Page 122 of Dubious Match
The growling in the car begins and I hold up my hand. “Now, I’ve been really careful. It’s just this feeling that I have that it’s better to be safe than sorry. I trust my gut, because it keeps me alive.”
“Then we trust it too,” Malcolm rumbles. “I hate to borrow trouble, but it’s been very quiet.”
“That’s the issue,” I say. “I know that a little injunction isn’t enough to stop Emilia, especially after I fucked up her emails and deleted calendars for everyone at ROWS’ headquarters. At some point, she’ll retaliate, and I want to make sure I have backup when it does.”
“Then I think a bodyguard is smart to have, just in case,” Brice says. “I hate that it’s even needed.”
“As someone who likes her space, so do I,” I grumble, watching as Mal parks on the street.
“Here we go,” Brice mutters under his breath. “It’s just brunch.”
It feels as if he’s reminding himself as well as everyone else about this as we get out of the car. It’s frigid out, and I cover my head with the heavy hood of my coat then take Felix’s hand as we walk to the house. My black off-the-shoulder sweater and anklelength gold satin skirt is hidden underneath my coat, and I’m staying warm with my fleece leggings.
I wanted to look nice without being over the top, but I also know that people will think whatever they want when they meet you. Keeping my head up, I walk up the stairs to the porch and watch as Mal rings the doorbell.
We came straight here and made really good time despite the snowy roads.
“I thought you’d never get here,” says a woman, opening the door with a tight smile. “The weather is terrible. Come in.”
“We’re not very late, Mom,” Malcolm says gently, stepping inside. “Is everyone else here?”
“Of course,” she says. She glances at me with curious eyes, and Mal steals me away from Felix to pull me closer to him.
“Mom, this is Hollis. Hollis, I’ll make sure to introduce you to everyone, because we have a full house it seems,” he adds.
The street was full of cars, and I can hear people talking inside.
“I’m Sherry,” Malcolm’s mom says with a smile. “It’s so nice to meet you and that they brought you. Can I take your coat?”
“Thank you,” I say. “I’m glad things are quiet enough at work that I was able to come today.”
Sliding off my coat, I allow Sherry to put it away. The guys follow suit, and I watch as she gazes at me shrewdly.
“So your job is demanding?”she asks.
“I make my own hours, but when you own your own company, the time can vary,” I explain.
“Thank God you’re not a gold digger,” she whispers. My alphas’ jaws drop, and Sherry shrugs. “It’s a legitimate concern, boys. Come on in.”
I feel as if I’m about to be put under a microscope, and my skin feels too tight. Refusing to show it, I follow her in.
We can still leave,Brice says in my mind.
My lips curl slightly in amusement, and it helps boost my confidence. I’m not alone in this. My shoulder bag bumps along my hip as I walk, though my phone is on silent. I want to be sure that I’m available to Caleb and Lars if it’s necessary.
“They’re here,” Sherry calls out.
“Hi,” a young girl that appears to be fourteen says, running to tackle Felix and Remy.
“Why are you so tall?” Remy complains with a chuckle.
There’s mild chaos as people come to say hello, and introductions are given.
The girl who tackled the brothers is one of their sisters, and I also meet one more of them who is sixteen. The sixteen year old doesn’t seem very impressed with me though.
At brunch, I sit between Brice’s Aunt Imelda and Margerie, two women who talk my ear off as I eat. I’m nervous, which means that I take small bites in between responding to them. I’m tall, curvy, and love my body.
I’m definitely not starving myself, not anymore.
