Dragon's Fake Wedding Date - Riley Storm Page 0,32
into her mother digging, trying to figure out who and what Rann was to her.
Even I don’t know the answer to that, mother. Please, just leave it alone, she pleaded mentally, knowing it was useless. Nobody was paying any attention to her anymore, they were fixated on Rann.
“Actually,” she said, interrupting, hoping to take the conversation back, and get rid of Rann, “we met while volunteering. You remember that charity I told you I was helping out with a lot, Mom?”
Three sets of eyes swiveled back to Gayle, suddenly reminded of her presence.
“Yes, of course. dear,” her mother said, glancing between the two of them. “That place you go to do work for free. I remember.”
“Mother, we had this conversation already,” she said. “I hate the cubicle job. In fact, I’m thinking of quitting the firm entirely. It’s a soul-sucking position that leaves me dead and empty on the inside. I hate it.”
“You just need to put in some time,” her father said. “Things will get better the longer you’re there.”
“I love you guys, but you’re hopelessly outdated on the way the world works,” Gayle said bluntly. “You don’t get ahead anymore by staying with the same company. You have to move around to get the real raises and promotions. It’s not for me. I like the charity, and I like working in Lilly’s store. That sort of stuff makes me happy, full, and content.”
Gayle fought back a blush as her mom’s brown eyes flicked to Rann, as if to say, ‘I know exactly what makes you happy, full, and content.’
“Anyway,” she pressed on, glancing over at her father, catching his bespectacled gaze and smiling. “Rann here was also volunteering his time, helping out a friend with the delivery of product. We started chatting.”
She saw Rann’s forehead crease at the lie, but there was no way she was telling her parents the truth, that they met in a bar where she was drinking after her ex dumped her. That story could wait to come out until a drunken family get together or something.
You’re assuming he’s still going to be around for that? Why would you do that?
Gayle gritted her teeth.
“Actually, a mutual friend sort of forced us to get talking,” Rann said, chiming in. “Turns out, we get along quite well.”
“Quite,” her mother said, a pointed reference to the fact that he’d come out of Gayle’s bedroom.
Can I die yet? Please. Just stop my heart. I can’t do an entire afternoon of this!
She wanted to tell her mother that it was just a random hookup thing, but that wasn’t ever going to happen. Gayle did not discuss her sex life with her parents. Ever. So she had to pretend like it was more. As if they’d hit it off.
It would be so much easier to just say that she never meant to sleep with him, but she was drinking and alone on her birthday, and look at him! How was Gayle supposed to refuse a specimen like him?
“Well, if we’re done judging me,” Gayle said with a bit more bite in her voice than intended. “Shall we go to brunch already?”
She almost added that she was hungry but caught herself in time. Things were already awkward enough. If she gave her mother the chance to make some comment about ‘having worked up an appetite,’ Gayle would just keel over and call it quits on life right then and there.
“Will Rann be joining us, dear?” her mother asked, a wicked curl to her mouth.
Gayle glared. Her mother was enjoying this!
“Unfortunately, no,” Rann said, speaking up first. “I have other commitments that I cannot miss. However, it was lovely meeting you. Perhaps we can meet again?”
“Yes,” Gayle’s mom replied brightly. “Perhaps we can all go out together one time. Though, Rann, might I make a suggestion if we do?”
Gayle tensed. Oh god, what was her mother up to now?
“Of course, Mrs. Weber,” Rann said.
“Maybe next time, remember to do up your fly first.”
Gayle closed her eyes.
Kill me now.
Chapter Eighteen
Rann
His mind was torn between duty and desire.
“He’s going to try and kill you, you know that, right?”
Rann glanced up at Trent, noting the worried look in the blue-eyed giant’s eyes. The older shifter was standing above him, pacing back and forth in the room while Rann sat on a bench and lost himself in thought. His friend was concerned for his safety.
And well he should be.
“Yeah. I do. That’s why the viewing room is packed,” he growled. “Lots of people know that there’s