Page 64 of Captivated By You

“This still doesn’t feel right. Shouldn’t it be just family at such an important event?”

“Not at all. I’m sure Penn will bring a date, and my cousins are likely to have plus-ones with them, too.”

He beseeched me with his eyes, those eyes I found impossible to resist.

Gah. The man was pulling out the big guns. Impish grin, puppy dog eyes.

I was toast.

“Please, Kiana. It’ll be fun. My mother throws a great party. Besides, you’re special to me. Is there really anything wrong with wanting my family to meet you?”

So many responses rushed to the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed each one. Speaking one’s mind when driven by nerves rather than rational thought probably wasn’t the best idea. Especially for me.

“You haven’t met mine,” I countered.

“And that is something I plan to put right very soon.”

I did my best to quell the swirl of anxiety in my stomach and swallowed. “I guess I’m meeting your parents.”

And the entire Kingcaid tribe.

God help me.

* * *

Okay, so if I needed further evidence of just how rich the Kingcaids were, Ash’s car sweeping up the manicured driveway to his parents’ home on the shore of Lake Washington provided said evidence.

In truth, calling it ahomewas a massive overreach.

As the car coasted to a stop outside the front door, I peered out the window, thinking how a property this big couldn’t have an ounce of homey about it. I mean, how was it possible to make rooms that had to be bigger than some conference suites at the hotel feel cozy?

My belly flipped again, and my palms were sweaty with nowhere to wipe them. And I felt massively underdressed in the flowing silk top and navy pants. At least they were designer, not from the dollar store—thanks to Ash.

I’d only worn them because I’d assumed he was taking me somewhere nice for dinner. Yet again, he hadn’t given me a heads-up and I’d only avoided embarrassing myself by the skin of my teeth and a foresight I’d used on instinct.

“What if I’d turned up in cutoff jeans and a Metallica T-shirt?”

Ash gave me a puzzled look, all squished eyebrows and tilted head. “What if you had?”

I flicked the back of my hand at his thigh. “Ash! Have you seen this place?”

He chuckled. “Once or twice.” Gripping my fingers, he kissed the tips. “See, this is the reason I didn’t tell you. You’re panicking enough, having only just found out I was bringing you. If I’d told you a few days ago, you’d have spent the entire time fretting and trying to come up with excuses to bail.”

He wasn’t wrong, but I’d deny it to my dying day.

“Kiana, my parents couldn’t care less what you choose to wear. I told you. They’re not those kinds of people. When you meet them, you’ll see.”

He climbed out before I could muster a response. The driver opened my door, and Ash’s hand appeared, reaching in to take mine. I swore my knees almost buckled the second my feet hit the ground, but that was a slight exaggeration, although they did wobble.

Ash walked me toward the house. Talk about meticulously presented. I’d bet I could eat my dinner off of the porch. There wasn’t a leaf or a speck of dust anywhere.

It must take an an awful lot of people to keep this estate up to scratch. Even cleaning the house would require an army.

As we approached, the door opened and a dark-haired woman dressed in white yoga pants and a baggy T-shirt flew out, her arms stretched in front of her. She clasped her hands to Ash’s face, and he let me go to hug her.

Okay, this must be his mom.

And just like that, my nerves evaporated.

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