Page 17 of Shy Girls write it Better
“Not even if you paid me in chocolate.Besides, I’m apparently not to his taste,” Lucy added, with a little tilt of her head.
Thus prompted, Carter’s mother turned, looking past her son, who fruitlessly tried to block her view of his office.
The familiar, sharp grey eyes fell on Cassie, taking her in with so much scrutiny she felt like she was under X-ray.
“Oh, my.”
The woman pushed by Carter, walking right to her.
“Lara Harris,” she introduced herself, holding a hand up.
“Cassandra Franklin, ma’am,” she replied with a blush.
The woman’s mouth opened up, forming a round O.
“Isn’t she precious!My, my.”
“Mother, stop, I beg of you.Cassie is just a friend – and I sincerely doubt she shall remain so another day if you divulge just how batshit crazy you are.She may think that’s hereditary.”
“Carter, shut it.Be a good boy and go get us coffee.”
To Cassie’s infinite amusement, he obeyed, and with only a little bit of grumbling.
“So,” Lara Harris said, sitting down next to her and whispering, “friends, mh?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“With benefits?”
Had she really just said that?
“Don’t give me that look, I wasn’t born yesterday.You’re a pretty thing and my son is too handsome for his own good.”
“I… we… we don’t…”
“Alright, alright.No hanky-panky yet.Oh well, I’m sure it won’t be long,” she said, patting her lap.“You cooked this, mh?”
Fuck.She was in the middle of a potential daughter- in-law screening.Her eyes went to Carter, who seemed to be the amused one now that she was under siege.He looked at her as if to sayeach man for himself, deal with her.
“Yes?”
“Good, good.And how many children do you want?”
Holy shit.Carter and Lucy were both pretending to be occupied, and holding their laughter as best they could.
No way was she going to let them get away with it.Narrowing her eyes, she replied, “A handful, at least.I’d like to start as soon as possible – as soon as I find a suitable baby daddy, that is.”
Lucy disguised her eruption of chuckles as a cough while Carter shook his head behind his mother’s back, desperately attempting to get her to stop talking.Not happening.
“I’d like a little girl, first – I’d dress her up like a princess every day.”
Lara winked at her, making it clear she knew her game, before she played along, adding, “You should see what Baby Dior comes up with, dear.It’s so adorably cute.”
Cassie nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes!And I plan on knitting little slippers, too.”
By that point, Carter was holding his head in his hands, as if willing the nightmare to end.He hadn’t seen anything yet.
