Page 269 of Tempted By her Daddies

“Mum, how are you?” he said, answering the call.

“Hello, dear. I’m sorry to call while you’re working.”

“It’s all right. I was taking a break.”

“I actually thought I would get your voicemail,” she said. “Like the other times I’ve called lately.”

Salem winced.

Shit. He was a shit son. There was no other way to put it. Why didn’t he pick up the phone more often and call his mum? And the other day when she’d come over to cook dinner for them, he hadn’t actually said thank you.

No, because you were too worried about Tamsyn.

But his mum hadn’t known who Tamsyn was to him. So it wasn’t like he was going to blame her for that.

“I’m so sorry, Mum. I’ve been busy lately.”

“Yes, I understand. Young love, I guess.”

Young love?

For one, he wasn’t that young.

And two, love?

He wasn’t sure that he would go that far . . .

Wouldn’t you?

Can you imagine your life without her?

No.

Absolutely not.

The idea of Tamsyn not being in his life sent him into a spiral of panic.

So maybe his mum was right to use the word love.

“I guess that might be part of it.”

“Well, I’m just calling to make sure that you’ll be at Sunday night dinner. You’ve missed the last couple. I understand why, but I think it would be nice for Tamsyn to meet the rest of the family. And I can apologize to her again.” His mum had been gone when they’d gotten back the other night, but she’d rung Tamsyn to talk to her.

He groaned.

“Don’t make that sound,” she scolded. “Your dad and brothers just want you to be happy.”

“My brothers don’t care about much except food and football.”

“That’s not true.”

“All right, I’ll talk to Tamsyn about coming this Sunday. With Alexei and Roman.” Because no way they weren’t being dragged along to join in the fun.

“Of course. They are always welcome. I will see you Sunday.”

As he ended the call, he realized how tense Tamsyn had grown.

Shit. All of his good work had just been unraveled.

---