Page 18 of Forever His This Christmas

“Lisa, you look beautiful tonight,” her mother said, and she didn’t mind that the dress was a bit safer than some of the others she could have chosen. She’d settled on this one because she felt amazing in it, and she wanted to feel amazing tonight. It would simply increase the wonderful experience of the day for her.

“Thanks Mom,” she said as both she and Corey forgot part of their act as he held out her chair for her. She saw the smile that touched her parents’ lips at the gesture and knew they couldn’t keep the act up for much longer. She wanted her family to like Corey because she liked Corey…a lot.

“What did you all do today?” her dad inquired, and she told them a few things they’d gotten up to as the waiter delivered the food.

Corey tried the stuffing and paused, as he tasted the spices in it and something else.

“Don’t eat it,” he said when she started to lift her fork for a taste. He grabbed her hand without thinking, making her pull back, her eyes tightening as she let out a gasp.

“What the hell?” she stated staring at him. After their incredible day together, he was going to tell her what she couldn’t eat?

“Sorry, beautiful, I didn’t mean it like that…the way it came out. It took me a second to realize what I was eating and all I saw was you about to do the same. The stuffing has walnuts in it,” he explained watching her mother’s reaction along with hers.

“Oh goodness,” her mom gasped motioning for the waiter to get the cook. “Lisa, I didn’t know…”

“It’s okay Mom. Thank you, Corey,” she added kissing his cheek when really she wanted to kiss his lips, but nuts were the one thing she was acutely allergic to, even the smallest bit of them gave her intense reactions. She’d told him about it their first night at his penthouse when he suggested food options. There were only a couple Chinese places she knew didn’t use peanut oil and thankfully one was close to his place. She was simply amazed he remembered.

“Anytime,” he stated dropping a kiss onto the top of her head as he cupped her cheek.

“So…what exactly are your intentions for our sister?” Gerald questioned while her plate was replaced.

“None of your business Gerald,” she rebutted.

“Oh, come on, I think it is,” Ashton stated. “We need to know if he’s simply after your money, Sis.”

“He’s not,” she laughed looking over at Ashton when he scoffed. “In case you didn’t realize it, he’s wearing a four, likely five-thousand-dollar suit…”

Corey studied her, giving her a smile when she took his hand and twined their fingers together. She looked back at her family and grinned a bit mischievously. “So, I guess we have something to confess. Corey’s not really a bartender, well not usually at least.”

“What?” Kirby said as the group looked confused.

“We did meet while he was bartending, but he was just filling in for the night. In reality he owns the bar and a few other companies,” she said laughing at their reactions while he slid his arms around her.

“Wait, you all lied to us?” Gerald asked.

“We just didn’t tell you the whole story,” she countered. “And to fully disclose everything…Corey’s company is the one that bought the one I work for. We didn’t realize that until we saw each other in the conference room though.”

“You’re kidding right?” Ashton stated.

“Nope, so in this whole scenario if one of us were after money it wouldn’t be Corey.”

“Why did you lie to us?” her father demanded.

“I was sick of you all assuming the worst. I figured I’d give you the worst and see what you did with it. We haven’t made any plans yet for anything.”

“Not anything concrete, at least,” Corey stated. “I’m hoping for much more of this in the future though.”

“This being sleeping with our sister?” Kirby asked.

“This being simply being with her without wondering who’s seen us,” he replied. “Trying to convince her to go public back home has been a challenge.”

“I haven’t said thisisanything yet,” she argued knowing her parents were switching from being angry with them to seeing the perfect opportunity to get her married off.

“Lisa…”

“I haven’t so you two can stop planning the wedding,” she added to her parents. “I’m not about to let anyone push me into something I don’t want.”

“Always so dramatic with you,” Gerald laughed.

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