her seat belt and shifted so she was looking at him. She brought a hand up to trace the outline of his lips. “I wouldn’t have slept with you if I didn’t.”

Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed her palm. He wanted to ask her more questions, get to the bottom of why she didn’t want him to meet her family, but he knew they wouldn’t be alone for long. “I want to talk more about this later, but if we don’t get inside soon, my mom will come out.”

She nodded, seeming to accept that they’d be revisiting the subject.

He kissed her palm again and opened his door. His parents were waiting. Everything else would have to be put on hold.

CHAPTER 15

Cassie tried not to let her nerves get the better of her as Jesse walked her into the large estate. She knew Blake and Florence Masters. She saw Blake five days a week. This was no big deal.

The foyer was as big as her apartment, the sound of their footsteps echoing as they walked down the hall toward the dining room. For some reason, it felt larger, more encompassing, than it had the last time she was there. She knew it was all in her head, that the house hadn’t magically morphed into something new, but that wasn’t doing anything to help her perception of the grandness of it all.

Her dad’s house was big by most standards. It was possible for two people to be in the house at the same time and not realize it. But the Masters’s house was on a whole different level. It made her feel small.

Blake and Florence liked to host dinner parties. They were both very active in their community and several charities. Rubbing elbows with other business moguls and politicians was part of the norm. Her dad was more of a home body and so was she. While she could hold polite conversation when she needed to, she’d much rather be home reading a book or vegging out in front of the television.

Jesse placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her past the kitchen. The smell of food tickled her senses and made her realize how hungry she was. It had been hours since she’d eaten lunch.

They entered the large formal dining room to find his dad and Beks seated at the table scrolling through their phones. Blake was most likely checking emails. She had no idea about Beks. Social media probably. His mom was rearranging some of the flowers in the centerpiece.

Florence noticed Jesse and Cassie. “There you are.”

She embraced Jesse, and he placed a kiss on her cheek. “We’re not late, are we?”

His dad put his phone away. “No, but your mom has been crawling the walks, waiting for you to get here.”

Jesse chuckled. “Mom, you know Cassie.”

Florence turned her attention to Cassie. “How have you been? My husband isn’t working you to death, is he?”

Cassie smiled. “No, ma’am.”

Beks tucked her phone into her pocket before addressing Cassie. “Hello again.”

Robert, the Masters’s personal chef, strolled into the dining room. He was pushing a cart full of food.

Florence took a seat beside her husband and Jesse held out a chair for Cassie. Once she was seated, he lowered himself into the seat beside her. The atmosphere felt formal and not at the same time.

Robert served everyone a plate, the food arranged beautifully. Everyone was silent as the food and drinks were served. Robert made sure everyone had what they needed, then discreetly disappeared into the kitchen.

Cassie followed Jesse’s lead and began eating her food. She’d never had roasted duck before, but it was good. Not as gamey as she’d expected.

“My big brother charmed you, huh?” The grin on Beks’s face told Cassie she wasn’t upset with this. “I was wondering when I found you two snuggled up together at the party.”

His dad raised an eyebrow, but he was looking at Jesse, not Cassie.

She wasn’t sure how to respond, and luckily, she didn’t have to. Jesse spoke up and answered his sister. “I didn’t charm her. I wore down her defenses.” He sent Cassie a sly smile and she felt her insides melt a little.

“At least your brother has found a nice girl he wants to date,” Florence said.

Beks rolled her eyes. “Jesse’s thirty. If we’re going by age alone, I have time.”

“You’re not getting any younger and I want grandchildren before I’m too old to enjoy them.” Florence picked up her wine glass and took a sip.

Cassie averted her eyes, keeping them on her food. This conversation sounded a lot like ones she’d at with her own mother. Jessica Rourke was all about becoming a grandmother. She wanted grandbabies and lots of them. And she wasn’t shy about bringing up the subject any chance she got.

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