to hear it from my own daughter’s mouth.”
Robin was momentarily mortified, until George chuckled and leaned back in the booth.
“George and I are seeing one another,” she blurted out.
Her mother shocked her again by waving her hand. “Not that, I think the entire town has known that for weeks.” Her mother scooted into the booth and leaned closer. “I’m talking about the Maddison’s wedding being called off. Did Troy Maddison really cheat on Jenna? Have they really called the wedding off? You know that the Maddisons are old friends of ours. I can’t believe little Troy would do such a thing.”
Robin relaxed and for the next half an hour she filled her mother in on all the phone calls she’d handled that morning. It was sort of strange that her parents didn’t really mention or call out her and George’s relationship, other than to say that everyone had already known about it.
Almost all the conversation during lunch was filled with gossip. Gossip that had nothing to do with her relationship with George.
“That was fun,” George said as they walked back. “And here I was thinking I was going to get the third degree. If not by your mother, then at least by your father. I thought he would demand to know my intentions at least.”
She laughed. “My parents have never really been so hands on that they would embarrass us, but still, I had expected that they’d at least talk about us.”
“I’m glad they didn’t.” He sighed. “Just knowing that, come Sunday, you’ll have to deal with the rest of my family…” He sighed. “If I know my mother, it won’t be just my sister and Corey there this weekend.”
“I’ve been around your entire family before, remember?” she said, as they walked into the barn.
“Yeah.” He stopped her by pulling her into his arms and kissing her. “I’ve got to get back to the office, but I was hoping… Will I see you tonight?”
She smiled. “I should be done around ten.”
“I’ll come by your place.” He kissed her again.
“Oh god, give a girl a warning next time,” Kara said with a groan.
George chuckled as he stepped away from her. “Later,” he said to her, then smiled at Kara.
They watched as George disappeared, then her sister turned to her and playfully slapped her on the shoulder.
“That did not look like it was nothing.” She narrowed her eyes at her. “Talk about hot and steamy.” Her sister fanned her face for show, causing Robin to chuckle.
“Go away, I have work.” She nudged her sister out of her office.
“Okay, but there’s a man here for you.” Kara shrugged. “Says he would only talk to you.” She leaned in. “Maybe you shouldn’t have sent George off yet?”
“It’s probably just the Maddisons. Mom mentioned they were sending someone to talk about possibly moving the wedding back.” She held up her hand before her sister could ask what was going on with the longtime family friends. “Don’t ask.”
Chapter Sixteen
George smiled the entire way back to his office. He knew that he probably looked like a goon but he didn’t care. Robin made him feel like there was something better in life and just knowing that she was going to allow him to be around to enjoy that feeling longer made him happy.
The moment he walked into his office, Mia got his attention. Looks could be deceiving with the woman. She was tall and frail looking, but moved around the office full of purpose and experience.
“You have a call. She claims it’s an emergency.” She held up the phone to him.
Worry had him rushing forward and taking the phone.
“This is George.”
“George, you’d better come back.” It was Kara. The two sisters sounded so much alike until you grew close to either of them. Then the subtle difference in their looks and their voices was obvious.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’m not a hundred percent sure. Robin had a visit from… well, I don’t know who. But after, she locked herself in her office. She slammed the door on the man. Now she won’t open up to talk to me. I’m afraid it was one of Carson’s men.”
“I’ll be right there.” He handed the phone back to Mia. “Move my meeting back,” he said as he rushed out the front door again.
He ran as fast as he could, reaching the barn doors in half the time it had taken him to walk back to the office. Kara was standing there, waiting for him.
“Did you see him? You must have passed