Watch Me (Phoenix #1) - Stacey Kennedy Page 0,59
were a solid front and Rhys was his own man, but she was in his life now. And his parents needed to get on board.
At the heavy silence, Zoey lifted her hand and waved. “Hi, I’m Zoey. It’s great to meet you.”
Silence.
Rhys chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Zoey is a dog groomer.”
His mother made a noise.
His father arched a brow. “A dog groomer?”
“One of the best in Brooklyn,” Rhys said.
Zoey laughed nervously, looking about ready to jump out of her skin. “Well, I was a dog groomer. I really loved it too. Great job. I met so many amazing people. But I actually applied for vet school this morning. I won’t hear back for a month or so, but I was accepted once. Hopefully, I’ll be accepted again.”
Rhys placed a finger under her chin and turned her head, garnering her attention. “You applied to vet school?”
She gave him a smile that broke his world apart. “Well, you see, that money I got from that investment, instead of buying a house with it, I decided the absolute best way to spend it was to go to vet school.”
“Zoey,” Rhys said, bursting with pride he’d never felt before. “That’s amazing.”
She turned back to his parents, and the cute shyness faded a little as she added to Warren. “You asked before what my parents do for a living. They’re both doctors in Sacramento.”
Warren gave an unamused look to Rhys. “I suppose that explains why William thought you’d lost your mind. He sent me a blabbering text that you were moving to Sacramento. Nothing made any sense.”
“We think he was drunk,” Alice offered.
Rhys restrained his chuckle. He’d have to thank the guys later. “I decided that staying in New York City suited me better.”
“Good,” Warren said in a hard voice. “We need Harrington blood in the city.”
Rhys ignored that comment and looked at his mother as she asked Zoey in a sweeter voice than before, “What sort of doctors are your parents, Zoey?”
“My mom’s a family doctor. She has her own practice, and my dad’s a vascular surgeon.”
“How interesting,” Alice said with a tender smile. “I suppose we’ll have to arrange to meet them.”
Zoey returned the smile. “I’m sure they would love to meet you both.”
Alice glanced at Rhys then at Warren then at Zoey. “Well, there is much to do to plan a wedding.”
“No,” Rhys said.
Warren’s brows shot up. “No?”
“No planning,” Rhys said, kissing Zoey’s shoulder. He fought his grin at the way she wiggled against him. He looked at his father. “No big production. We’re having a private ceremony with close friends only. Both of you are welcome to attend.” He appreciated what his parents had given to him growing up. He’d always do what needed to be done to keep the Harrington name a solid force in New York City. But his life was his own, and Zoey was all that mattered now.
His father grimaced.
Alice couldn’t sit still. She eventually broke the heavy silence and asked, “That’s what you want, then, Rhys?”
“That’s what we want.”
He smiled at Zoey as she wrapped her arms around him. She looked at his mother and asked, “Will you be back in the city anytime soon? I have no doubt my mom will fly in for dress shopping. We’d love for you to join us.”
Alice blinked, exchanged a long look with Warren, and blinked again at Zoey. “I can try my best to make that happen.”
“Excellent,” Rhys said. To his father, he added, “Anything else to discuss?”
Warren shook his head. “I believe all our bases are covered.” He hesitated a beat. Then did the most unexpected thing. He smiled. “Congratulations on your engagement. Would you allow me to announce it in the newspaper?”
Rhys had to process the fact that his father had asked him a question, instead of demanding something. He smiled back. “Yes, that would be fine.”
“Then, it’ll be done.”
They said quick goodbyes with his mother still seeming shell-shocked that Zoey wanted to involve her in something so personal. Rhys put his computer to sleep and sat back in his chair, shifting Zoey on his lap until she was straddling him. Her eyes held him captive. “You didn’t have to tell them your parents are doctors. You don’t have to feed into their entitled behavior.”
She kissed his nose. “Yes, I did. That’s the type of people they are. It didn’t hurt me to reassure them.”
He stared at her, absolutely bewildered by her strong character. This amazing woman who’d blindsided him wholeheartedly, giving