Page 85 of Outside The Wire

“Onto me in what way?”

“Oh, we’ll see.”

“See what?”

She did that finger thing ofI’m watching you.Then she hopped out of my truck and slammed the door. That girl was weird, but I liked her. I got out and followed her up the walk to the house, grateful that Holly was already here. It would beweird to show up without her. As it was, I had wanted to pick her up, but she said it was too far out of the way.

Like I gave a shit about that.

I had the feeling that she rushed over here to set the tone of the evening before I arrived. I wondered what kind of shit she said to her parents before I got here.

As soon as my boots hit the doorstep, the door was open and her mom was flinging herself at me. I caught her just as her arms wrapped around me in a big Momma bear hug. Holly wasn’t kidding when she said her mom already thought we were engaged.

“Asher, it’s so wonderful to meet you.” She stepped back, holding both of my cheeks in her hands and squeezing my face. “Look at you. You’re too skinny. We need to fatten you up.” Her hands left my face and gripped my arms. Her eyes widened and she spun around to face Holly, who was shaking her head behind her mother, her face red and tinged with embarrassment. “Holly! Have you felt his arms? He’s got huge muscles!”

I burst out laughing, unable to stop myself. Her mother was hilarious, but clearly, Holly didn’t feel the same way. She stomped forward, tearing me out of her mother’s arms and into the house.

“That’s enough, Mom! Asher’s not a zoo animal!”

“Of course not. He’s a brawny man. You know, like Mr. Clean. Except without the bald head. I like it better this way,” she said, winking at me.

Okay, it was a little weird to have her mom fawning over me this much, but Holly seemed more embarrassed by it than me, so I let it slide so I didn’t make it worse for her.

“Mom, can you please stop?”

“Oh, I’m just admiring your beau. He’s so handsome.” She winked at me as she passed, walking over to Noelle and givingher a hug, then taking her coat. “Look at you. You’re too thin, dear. You need to eat more.”

“You just saw me earlier today,” Noelle reminded her.

“Well, I’m telling you now. Holly, take your fiancé’s coat and take him to meet your father.”

“He’s my boyfriend, Mom. Not my fiancé.”

Her mother looked at me sweetly, but I saw the calculation in her eyes. “Really? Hmm,” she hummed as she walked away.

Holly rolled her eyes as she faced me with a groan. “I’m so sorry about her?—”

“Holly Bear, relax. She’s just playing matchmaker.”

“Yes, but we’re already together. She doesn’t need to keep pushing.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can handle her. She can push as much as she wants.”

“You say that now. In an hour, you’ll be running out of here while I chase you down with a spatula, begging you to take me with you.”

I took off my coat, handing it over to her. “And why will you have a spatula?”

“Because that’s what all good wives have on them at all times. We’ve been trained from an early age to wear an apron, bake cookies, prepare meat properly, and carry spatulas.”

I eyed her curiously. “Tell me more about preparing meat.”

She smacked me on the arm. “This is not funny.”

“It sort of is.”

“It won’t be when she hands you her mother’s wedding ring and asks you to propose with it.”

“Do you like it?”

---