Her Marine Next Door - Aliyah Burke Page 0,39

hand and shook hers, while his mother sniffed and didn’t even make an attempt to do the same until he leveled a glare at her. When she did, it was a sorry excuse of a shake. A slow burn grew in his gut as he took a deep breath. Maybe he should just tell them the truth about everything right now. No, his mom had the world’s biggest mouth when she wanted to have something her way.

Parker held the chair for Skylar, brushing a light kiss along her shoulder as he slid her into the table. Then he took his, even as he delivered another look to his mother. The woman was studiously ignoring him, eyes instead shooting daggers at Skylar.

This wasn’t going to go well. His mother had been sweet as honey with Gemma, but currently had so much anger in her gaze, he wasn’t sure they’d make it through. Perhaps Skylar had been right, and he should have let them in on their arrangement.

No way. Scam or not, his mother should fucking know how to be nice, and he despised how she was looking down her nose at Skylar. As far as he knew, there wasn’t any reason for it; he was fucking positive Skylar hadn’t ever been rude to his mother. So her issues were all on her, and he needed to figure this out. Couldn’t protect his woman if he didn’t understand the pitfalls surrounding her. He ground his jaw, only to relax when Skylar briefly settled her hand on his leg and squeezed.

“I always see your truck there when I’m visiting my grandson and his mother,” she began. “Do you not have a job, or are you depending on my son to support you?”

“Mom!” Parker snapped. “That’s uncalled for.”

Skylar stiffened but took a deep breath. “I’m a woodworker and have a home-based business. It’s part of the reason I can watch Cullen at a moment’s notice when his mother decides she can’t do that, so Parker can go to physical therapy.”

He hid his smile. His woman had claws, and he approved.

From the frown on his mother’s face, she didn’t. “Well, seems to me that won’t be an issue any longer, because we’re here and can take that over, so it’s not an inconvenience for you.”

Parker draped his arm around Skylar, his fingertips skimming up and down her bare skin.

“Cullen is an adorable little boy, and he’s not at all an inconvenience. I love having him come with me as I make deliveries. My customers love him, and he enjoys the lumberyard.”

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“Mom, Skylar loves Cullen and wouldn’t ever put him in danger.”

“I know you think she means well, Parker, but she’s not a mother.” She sniffed. “What happens if it comes back he is Parker’s son? Are you going to be sticking around?”

“Enough,” he barked, anger pushing through him at speeds he didn’t know could happen. “We haven’t even had our meal served, and you’re acting like this?”

“I’m trying to protect my family. Our family, which includes Cullen.” She didn’t even apologize for her behavior.

The arrival of their waiter halted her talk for a moment. They placed their order and as soon as the waiter left, his mother opened her mouth again.

“Don’t.” Parker shook his head. “We will leave right now if all you’re going to do is try to disparage this beautiful woman. She is my fiancée. And I’d hoped the ugliness you showed the first day you met her had been a mistake. Now I’m not so sure.”

His father’s look was one like when he’d been a boy, telling him to sit there and keep his mouth shut. The memory that unless a parent told you, you didn’t leave the table until it was over.

Skylar squeezed his leg, but he wasn’t going to sit by and let her take the brunt of whatever shit his mom felt like spreading. He couldn’t recall his mother ever being like this. He’d always had people of all races over at the house growing up and for the life of him, never remembered behavior like this. If there were something else going on here, he didn’t know what it was, but quite frankly he didn’t give a fuck. As a boy, his ass would have been beat for acting in such a manner to anyone.

His father leaned forward and reached for his coffee, his sharp gaze moving between the two of them. If the piercing stare that had always gotten to Parker when he’d been a