Page 124 of Strictly the Worst

“You should tell her before we meet her,” Brooks says, smirking. “Because now we’re going to be staring at her like she’s some kind of zoological specimen.”

“The woman who tamed Linc Salinger,” Eli murmurs.

“Roll up and see her. Only ten dollars a look,” Brooks shouts out, clearly enjoying himself.

I send them all a dirty look. “Seriously? Did I treat your women like this when you were falling in love with them?”

“Yes,” they all say at once. And then they start to laugh.

“No wonder she doesn’t want to meet you,” I mutter. “I’m half inclined to take her out to dinner just the two of us.” Not least because on Sunday night I have to catch a fucking flight back to Paris. Spending the morning at the damn lawyer’s office and tonight with the family is cutting into our alone time.

“No you won’t,” Myles says smoothly. “Because you want us to meet her. You want us to love her the way you do. And we will. Now go home and chill out. We’ll see you tonight.”

As always, our big brother has the final word.

TESSA

“You look absolutely fuckable,” Linc says, giving me the dirtiest look as we climb out of the town car he ordered. He takes my hand and we walk up the steps to the restaurant. “I keep pinching myself to make sure that you’re really mine.”

“I was aiming for ‘meeting the parents’ classy,” I tell him.

He smirks. “You look like that, too.”

After we went dress shopping, Angela insisted on calling her hairdresser, who somehow managed to squeeze me in. My long hair is teased into waves that tumble around my shoulders. I put on more makeup than I usually do, though it’s still pretty natural.

Linc’s gaze dips to my dress again, taking in the way it clings to my body.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” I say, smiling. Because this man looks like a god in a tux. I’ve been trying to push my conversation with Angela out of my mind. We can talk about it tomorrow. Tonight is about Linc and his family.

I’m determined to make a good impression.

“My family is going to love you,” he whispers, brushing his lips against my cheek. How can he read my mind so easily. “But if you hate them, tell me and I’ll disown them in a heartbeat. We’ll never see them again.”

I laugh. “Stop it, I know they’re important to you.”

“Not as important as you are,” he says, suddenly serious. He squeezes my hand as we walk into the foyer. The paneled walls are painted in cream and gold, and there’s a huge chandelier sparkling from the center of the ceiling. The place screams old money.

The Maitre D’ recognizes Linc right away. “I spent a lot of time here with my dad when we were kids,” he whispers in my ear. “Whenever Brooks and I were home from school he’d bring us here for dinner.”

“Mr. Salinger,” the Maitre D’ murmurs. “Your party is in our private room. Angelica will take you.”

“Thank you.” Linc nods.

Angelica smiles at us both, her long, black slicked-back hair shining in the lamplight. “Please come with me.”

When we enter the private room we’re greeted by a cacophony of voices. The room is large – a small ballroom rather than a private dining room – but it’s full of people. We barely make it inside before Linc gets greeted by somebody. I try to step back but he grabs my hand and pulls me to his side.

“This is Tessa,” he says, sliding his arm around my waist. “Tessa, this is my kind-of-mom, Linda.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Linda kisses my cheek as I tell her likewise. From what I can remember, Linda is Linc’s older brothers’ mom. “But don’t tell Deandra I’m the first to meet you. She’ll kill me.”

From there I’m introduced to so many people my head begins to spin. I meet his brother Holden and his wife Blair, who are both glowing after their honeymoon, and then I’m introduced to Eli, his brother who is a hockey coach and make an idiot out of myself by asking what stadium they play in.

“Arena,” Linc murmurs in my ear because he knows I’m clueless when it comes to sports.

And then I meet Myles and Liam, his oldest brothers. They’re standing at the bar with their wives and as soon as I’m introduced their attention is firmly on me. They all shake my hand.

“I hear you have a daughter,” Myles says, offering me a glass of champagne.

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