Page 47 of Beat around the Bush
“You look nice,” he said quietly, keeping his gaze on the road.
“Thanks. You do, too.” Looking down at my sweater, I felt a little overdressed compared to him.
You’re overthinking it. It’s just a sweater, not some ball gown.
The ride to his parents’ ranch was silent, until I blurted out, “What if they don’t like me?”
We passed under the arch to their house as he smiled, adjusting his grip on the wheel with the bumpiness of the dirt - well, now more like mud due to the snow - road. “My mom loves everyone.”
“And your dad?”
He glanced at me, shifting the truck into park in front of the large white farmhouse. “He’s a grump, but nothing to be scared of.”
I stared up at the house before me, a coating of snow on the roof with warm lights illuminating the area around the home. The property, from what I could see, was huge. The moon reflected off the snow covered land that stretched for miles before us. There were three barns that were each a different size, a covered arena, an outdoor arena, pastures, trailers, trucks - basically everything you could think of on a ranch, was here.
This was where Lennon grew up?
“Why are you nervous they won’t like you?” he asked, interrupting my gawking.
I turned to face him in my seat, not sure how to answer that. Whywouldhis employee be nervous they wouldn’t like her? Shouldn’t it not matter?
“I just don’t want them to convince you to fire me or something.” I stumbled over the words, spitting out the first thing that came to mind.
He killed the engine. “No one can convince me to do anything I don’t want to do. Come on.”
I guess he went down willingly when he got on his knees for me earlier, then.
He got out and came around the hood of the truck as my fingers twisted in the sleeves of my sweater. Opening the door, he took a step back to allow me room to step out.
Sliding off the seat, I looked down at my sneakers, the toes digging into the mud from where they’d plowed the driveway. The door closed behind me, and Lennon passed me, makinghis way up the porch steps. I followed, trying to push away the nerves eating at me.
I’d never been to a guy's parents’ house before, let alone my boss’s. I’d met Lennon’s siblings at the bar, but that didn’t make it any less nerve-wracking. It was one thing to hang out with someone at a bar, but in their home? It felt way more intimate.
He held the front door open for me, and I stepped in, waiting for him to lead the way.
The house was warm and open, instantly giving the cozy feeling that most childhood homes emitted. The smell of warm food wafted from the kitchen as we stepped out of the front entry to the bustle of people hanging around the living room and dining area.
“Len!” Lettie said from the kitchen, setting down her glass of wine to come over to hug her brother. She let him go, then pulled me in for a hug. “It’s so nice to see you.” She let me go, a huge grin on her face. “I hope my brother hasn’t been playing the mean manager role on you.”
I smiled, shaking my head. “He’s been great.”
From the kitchen, I heard another familiar voice. “Come on, Lettie. Lennon ain’t the mean one. That’s Reed.” Callan grinned from where he was stirring something in a bowl.
Brandy was setting the table with plates as she scoffed. “He’s not just mean.”
Sitting on the couch, Reed said over his shoulder without looking back, “What else am I, Brandy?”
She rolled her eyes, ignoring him.
“That’s what I thought,” Reed muttered.
Lettie clapped her hands together. “My mom’s in her room, but I’ll go get her.”
I reached out to grab her arm. “No, you really don’t have-” I shut my mouth. It was too late.
Lettie disappeared down the hall and I cringed. Great first impression if people are pulling Mrs. Bronson away from what she’s doing to come greet me.
I slipped out of my jacket, noticing that Lennon had shed his sometime between us walking in the door and now. He took mine from me without asking, hanging it on the hook by the door.
