Page 297 of Tempted By her Daddies

“I love my family. But that doesn’t mean that I would allow anyone to hurt you,” he told her.

“Oh.”

He stepped forward and cupped her face, leaning down to kiss her forehead. Then her nose. Finally her mouth.

“You go, boy!” someone yelled.

Salem sighed, then smiled. “No privacy on this street, I’m afraid.”

“It’s rude. Someone should teach these people some manners. They wouldn’t like it if someone took away their ability to be nosy.”

“Ahh, but they’d have to do the same to my mum. She’ll complain about all the gossip, but she secretly loves it.”

“Oh. She does?”

Salem nodded. “And she’s looking forward to meeting you. So how about we head inside now.”

“She is? Well, I guess she would be. I am amazing, after all.”

“That you are, baby. Wonderful and amazing and unique.”

“Is unique good?”

“I think it is,” he replied.

“Yes, that’s what I think too.” She followed him up the footpath. The door swung open before they reached it.

“What on earth is going on?” Salem’s mum stated as she glared up at them all. “Why are you all pacing up and down the footpath and yelling? Half the neighborhood can hear you!”

“Hmm, and the other half just opened their windows so they didn’t miss out,” Alexei said.

The woman turned her frown on Alexei. “Yes! And now they will all be gossiping with each other about my son and his friends who were . . . well, what were you doing?”

“Having a conversation, Mum.” Salem stepped closer, taking her with him. Placing a hand on his mother’s shoulder, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“What kind of conversation?” she asked.

“I was unsure if your family would love me,” Tamsyn told the other woman. “The guys told me that you all would.”

“Oh.” His mum looked up at her, then a smile broke across her face. “I’m sure we will. Again, I apologize for the other day.”

“It was my fault as well. I should have explained myself better, I just wasn’t sure what Salem wanted me to say. He has assured me that I’m to tell everyone that I belong to him.”

“Is that so?” his mum said.

Tamsyn moved forward and hugged the other woman. Salem didn’t let go of her hand for a start, so it was a rather awkward hug.

And then he drew her back. Which was even worse because she wasn’t finished giving his mum a hug. It had been rather nice.

“Oh, uh, right,” his mum said.

Obviously, she was overcome by what a great hug she’d just given her.

Tamsyn gave herself a small pat on the back as Roman helped Salem’s mum inside. Why he’d been standing behind Salem’s mum, Tamsyn didn’t know.

Alexei leaned into her. “You just patted yourself on the back for a job well done, didn’t you?”

Oh, drat.

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