Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,302

Flowers are for real couples.”

“Yeah, right, okay. I’ll see you later.”

“Catch ya.”

We end the call, and I’m left more confused than when I left Dylan’s building. I don’t want to come across as a douchebag. But what I can’t believe is that I’m actually going to dinner with a strange woman and meeting her family.

This is all Deacon’s fault.

Damn him!

I throw my leg over the bike and pull on my helmet, set to go get some chocolates or something to take with me tonight.

I will NOT fall for this woman, I say to myself.

But if I’m already trying to protect her from Deacon, then I know I’m in trouble.

6

Dylan

“That looks a hundred times better than your work outfit.”

I stare down at my new, rushed outfit and glide my hands over the tight-fitting, light-blue jeans that hug me perfectly. I decided to keep the red top I was originally wearing.

“And now for the final touch.” Charlie hands me the black jacket I bought. It’s not a leather one—like the Dark Knight, as Charlie has dubbed him—but it is simple, black, and will apparently protect me if I fall off the bike—not that I’m planning to do anything of the sort.

Slipping my arms through, I adjust my top underneath. “Well, I think this is as good as it’s going to get. I should have canceled.”

Charlie, who’s rummaging through the bags, turns to give me a hard stare. “You need to stop that. You’re happy to go on dates with random men any other time. What makes this one so different? You’ve only just met him, and now you’re taking him to meet your mother and sisters. He’s going to deserve a massive thank you on the lips or in bed, if you pick up what I’m putting down.”

“Oh, I’m picking up what you’re saying, and it’s not going to happen. I’m slowly getting used to the idea that I’m going to be married to my job and that men aren’t man enough to handle me and my achievements. They’re all intimidated little nobodies. Me, I’m the queen of the vasectomy, and if they can’t handle me, then it’s their loss, not mine.”

“Woo hoo!” Charlie throws her hands in the air. “Have fun tonight. That’s all that matters, and if nothing more comes from this, then at least you knew it wasn’t going anywhere anyway.”

I open my mouth to answer when my cell alerts me to a message. Picking it up, my heart skips a beat when I see it’s from Cole.

Cole: I’m downstairs.

I read the message to Charlie, and her face screws up. “What a loser. He can’t even come up and greet you. Like I said, have fun and rub it in your mom’s and sisters’ faces. He’s gorgeous. Perhaps too gorgeous for your own good. Remember, he’s only there to get your mom off your back. But…” Her word hangs in the air.

“But what?” I push.

“What are you going to tell your mom when he doesn’t show up again?”

I shrug. “I’ll tell her it didn’t last, or that he’s away too much and I wasn’t happy about that fact. That part is going to be the easiest of all. Getting through tonight is going to be the challenge. You know my mother.”

“Yep, and I know exactly what’s in store for you both tonight. You better shape up your acting skills, because your mother will sniff out the scandal even before you walk through her door tonight.”

“You’re not wrong. Come on, I better go, or he’ll take off without me.”

“Have you told your mom you’re bringing someone?” Charlie asks as she shoves things back into a shopping bag.

“No. Last I spoke to her was just before I went into Cole’s appointment. She’ll get a nice surprise, considering I was single when I spoke to her.”

“Just tell her you were waiting for the right time, and you wanted to wait to see if things stuck before you brought him home.” The lie slips from her tongue so easily that I’m jealous.

“Can’t you come, and when I stall, you can fill in the blanks for me?” I laugh and grab my bag, heading to the front door of the office.

She follows. “No. You’ve got this. Let me know how it goes.”

“Will do.” I tug my cell from my pocket and shoot a quick message to Scarlett.

Dylan: Well, here goes nothing. I can’t believe I’m taking a stranger to my mother’s house. Not just any stranger—he’s a supercross superstar. Google Cole Carter.

I hit send