Page 92 of It Must Be Love

"I was told you're dating someone and…I wanted to meet her," my mother announced.

"And, you, Ann? What are you doing here?" I asked.

She could hear the steel in my voice and recognized it. "I…I came with your mother."

"I'm guessing that Kara called you right after she saw Naya and me together, and you called my mother to tell her how inappropriate Naya is. Am I right?" I sipped my scotch as I looked from Ann to my mother.

"Darling, let's not discuss this in front of others," my mother disapproved with her pursed lips.

"Naya and I live here, Mother. Ann and you are the others," I reminded her.

"You asked her to move in with you?" Ann all but screeched the words. "You wouldn't even let me stay a couple nights in a row, Amias."

"Naya isn't you, Ann. My relationship with her is different from the one I had with you. And you know this because I'm sure Kara also let you know that I'm waiting to propose to Naya." I kissed my Little Warrior's forehead when I could see how difficult this confrontation was for her. She wanted to burrow into me, hide her face but she was holding herself steady under tremendous pressure. My respect for her only increased.

"Waiting for what?" my mother demanded.

"Waiting for her to be ready to say yes. If I asked her now, she'll bolt."

"I won't," Naya hissed.

"Really?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"I'll just say no." She was glancing at her feet now, and I hated that, so I put my hand on her thigh and squeezed gently. Her eyes lifted to me.

"I know, and that's why I'm going to wait until I know you'll say yes."

"Why wouldn't you say yes?" My mother took umbrage that anyone could refuse a Westbrook.

"Ah…we've only been dating since December and…I'm…I'm not ready."

Before she could look away, I squeezed her thigh again. Yeah, baby, just focus on me. The rest of the world doesn't matter. I got you.

"What are you waiting for?" my mother asked surprised.

"I…" she looked at me, and I nodded, "I don't trust him fully yet."

"What?" my mother gasped. "How dare you say that? Do you know my son has never asked a woman to live with him? Do you even know what a big commitment that is for him?"

"Vivianna?" Ann was now shocked that my mother had done a 180.

I knew my mother, and she didn't. My mother had just found out that I was in love, and this was her only chance of me getting married and providing her with grandchildren. And the scars on Naya's legs may be ugly to people like Ann, but my mother would see it as I did, a sign of toughness and resilience.

"Ann, he's in love with Naya. I didn't know he was in love. He hasn't talked to me about her. Why haven't you, Amias?"

"Because Naya isn't ready, Mother, and I didn't want you to come here and ambush her," I ground out.

My mother set her half-drunk glass of wine on the table next to her chair and rose. "I'm staying at The Four Seasons. I'd like to take you and your…fiancée out to dinner."

"Girlfriend," Naya corrected at the same time as I said, "Future fiancée," and Ann cried out, "What's happening?"

"Come on, Ann." My mother stood next to the woman she'd wanted as a daughter-in-law and knew she wouldn't any longer.

"Vivianna?" Ann looked stricken.

"He's in love with her. He was never in love with you. Those are the breaks. Why don't I introduce you to some excellent and available bachelors in New York, Ann?"

My ex-girlfriend stood up and, with a forlorn look, walked in front of my mother to get to my main door. She opened the door, and my mother turned to me and said, "Let's say seven at the Four Seasons?"

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