Page 18 of Tangled Hearts

My mom actually reminds me a bit of Julie. She has always been about doing and being your best. Everything was and still is about appearances. I'm pretty sure she only pushed me toward becoming a lawyer because she wanted to tell people I was one. She knew I’d never make it as a doctor. The sight of blood makes me want to faint.

“Does she know we’re coming?” I ask.

“No.” I stop walking.

“We’re just going to show up?”

“Mom loves a good surprise.”

“But you have a guest with you.”

If I unexpectedly showed up at my parents' house with a guest in tow, my mom's head would explode. After the guest left, of course, because she’d never do that in front of them. Mom would have the house cleaned from top to bottom and have herself nicely put together before she let new people into her home. She always strives for perfection or at least for people to believe her life is perfect.

“A guest?” Dylan chuckles. The sound is soft and warm, and I really like it. Hell, I’m starting to like him too much, too quickly. All those red flags being knocked down and green ones popping up. “You’re not a guest, babe.” He gives me a quick kiss and starts walking again. We only ascend a few stairs before the front door opens.

A tall, thin woman appears, her dark, short hair flecked with gray. She is in a lavender sweatsuit and slippers with her hair pinned to the side. “Dylan.” The woman smiles, and I know from her eyes this must be his mom. Her eyes bounce over to me, and her smile grows bigger. "Who did you bring with you?" She steps out onto the porch, reaching her hand out toward me.

"Mom, this is Natalie. Natalie, this is my mom, Rebecca." I take the woman's hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Rebecca," I tell her as she tugs my hand to pull me into an embrace.

"Oh my, aren't you pretty." When she releases me from the hug, she takes my hand again.

"Thank you."

"Come in, come in." She pulls me through the door. She ushers us into what I’m guessing is the living room. “Don’t mind the mess, I was knitting a new blanket, and once I get going, I lose track of time.” She begins to move her needles and supplies into a wicker basket that sits beside the loveseat. “Make yourself at home.”

I take a seat on the couch; Dylan sits down next to me. Rebecca’s home is lovely. It’s in a very nice part of town. My mom would die to live here, but Rebecca’s home isn’t perfect and cold; it’s warm and welcoming. It puts me at ease.

“Natalie and I went shopping.” Dylan holds up the bag.

“Did you help him pick these out?” She takes the bag from him.

“I gave some input,” I admit.

“Oh, I love it.” Rebecca has barely seen what is in the bag and is already gushing over it. Dylan rests his hand on my knee. It feels right. Everything has, once we got to be alone together. Even this morning was perfect. “So tell me.” Rebecca takes a seat in one of the chairs next to the couch closest to me. “How did you two meet? Don’t leave anything out.”

Her eyes are on me, so I know she wants me to answer and not Dylan, so I tell her about that first night at happy hour and us trying to snag his table.

“And then his ex showed up and kind of killed the mood.” I mean, she said not to leave anything out.

“Ex?” Rebecca’s attention snaps over to her son. “Who is this ex? I have never heard of her.” She says it defensively, as if offended for me. I have to bite back a laugh.

“It was someone I didn’t know I was dating,” Dylan says sheepishly. It’s not the Dylan Wolfson the rest of the world knows, and I find that so endearing.

“Of course it was.” Rebecca shakes her head, giving a small laugh. “He’s never been a ladies’ man, but I guess he was waiting for a good one.” She winks at me. I feel myself blush. “You’re the first he’s ever introduced me to.” We fall into conversation. His mom is easy to talk to. She has a really good vibe about her. I had second-guessed meeting her because it was so soon, but now I’m glad I came.

“Sorry, I have to get that,” I say when my phone starts to go off. “That’s my boss's ring.”

“You go right ahead.” I stand. “You can use the den if you like for some privacy.” Rebecca points to the room across the way.

“Thank you.” I slip out to take the call.

My boss's assistant comes on the line. “Shit just hit the fan,” she says the second I answer. Angel is one of my favorites in the office, and she is no angel. At least not when it’s only her and me.

“What?”

“Guess who got tossed into jail.”

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