Page 96 of Never Kiss the Bad Boy

KYLE

Dani lets go of my hand as she steps up to the door, but I take it back, glaring at her. “Together,” I declare.

“I hope you live long enough to have a chance to regret that.”

Her parents can’t be that bad, I think. I mean, they made Dani and she’s great, so surely, they’re not that bad.

As we step inside, I realize I should’ve been more worried.

A man and a woman are sitting at the kitchen table. He looks ready to kill me even though I’m not sure he can get up from his chair. She looks ready to send Dani and me down the aisle, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a priest hiding in the back room.

“Papa, Mama, this is Kyle. Kyle, these are my parents, Eduardo and Flora Becerra.”

I hold my hand out to Mr. Becerra first, and he looks from it to my eyes a couple of times before he takes it. His handshake is weak, but I’m careful to not be too gentle on him because a man like Eduardo Becerra would take offense to that. Mrs. Becerra shakes my hand politely, her eyes dancing from me to Dani with a sparkle.

“Such nice manners, right, Dani?”

Is she… yeah, I think she’s trying to convince Dani to like me. “Thank you, Mrs. Becerra. I’m sure my mother would be thrilled to know her reminders actually worked and I’m not completely feral.”

She smiles, and I think I’m making some headway when the door behind us opens again. Two kids come running in. “Abuelita! Abuelo!” The boy and girl hug their grandparents, and then Xavier and who I’m guessing is his wife come in too.

“Sorry we’re late,” Xavier says, but he stops when he sees me.

I offer a hand. “Good to see you again, Xavier.”

“Oh, uh… you too.” He glances at Dani with a sudden hard set to his jaw. “I’m sorry, what was your name again? Kevin?”

I nearly chuckle at his obvious ploy for dominance. “Kyle,” I correct as he shakes my hand finally.

“Right, Kyle. This is my wife, Mara, and the kids, Sarah and Michael.”

“Nice to meet you, Mara,” I say, inclining my head and then turning to the children, “Sarah, Michael.”

“Are you Tia Dani’s boyfriend?” Sarah questions.

I scrub at my lip with my thumb as I look at Dani because I’m not sure how much she’s told them. She arches a brow, daring me to answer, so I go for it. “Yes, I am.”

“Ooh, Tia has a boyfriend,” the girl sings.

And just like that, it’s out in the open.

“Let’s have a seat and get to know one another,” Xavier says, sounding like he takes his position as the man of the family seriously. He gestures to a chair at the table and I sit, obedient for Dani’s sake.

She plants a kiss on my cheek and whispers in my ear, “Good luck.”

I’m not surprised when Mrs. Becerra, Dani, and Mara start prepping lunch while Mr. Becerra, Xavier, and I sit at the table, since she told me that’s their usual pecking order, but it’s still hard to watch her work while I sit here. I do have another job, though, even if it’s not helping to prepare the meal.

My job is to win over Dani’s family to my side. Because for all her bravado about them, Dani loves her family dearly and she would never seriously date someone they don’t approve of.

“What was it you do again?” Xavier asks.

“Install pools,” I answer, grinning because I know what he’s really asking, but I’m gonna make him work for it.

“Hmm, hard work, I imagine. Dirty, sweaty, hard work,” he surmises, and I wonder if he knows that his nose is crinkled in distaste.

I nod. “Yep, I don’t mind, though. I enjoy it. You sell cars, right?”

He puffs out his chest proudly. “Yes, top salesman of the quarter this month,” he announces.

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