Page 304 of Dark Love

“Are you sure you want to go inside? We don’t have to have dinner with all of them. They’re going to be all over you asking questions and being nosy.” Maverick tugs at his tie for the third time.

Never have I seen Maverick this nervous. “You don’t need to worry. I can handle a few questions.” Mom is the queen of nosy.

“These people are different. They don’t live white picket fence life like your family.”

Cute man. “My mother is a professional gambler, my father reviews restaurants for a living, and my brother’s best friend is a piece of slime.”

“Was. He’s not your brother’s best friend anymore.” Maverick pulls me into his arms.

“My point is, we aren’t normal. I don’t expect your family to be normal.”

“They aren’t my family.” His head turns towards the road with unseeing eyes. “But I used to dream that they were. That there were people in the world that cared if I lived or died. That brought me things just to make me smile.”

“I wish we had met years ago. Then I could have been all those things and more for you. But you have a family now. My mother loves you. She’d adopt you if that wouldn’t be weird. You’re stuck with us for the rest of your life. And before you grin down at me, remember she’s got our lives planned for us. I’m pretty sure she’s even decided where we’re going for our family vacation this winter.”

Maverick chuckles. “Do you still hate the beach?”

Hmmm. “Maybe not as much as I did before.” He leans down to kiss me, and I hold out a hand to his chest to stop him. “New rule.” The groan he lets out is even cuter.

“What’s the rule?”

“No kissing when people that I don’t know are watching us.” I nod toward the open window filled with women, including my mother.

“I told you they’re nosy.” He leans down. “Are you sure I can’t kiss you?”

“Positive.” That’s a complete lie.

“Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Maverick turns and grabs the curry and rice off of the top of the car.

“Noted.” But I can’t bring myself to worry. Whether he knows it or not, these women are part of his family. Otherwise, they wouldn’t care enough to want to grill me. I grab the brownie cheesecake off the car and follow him in.

They’re waiting in the foyer for me like sentries ready to block my access to Maverick.

“Hi.” I give them all a little wave. “My name is Dahlia. I’m in love with the man you know as Vex, but will now refer to as Maverick. My hobbies include shopping for purses and shoes, reading, and driving the man I love crazy. Sugar and chocolate should have their own food groups. And before you ask, yes, we want to have a ton of babies. No, my mother isn’t going to get to name all of them. Oh, and I’m absolutely only in love with him because of all the things he won’t stop buying for me. Any other questions I might have forgotten to answer?”

Laughter fills the room.

A stunningly beautiful older woman steps forward. She has enough diamonds on to compete with the crown jewels, but that doesn’t detract attention from her face in any way. “My name is Lulu. How do you feel about throwing knives?”

Hmmm. “Good question. I’m a bit of a klutz, but I wouldn’t mind learning. Maverick seems to know how to dodge and weave pretty well.”

***

Mom sits down next to me a few hours later. “Maverick’s family is nice. I didn’t realize it was this large. We’re going to need both ballrooms to hold everyone.”

“Mom.”

“What? You’re not worrying, are you? They love you. Was Lulu serious about that knife-throwing thing?”

Maverick wasn’t kidding about these people being a little different. This house… mansion has at least twenty marble statues in the backyard alone. An artist went wild with colors and textures inside. It’s a visual wonderland. “Um… I think so.”

“Could you arrange some lessons for me?”

And that’s why we’re so perfect together. “Probably.”

“Good. Now, when are you planning to make that cheesecake?”

“I brought it with me today.” Maybe Maverick will get the hint.

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