Page 92 of Fierce- Royce

“No. He’s asked a few times and I told him no. He told his father and sister last night. Well, his sister knew about me and our dating. She figured it out. His father didn’t. They are both happy about the baby. They know me through work but want to have dinner at some point too. You know, as a family.”

“Just like Mom and Dad are going to want to. I really wish I could be there for you for this. I’ll have the kids though.”

“It’s fine, Dane. I can do it on my own. I’ve been dealing with Mom and Dad for years. They aren’t going to be thrilled, but I’m an adult. This wasn’t planned and I like my life planned out.”

“So what is the next step then?” Dane asked.

“The funny part is we haven’t gotten there, but I’m not worried either.”

“Then that is all that matters,” Dane said. “Let me know how it goes with Mom and Dad.”

She hung up a few minutes later and then went to see Royce before she left to visit her parents.

She hadn’t seen him working out once though she knew he did.

He had shorts on, no shirt and there was a lot of sweat coming down his chest as he lifted weights. She’d heard the treadmill running at one point and assumed he started out there first.

“Holy cow. If that isn’t a way to make me blow off my parents and stay here I’m not sure what is,” she said.

He only grinned at her and continued to do bicep curls. “How did it go with Dane?”

“Good. I knew he’d be fine. He can read between the lines.”

“How is that?” he asked.

“I told him you knew about Emily. He knows it’s not something I tell many.”

Royce nodded his head. “Good. When does he want to meet me?”

She smiled. “Soon. My parents are going to want to also.”

“I’ll make it work,” he said.

She moved over and kissed him, then squeezed his bicep. “I do want to stay here with you, but I should go and get this over with. I’ll pick up something to cook for dinner on my way back. Any requests?”

“Whatever you want, I want,” he said.

“Just what every woman wants to hear.”

She laughed and went down to get her purse and keys.

She was glad Dane took it so well, but she didn’t expect otherwise either. She also could appreciate that Royce was trying to keep it light and make her laugh before she left.

There wasn’t one time in her life that she could remember being afraid to talk to her parents about something and yet this time she was.

They wouldn’t be happy and they were probably going to judge, but it wouldn’t change what happened or how she felt and she’d stick to her guns.

It didn’t take her long to get to her parents’ house and go in. Like Dane, she was guessing they thought she wanted to talk about Emily.

“Hi,” she said to her parents. “Thanks for being here to talk.”

“We are always here,” her mother said.

“I know. And I know you think this is about Emily, but it’s not. I just wanted to tell you that I’m dating someone.”

“Oh,” her father said. “That’s good news. Who is it and how long has it been going on?”

“His name is Royce Kennedy. He, his father and his sister own Kennedy Construction. They are partners with the Fierces and a few other people on that big project I’m working on.”

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