Page 33 of Driving Wild

“Yeah, sorry about that. They were raised in a barn, you know. No manners whatsoever unless they’re with Mom, and then it’s like they’re the Queen of England’s kids.”

“Tracy, this is my girlfriend, Grace,” he says, turning to me as I stand behind him, watching the kids run toward what I guess was his sister’s car.

“Girlfriend, huh? The media says y’all are married. She’s not your wife, Matty?”

I like this woman. She doesn’t give a shit who he is, or even me for that matter.

“Yeah, well, the media likes to spin things all the time. Why don’t you come have a drink and we can fill you in on all that’s gone on in the last two months?”

“I’d love to, but I’ve got to get the kids to soccer practice. But I’ll see you at the race on Sunday. I wouldn’t miss the hometown boy taking on the big bad super speedway.” Giving Matt a kiss on the cheek and me a hug, she leaves to find her kids.

We make our way into the house, and as soon as I step foot in the door, I instantly relax just a tiny bit. It smells just like when I went home to Boston two weeks ago. That’s one thing about having a mom who cooks. All the kids want to be a part of that house, and you can tell that Matt’s mom is no different.

“Come on. We better make our way into the kitchen before she comes to find us and I get in trouble for lingering outside the room.”

Music is playing softly over the speakers, and just as we turn a corner, I notice a sight that makes me tear up.

Matt’s parents are in the middle of the kitchen, dancing. Now things start to make sense of why the man is so damn charming. He watched his parents growing up, and it’s clear why the man always listens to old country music and why he always pulls me into dancing with him as we cook together. He’s been watching his parents all this time. And I am just in awe of this man. He is romantic and doesn’t even have to try. He just learned what to do from the man spinning this petite woman around.

Clearing my throat, I can’t help but feel my heart swell at the sight of my parents. I’ve watched them dance in the kitchen with one another for as long as I can remember, and to see them now still doing the same as they always have done makes me glad that Grace has wanted to dance with me in the kitchen as well.

“All my stars, is that my son? My married son who I had no idea was even dating, let alone married.” Mom starts to rant when she notices Grace standing beside me.

“Matthew Thomas McCall! Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were coming and bringing my beautiful daughter-in-law with you no less?” she says, smacking me on the arm before bringing me into one of her amazing hugs.

“Sorry, Mom. Believe me, Grace wanted to tell you we were coming, but I wanted it to be a surprise,” I reply with those big puppy dog eyes that she can’t ever stay mad at.

Pulling away from me, she turns to Grace.

“Well, Miss Miller, or should I say Mrs. McCall? It’s nice to finally get to see my daughter-in-law in person instead of in a magazine or a texted photo from my son,” my mom says.

“It’s really great to finally meet you too, Mrs. McCall,” Grace says.

“So what are you and Dad doing besides dancing in the kitchen?”

“We were getting ready to head out on the boat. Did you folks bring your swimsuits?” Dad asks as he grabs an armful of beers from the fridge to put into a cooler.

Looking at Grace, she shrugs as if to say, whatever you want, I’m game.

“Sure, let me just grab our bags, and we can get changed. Meet you down at the dock in twenty minutes.”

“All right, kids. We’ll see you down there. And, Matt, no sex under my roof, got it? I shouldn’t even have to say that, but I know how my son can be when he has a beautiful woman in front of him. Hell, I was young once too, kids,” I hear my dad say as we make our way to the guest bedroom. I’m sure Grace is five shades of a tomato from my dad’s comment.

After changing into our swimsuits, we headed out toward the dock. I had always loved being home. My parents had bought a boat long ago, and I had learned to wake surf on it. That was partly the reason why I had my own.

After helping Dad unhook the boat, we head out onto the lake. I made my way over to sit with Grace, who was in deep conversation with my mom. She instantly stops talking the moment I drape my arm over her shoulder.

“And what are you two talking about? I bet it was about me, seeing as you stopped as soon as I sat down.”

“I’ll have you know, we were talking about Grace’s job and everything that’s about to change with Mila joining the ranks next season,” Mom said.

As the boat comes to an alcove, my dad slows it, and Grace gets up to move, but I pull her back to me. I can’t resist kissing her and making sure she’s doing okay with meeting my family. I get that it could be overwhelming. Hell, I’d only met Clint and Jamie and they had me stressed out.

Once I release her hand, she makes her way to the front of the boat where my dad is getting the fishing gear out.

“Matty, you seem happy, darling,” my mom says, turning her gaze to me. I know she can see the stupid look on my face from just seeing Grace.

“Never in my life did I think this day would come. Grace is changing you, isn’t she? She’s making you become the man I knew you had inside you. The man who you have never wanted to be.”

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