Page 38 of Hate You Forever (Hate 1)

I smile, putting on my best happy face. “Tara Mangal.” Something about her odd character is actually a relief, putting me slightly at ease.

“What a pretty name for a beautiful girl. Nix didn’t mention how gorgeous you are.”

A blush rushes to my cheeks. “Thank you,” I say, then look up into Marnix’s ocean blues. “Sometimes he doesn’t see what’s right in front of him.”

“Well, he better get his act together or he’ll have both of us kicking his ass.” She gives him a fake condescending smile, then winks at me. I’ve only just met this woman, but I like her already. I mean, she said she’d kick Marnix’s ass so I’m already on her side.

I honestly expected her to be a stuck-up bitch, but I guess her personality makes sense now that I think about it—Marnix’s email said she grew up on the West Side before she married his father. Not that you can’t be a bitch on the West Side, but you’re usually just a ruthless one rather than a prissy one.

“No teaming up on me. I’m the one that has to deal with the two of you,” Marnix chimes in. I can’t help but laugh. He definitely has his hands full with us. I’m a firecracker, and I can already tell his mom is a character.

“Tara, what in the world made you fall for my broody son?” Rose asks, humor lacing her voice.

I glance at Marnix, his eyes giving me a you better play along look. “Marnix is strong-willed, determined, and confident. I’ve never seen anyone as tenacious as him. That’s what drew me to him when he walked into the restaurant.” None of that is a lie, especially the tenacious part. If he wants something, he doesn’t give up. I just used nicer words instead of saying he’s a stubborn asshole who I want to strangle and occasionally kick in the balls.

Rose’s blue eyes—which match Marnix’s—turn soft, filling with admiration as she looks at her son. I don’t let it show on my face, but confusion swirls inside me at how different he is to his mother.

“He’s also a big teddy bear under that tough exterior,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

Rose laughs, playfully hitting my arm. “Now I know you’re lying. But a woman that can appreciate these amazing characteristics in a man like Nix is perfect for him.” My stomach flips at the thought of being with Marnix for real. He’s a certified dick, one I don’t think I could ever love. We’re two very different people who aren’t even remotely compatible. I hate that we’re acting, but it stings the most that we’re deceiving his sweet mother. I can already tell if this were real, she and I would get along well. I’ll have to keep as much distance as possible, because getting close and then losing a woman like her in my life would be a tragedy.

Marnix clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “Mom, have you seen Reilly? I want to introduce him to Tara.” Reilly is his best friend who lives in the guest house right out back. At least, that’s what the email said.

“The last time I saw him, he was chatting up some blonde over by the ice sculpture.”

An ice sculpture? What kind of nonsense is that?

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find him real quick,” Marnix announces before turning his attention to me. “Will you be okay here with my mom?”

I glance at her, giving her a small smile. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“You haven’t had any of your champagne,” he observes, glancing down at my full glass. One that I purposely haven’t taken a sip from.

My mind goes blank, so I just use the first excuse I can think of. “Uhh, I’m not really a champagne type of girl.”

“I can get you something else when I go grab Reilly. Anything in particular you want?” Of course, the one time he’s being a gentleman, he’s going to think I’m just being stubborn again. I don’t want to start anything here, so I can’t exactly tell him I don’t drink any alcohol that I didn’t make myself or that doesn’t come from a sealed bottle I’ve checked at least a hundred times.

“Red wine is fine. Thank you.” I look at him lovingly, trying to pull off this doting wife thing. Marnix leans in, giving me a seemingly sweet kiss on the cheek.

“Don’t fuck anything up while I’m gone,” he warns, whispering in my ear.

This man is the perfect actor. No wonder he’s a lawyer.

Pulling back, he shoots me an award-winning smile and takes my champagne glass from me. “No ganging up on me, you two.” It’s when he looks at his mom that I see his mask slip; he truly loves her. I wonder just what kind of man he is under the bullshit facade.

Rose chuckles and winks at me. “Don’t worry, I won’t pull out the baby pictures just yet.”

Marnix narrows his eyes, and I hear the low rumble in his chest he’s obviously trying to hold in. Shaking his head, he turns, leaving me alone with his mother.

“I know he can be hard to handle. Trust me, he’s a lot like his father in some ways and I was married to that man for thirty years. But you just have to be patient. I’m glad he’s found someone who will take his shit. But I have a sneaking suspicion that you throw it right back at him.” She doesn’t hold back, and it surprises me when a curse word falls from her perfect red lips.

I can see it in her eyes—she actually believes all this about him. But I’m not sure. From what I’ve seen, he’s an asshole through and through. I don’t think all the patience in the world could make him come around.

“He is hard to handle at times, but I wouldn’t have him any other way. I’ve never needed someone like I need hi—”

A deep voice cuts me off. “You must be the famous Teresa.”

My eyes fall to a short, frumpy man with a horrid mustache. “It’s Tara.”

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