Page 46 of Going All In

“Thank you,” her mom said, taking the bottle of wine. “And no need to call me that. It’s Tabitha.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t ask you to call her Mom,” Darcy muttered.

“What was that, Darcy?” her mother asked.

“Oh, nothing.”

“Come in. Would you like a drink? We’re so happy you had the night off from hockey and could join us.”

“Glad I could make it. Smells great in here,” Jake said.

“Why thank you, Jake. It’s an old family recipe, passed down from generations, and it can only be shared with family members,” her mom said. Then she winked.

Good god.

“I’ll have to remember that,” Jake said, playing along, and squeezing Darcy’s hand for good measure.

Maybe this wouldn’t be horrible.

“Cute. Rich. And he’s charming Mom. Well done, you,” Lydia whispered into her ear while their mom handed Jake a beer.

“Best local pale ale in the state, if you ask me,” her father said when he walked into the kitchen and spotted the bottle in Jake’s hand.

“I’m new to the area, so I’ll have to take your word for it, sir,” Jake said, setting the bottle down on the kitchen island and holding out his hand for her father.

“Just call me Arthur. Nice to see you again, Jake. I must say, we are really enjoying your slapshot.”

Jake grinned. “Hockey fan with a daughter that doesn’t like the sport?”

“She’s not perfect,” her dad said.

“Real nice, Dad,” Darcy teased. They’d had this conversation many times over the years, but watching Jake play was possibly slowly changing her mind. Not that she would admit that to anyone at the moment.

“Charlie and Bianca should be any minute, and then we can sit down and grill Jake.” Her dad paused. “I mean, get to know him over dinner.”

Jake chuckled. “I’m an open book.”

“What are your intentions with my daughter?” her father asked.

“Dad, seriously?”

“Oh yes, great question, honey,” her mom said, and Darcy resisted the urge to walk back to the car. Not that she hadn’t known dinner would go like this.

“Well. This is new, but I have great affection for your daughter.”

“Yeah. I saw that from the front door,” Lydia chimed in.

“Lydia, really. Oh, Jake, just ignore her,” Darcy’s mom said.

“Please. Like you weren’t watching from that window right there,” Lydia said, pointing to the kitchen window over the sink that looked out onto the front walkway.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lydia. I’m just in here slaving over a hot stove so you can have a nice home-cooked meal. I swear, I tried to teach my girls to cook, but they are hopeless. How are you in the kitchen, Jake?”

“Not bad, actually,” Jake replied. “My mom worked crazy hours, so I was home a lot with my grandmother. She couldn’t cook, but our neighbor made the most amazing Greek food and taught me how to make everything.” Darcy tried to tamp down the wide-eyed stare she currently had focused on him.

“Oh, that’s so lovely. Maybe the next time you come over you could bring something for us to try.”

“I would love to,” Jake said. “Can I help with anything?”

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