Page 101 of Loving the CEO

I laughed and walked backward until I reached the couch. I could hold her up no problem, but I preferred to sit down with her.

"By the way, I'm not sure how much longer we can fool your family."

"Then let's not keep it from them. My brothers know anyway. They saw me looking at an astronomy website and put two and two together."

Her mouth formed anO. "Are you serious? You don't mind?"

"No. Why would I?"

She licked her lips. "Because from what I’ve gathered, you've never introduced anyone you were seeing to your family."

"That's because I've never felt about anyone the way I do about you." It felt good to voice it.

She parted her lips and then immediately wrapped her arms even tighter around my neck, hiding her face in my ear. "It's the same for me, but this is crazy, Leo, isn't it?" She pulled back. "I mean, I..." She shook her head. "Never mind."

I felt a huge knot unfurl in my chest, almost like it was a force of its own. A split second later, I realized this was pure joy, which I hadn't experienced in this shape or form at all in my life.

"By the way, my mom will be in town next weekend. Would you like to catch up with her?"

Her eyes lit up. "Of course. I miss Helen. She was always so kind to me during college."

"She’s looking forward to seeing you."

"Wait, she knows?"

"I can't confirm it, but she and Gran have been chatting a bit too much lately, I think.”

Tory giggled. “Oh, then she knows for sure.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Leo

––––––––

Mom touched down the following Saturday morning. I offered to pick her up from the airport, but she flat-out refused. Her plan was to come from the airport straight to my place, and then I’d drive her to the Airbnb I'd leased for her.

"How long until she arrives? You said ten minutes after ten o’clock, and it's already eight past," Tory said.

I chuckled. "Relax, babe. Why are you so on edge? You already know my mom."

"Yeah, but she's going to take one look at me and know we've had sex. That's a bit weird."

I blinked. "Now that you've put it that way, I kind of agree with you."

The doorbell rang, interrupting my thoughts. Tory jumped slightly.

"How do I look?" she asked.

She was wearing jeans and a tank top.

"You look fucking perfect."

She rolled her eyes. "You do not need to butter me up. You're not going to get sex for the next few hours."

I kissed her forehead. "You look great."

The second I opened the door, Mom stepped forward and hugged me. I kept her tightly in my arms.

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