“Good for you, son.”
Dane’s parents both hug him and he asks, “So, what brings you guys to town?”
Stan answers. “I needed to meet a new client and we decided to come see a game and stay a couple of nights.”
“You couldn’t send a heads-up text or anything?”
Savannah waves a hand. “Oh, we won’t be in the way. Just do whatever else you planned to do.”
“Well, we ordered breakfast delivery and then we’re planning to get some sleep. I’ve only slept an hour since Monday night.”
Stan furrows his brow. “Why?”
Dane gestures at me. “Ask my insatiable girlfriend.”
“Oh my god.” I glare at him, my cheeks flaming.
Savannah laughs. “Oh, honey, we were young once, too. Actually, we were in Ibiza recently and Stan...” She grins, looking sheepish. “Well, let’s just say he made me feel young again.”
She meets her husband’s gaze in a look of love and Dane groans.
“Just don’t break my guest room bed again, okay?”
“That bed frame was already weak,” Stan argues. “It should have easily withstood a couple of fiftysomethings having intercourse.”
I force myself not to laugh because he’s being serious. Dane just shakes his head.
Savannah puts her arm through mine, leading me into the kitchen. “Do you drink coffee, Josie?”
“Sometimes. I like tea better.”
“I like tea, too! So tell me, how did you two meet?”
I glance back at Dane, deciding to stick with the truth. When I tell her the story about being hired to watch over him, she smiles and nods. She knows her way around Dane’s kitchen, and she brews a pot of tea as we talk.
“He’s always had a bit of a wild streak,” she says. “But he’s also fiercely loyal and he loves deeply. I’m sure you know what happened with his ex-wife.”
I nod.
She lowers her voice. “It hurt him badly. Be patient with him.”
Dane walks into the kitchen and pours a cup of coffee, leaning his back against the counter and giving me a look I can’t read from across the room.
“Hey babe, I took our bags to the bedroom and it looks like your cat scratched the shit out of my bed frame.”
Shit. None of my furniture is valuable, but Dane’s is a different story. Poor Mr. Darcy has been left alone here for long stretches while we travel, with just the housekeeper checking in on him.
I feel a little bit bad. But also not that bad because he put me in a weird spot when he told his parents I was his girlfriend. How is that going to play out over the next few days?
I smile at Savannah. “Dane absolutely loves my cat, Mr. Darcy. They snuggle constantly and rub noses. It’s so cute.”
Savanah’s jaw drops. “That’s...amazing. Dane, you’ve always hated cats.”
His gaze is locked onto mine, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Well, if my girl loves Mr. Darcy, so do I.”
Our food delivery arrives and Stan announces that he and Savannah are heading out for a few hours of shopping. As soon as they’re out the door, I give Dane my best death glare.
“Your girlfriend? Really?”