Page 43 of Restless Ink

“It wasn’t your fault,” he repeated. “My allergy never came up because we live in Colorado and it’s not like shellfish is on everything out here. Now if we were on the east coast? Then that’s all you’d hear from me every time I walked outside.”

“Yay for being inland then.” Her tone was so dry that he squeezed her hard. “Thea.”

“I’m going to pout a bit since I almost killed you.” Captain moved his way between them, and she petted the dog’s head even as she burrowed into Dimitri. “Why don’t you two go sit on the couch and rest since I know you’re going to get even more tired soon. I’ll clean up, and I guess we’ll figure something out for dinner.”

“I can’t drive for a bit with the antihistamines in my system, so why don’t I order us some Chinese food. I can help clean up a bit, too.”

She shook her head as she took a step back. “Nope, you’re not touching a thing in here just in case shrimp is out to get you. Thank God I didn’t eat a piece or taste test before you came over because all that kissing earlier might have taken a horrible turn.” She let out a watery breath, and he hugged her tightly again.

“I’m fine,” he repeated.

“You will be. I’m just so sorry I misunderstood Molly.”

He wasn’t sure she had, and that worried him. Maybe he was just overthinking things. Maybe Molly had it wrong since they’d never had shrimp at the house. She preferred it out of the house in a cocktail. He didn’t say anything though because he wasn’t sure his brain was firing on all cylinders at the moment.

Molly wouldn’t have sabotaged their night, so she must have gotten it wrong. Must not have known Dimitri’s preferences and not remembered the allergy. That was one reason they weren’t married anymore. But he didn’t want to worry Thea, so he didn’t say anything. Instead, he hugged her close, breathed her in, and knew they’d make the most of their night.

Because he was falling for Thea Montgomery.

And he wasn’t sure what he could do about it and keep them both from getting hurt.

Chapter 17

Montgomery family dinners were always an event in Thea’s mind, and tonight was no exception. Not only was the whole immediate family and their significant others showing up, but Thea’s parents had also invited Abby and her daughter, Julia. Ryan from the tattoo shop, and Landon, Mace’s and Carter’s friend, would also be there.

Kaylee couldn’t make it because of a private art lesson, but she’d said she would send along a bottle of wine with Abby.

And, of course, Dimitri was coming because Thea’s mom hadn’t taken no for an answer. Not that Dimitri would have said no, but Thea had wanted to save him from the interrogation.

Though there would likely still be an interrogation.

Thea let out a breath, trying not to make it look as if she were freaking out. Because shewasfreaking out. She’d brought boyfriends to her family dinners before. Her parents were great at making the gatherings larger with the addition of friends of the family like tonight when it came to introducing new relationships. It probably would have been even more nerve-racking if it had just been Montgomerys and Dimitri. Thea had been in a situation like this before, but this was different.

Dimitri was different.

Of course, he was different.

He was hers.Hers.

Dimitri reached over and squeezed her knee, his eyes on the road as they made their way to her parents’. “I thought I was supposed to be the nervous one here. Are you okay, babe?”

Thea looked over at him and crossed her eyes. He must have seen her out of the corner of his eye because he snorted.

“I know your parents. And your sisters. And the rest of them. In fact, I just hung out with the guys minus Shep and your father the other night. Shep has done one of my tattoos, and Adrienne’s trying to get at my other arm. They know me.”

“They know Dimitri Carr, friend of Thea. They don’t know Dimitri, the guy I’m seeing.”

“At least you didn’t say the guy you’re doing.”

She growled at him, and he laughed. Laughed. “This isn’t funny. I’m bringing a man home to my family. Andeveryonewill be there. I’m stressing out.”

He squeezed her knee again. “I know. I’m not as calm as I’m trying to appear, but we’re not teenagers or even in our twenties anymore. I’ve been married before, Thea.”

“That’s part of the problem,” she muttered.

They stopped at a red light, and he looked over at her, frowning. “With you? Or with your parents.”

“I don’t know.” She blew out a hard breath. “And I don’t actually think it is a problem. It’s more the fact that they already know so much about our history, so I’m afraid they’re going to skip the normal interrogations and go right for the hard stuff.”

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