Page 30 of The Proximity Factor

Um ... I did not see that coming. At all. I pressed my lips together, trying not to giggle, imagining Parker being some Dungeon Master—whatever that was—and using different character voices. “Like what kind of voices?” I could barely ask while stifling my laughter. “And do you have to dress up for this?”

He gripped his steering wheel and groaned. “You think it’s ridiculous. I get it.”

“It’s not that. I just didn’t peg you for a Dungeon Master. It sounds kind of kinky. Like BDSM or something.”

“It’s nothing like that,” he spluttered. “It’s a fantasy game. And by the way, I’m not into BDSM.”

“That’s good to know.” I smirked. “But ... you’re going to have to prove to me you do different character voices.”

“Not happening,” he adamantly refused.

“For now,” I sang.

He flashed me a wry glance. “Never.”

“You should be afraid of that word,” I warned.

“Why?”

“Because I bet you never thought you would do this social experiment either. I have always found that life loves to prove ‘never’ wrong.”

We both let those words sink in as we stared out the window.

I couldn’t help but wonder what nevers were going to happen in my life. Would Parker have anything to do with them?

WE PULLED UP TO LANIE’S mom’s house. I was more than ready to get out of the car. Not because it was a terrible experience—quite the opposite. It might have been the best hour and fifteen minutes I’d had in years. Lanie was fun wrapped up in a gorgeous box, which made her trouble. The cute way she danced around in her seat singing to Evanescence and feeding me snacks while making me bare my secrets was downright scary. How was she so damn charming? I’d almost forgotten that the road we traveled would end with her mother emasculating me. Almost.

My biggest worry was that her mom would see right through me, that she would know her daughter did anything but repulse me. Especially in those cutoffs she wore, highlighting her toned golden legs. Worse, I was trying not to think about how skilled her tongue was after the Starburst revelation. Believe me, I was beyond impressed with that skill. I knew what it took to unwrap a Starburst with said organ. The woman was going to kill me. She’d probably have me speaking in my finest tavern owner or elvish voice before I could stop myself.

“This is it.” Lanie stared out at the small one-story gray brick rambler with cream trim. A towering magnolia tree with a few white blooms tucked among the rich green leaves overshadowed the neatly trimmed front lawn. Every house in the neighborhood was older, but well kept.

“You grew up here?”

“Yep.” She smiled. “It was the best. My daddy planted that magnolia tree the year he and Mama moved in. Tad was just a baby. We ran through the sprinklers around that tree, and it was always home base when we played hide-and-go-seek.”

Lanie was lucky. My mom and I moved around a lot from apartment to apartment, wherever my mom could find the cheapest deal. I swore when I became a father, I would provide my children with a home to grow up in. Their home base. I faced the strong reminder it was something I couldn’t provide right now. Maybe I should take one of the corporate offers. Being a sellout couldn’t be worse than being a loser.

“Are you ready?” Lanie interrupted my self-loathing.

“Probably not,” I honestly admitted.

“It will be mostly painless, I promise. Like I said, Mama’s bark is way bigger than her bite.”

“It’s the mostly part that has me worried.”

She offered me that sweet smile of hers. “I’ll protect you.”

Why did I have the feeling she could if I would let her? I pushed that thought to the very far recesses of my mind. I couldn’t afford to go there. Not with her. “Let’s get this over with,” I said in my normally grumpy manner.

“You don’t fool me, you know. After spending time with you, I don’t think you’re a natural grump.” She opened the car door and got out before I could try to disagree with her, beg her not to look inside and see the real me. I was afraid I would be too weak and let her in, let her bring out the best in me. The man I used to be. Who knew what chaos that would cause in my life? I couldn’t risk another Maren situation, or worse. I had to remind myself Lanie was a much younger woman, even if she was wise beyond her years.

Hesitantly, I got out of the car. The late-afternoon sun on this last day of June was bearing down on me, making it feel like a sauna. July would only be worse.

“Come on.” Lanie waved. “I want to introduce you to my mama, Dungeon Master.” She winked. She would never let me live that down. It wouldn’t surprise me if Daphne knew about it before the day was over, even though Lanie swore she wouldn’t tell a soul. I guess I would know if she really was someone I could trust. Although, maybe it was for the best if I never found out.

I plodded forward, hoping there was potato salad in my future, and that Lanie’s mom gave out leftovers.

Lanie’s mom, Goldie Davenport, swung open the screen door. The old springs creaked in protest. The woman, who was Lanie’s older twin, but with eighties-style hair, stood there with her hands on her hips, glowering at me. It was hard to take her as seriously as I should have, since she was wearing a T-shirt that said: I can’t, I have menopause. (Unless you’re Rascal Flatts—then I totally can.) Lanie warned me she was obsessed with the now-defunct country band, but I wasn’t expecting the shirt. I did my best to keep a straight face.

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