Conception (The Wellingtons #4) - Tessa Teevan Page 0,128

and loomed over me, his biceps flexing as he braces his fists on either side of me. “Guess you’re gonna have to punish me.”

Oh, and punish me he did.

“Earth to Melia.” The amusement in Knox’s voice breaks me from my reverie.

“Sorry, I was just…” I trail off, heat rising on my cheeks.

“God, I love that I can still make you blush.”

“Pretty sure, fifty years from now, you’ll still be making me blush.”

His cocky grin only deepens the pink on my cheeks.

“Ready?” he asks, and my nerves take over. He chuckles. “Don’t think of it as meeting the parents. Think of it as showing off our awesome, freaking son.”

“Well, when you put it that way, let’s do this.”

We exit the car and I take Branson from his car seat, thankful for an armful of distraction.

Knox’s hand hits the doorknob, and I stop him.

“Are you sure we should just walk in?” I ask.

He furrows his brow. “Babe. I live here.” He pauses. “Or, well, I did. Oh, screw it.”

My shoulders shake with laughter at his censorship. He’s come a long way and done just as he promised. He’s reined it in for Branson, but he still unleashes in the bedroom for me.

We’re barely through the double wooden doors when a woman greets us, focusing nearly all her attention on Branson. Knox introduces Jaclyn, whom he’s affectionately spoken of many times before. It’s the only reason I so willingly allow her to take Branson when she insists on freshening him up from our journey.

I’ve barely caught my breath as Knox takes my hand and leads me through the foyer and into a spacious kitchen, where he pours us each a glass of water.

“Ah, there she is,” he says, and I follow his gaze to the back door, where a woman is just entering, a straw hat on her head and a basket full of wildflowers in the crook of her arm.

I’m not sure what I was expecting when it came to Knox’s mother, but the tall, elegant woman wearing dusty jeans and a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up isn’t it.

She stands on her tiptoes to give Knox a kiss on the cheek. Then she turns to me with a warm smile. “Amelia, it’s so lovely to finally meet you. And though it pains me to be rude, where’s that grandson of mine? I’ve waited three months to meet him and I don’t want to waste a second more.”

“I understand. And I just want to extend my gratitude that you allowed Knox and me to have time to adjust to becoming parents. It’s been a whirlwind. I know it couldn’t have been easy, with wanting to meet your first grandchild and all.”

“He wouldn’t have had it any other way,” she responds, giving Knox a pointed look.

He rolls his eyes. “Jaclyn took the baby as soon as we got in the door. He needed to be changed after the car ride.”

Oof. Good first impression to my future mother-in-law. Pass the baby off to the housekeeper as soon as you step foot in the door. “She insisted,” I clarify. “Wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

A perceptive grin crosses Mrs. Wellington’s face. “Knowing Jaclyn, I’m sure she did. Ah well, let’s get settled into the library and wait for your father and Clay to get back from their golfing trip. Jaclyn knows where to find us.”

She ushers us into a beautiful library I long to explore, but instead, I take a seat beside Knox on a sofa, gratefully accepting sweet tea when she hands it to me. Mrs. Wellington takes a place across from us and gets right down to it.

“Amelia, I have a question for you. I’d be remiss if I allowed this wedding to proceed if I didn’t make the inquiry.”

“Mom…” Knox’s tone is full of warning.

She shoots a glare at him. “I would be remiss,” she repeats, emphasizing each word.

Knox is about to respond, but I place my hand on his arm.

“It’s fine, Knox. Allow your mother to speak.”

I thought she’d be appreciative. The tight-lipped smile tells me otherwise.

“What, exactly, are your intentions with my son?”

The laugh escapes me before I can hold it in. Really?

“Mom…” Once again, Knox’s warning is unmistakable.

My fingers tighten on his forearm, my nails digging into his flesh. I don’t take my eyes off his mother. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t answer the question.”

It’s fleeting, but there’s a flash of approval in her expression.

“This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you. My intentions are to marry