by Ashley Blake
“When mother sees talent and potential in a person, she wants to do whatever she can to help them get where they want to be. My family is having a dinner Saturday night and I would love for you to accompany me.”
Panic set in as I thought about it because I didn’t want to screw up the good thing I had going with his mother. I didn’t want her to think that I was using Christian in anyway to get ahead, because obviously, that was not the case.
“Does she know anything about us?”
“Not officially, but I have been talking about you quite a bit and both of my parents know me really well.”
“Do you think they will be upset when they find out that we are dating?”
“No, quite the opposite. I think they will be delighted. I don’t know that I have ever talked about a woman so much to my parents before, so I am positive they will not be surprised in the least.”
“Where do they live?”
“They live in Winnetka and you’ll also see my brother Tyler again.”
“You don’t talk about him very much. Are you guys not close?”
“We are, we’re both just really busy.”
“What does he do again?”
“He heads the Art Division of the company.”
“Oh right, he told me that. So how big is the company? How many divisions are there?”
“I guess we haven’t talked about this.”
“No, we haven’t.”
“We have a bunch of different businesses under the umbrella of Locke Industries. There is Design, Art, Finance, Real Estate, and Retail.”
“Wow, I had no idea it was so big.”
“Yeah, my great, great grandfather started the company and it just grew from there.”
“Wow.”
He was talking old money and I felt more intimidated than ever. What was I thinking getting involved with someone like him? I was pretty sure his family had their own idea of who they wanted their sons to be with. Sure, Diane was nice to me as an employee, but would it be that way when she found out I was more than that to Christian?
“I can hear some trepidation in your voice and I can tell what you’re thinking, Eva. My family is really down to earth. We have worked hard for what we have but we don’t think we are above anyone. You’ll see. Everyone is really nice.”
“Well, if they are like you and your mother, I am looking forward to getting to know your dad and brother. Is your brother married?”
“No, but he has a girlfriend.”
I could hear in his voice that he didn’t care for the girlfriend.
“Really? And why don’t you like her?” I looked at him and smiled.
He shook his head and slowly smiled back. “Is it that obvious?”
“Probably not to a stranger, but I’m getting to know you pretty well. What’s wrong with her?”
“I just don’t trust her. She doesn’t treat him the way someone who cares about you should be treated. I think she is after my brother for his money. I have tried to warn him but I think it’s a lesson he’ll have to learn on his own.”
“Hmmm, hopefully his eyes will be opened about her before it’s too late. So what exactly is the Art Division?”
“My family owns a bunch of art galleries and Tyler is the curator. He travels all over the world looking for talented artists. He also is an artist himself but he is very reserved about showing his work.”
“Oh, really? That’s a bit surprising. I would think that he would just display his art in one of your family’s galleries.”
“Well, he and my father have a bit of a strained relationship and my father won’t allow it.”
That surprised me and it didn’t sound very nice.
“Really?”
“Yes, but my mom is working on my dad so I am sure he’ll be able to show his art one day. It’s a long story and we can get into it another time.”
“Okay. I’m looking forward to seeing your family, so thank you for the invitation.”
Once again we were the last people in the restaurant and it was kind of becoming our norm. I looked around and smiled at him. He glanced around and returned the smile.
“We did it again!” We both said it at the same time and got a good laugh. Christian left the waiter a big tip since we were there so late and I could tell they wanted to clear and close for the night.
Christian’s driver gave me a ride home and when we got to my parent’s house, Christian walked me to the front door.
“It was so nice to spend time with you tonight.” He gently tucked my hair behind my ear and leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips. The butterflies went crazy in my belly and I was so happy we were back together.
“Thank you for dinner.”
“You are very welcome.” He looked up at my parent’s house and glanced around the neighborhood. “I like your parents’ house and this block. It feels really homey and comfortable. I look forward to meeting your family one day.”
“You definitely will.”
“I didn’t want to tell you during dinner, but I have to go out of town for a few days again.”
“You do?” I tried really hard not to whine. “When will you be back?”
“Tuesday. The time will fly by, I promise.”
I looked at the ground, trying not to pout and failing miserably.
“You just came back.”
He gently stroked my hair. “I know, sweetie. It’s just a really quick trip. Let’s have dinner when I get back. We’ll go somewhere nice and it will be a surprise. I will pick you up at 7:30 on Tuesday. How does that sound?”
That made me perk up a bit and I smiled at him. “That sounds great.”
“Good, it’s a date,” he smiled. “So you didn’t mention how the apartment hunt is going.”
“Oh, right! Carrie and I are going to see a few apartments this weekend. There is one building in particular we both like so hopefully they will have what we’re looking for.”
“So you girls are going to have separate apartments in the same building?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
“I like that plan because you’ll have someone you know close by. I can’t wait to see it when you get it.”
I smiled at him. “I’m pretty excited about being on my own.”
“It’s a big step and very exciting.”
Before I could stop it I let out a big yawn. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Christian!”
He chuckled as he caressed my cheek.
“No worries. We have both had a long day and I should not have kept you out so late. Get some sleep, baby.” He leaned down and gave me a sweet kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
~*~*~
“Eva this one is perfect! We can have apartments on the same floor! What do you think?”
It was the fifth building we had seen that morning and I finally felt like I had found a place I liked.
“Carrie, this is it!”
“We have to get these apartments, this is going to be so much fun!”
We looked at our leasing agent and told her we were ready to sign our leases. I was so excited that I was finally going to have my own place. It was going to be a little bit sad leaving home but I was ready to spread my wings and fly.
By the time we left the building we agreed that we had found our new home. By the same time the following week, after my parents co-signed for me, I was going to have my own apartment. Carrie and I were planning to move a couple of weeks later so I had to pack and ask my dad and brother to help me move. It wasn’t going to take very long because I didn’t have that much stuff, but I was dreading moving because I knew it was going to be a pain. I was going to buy a few things for my apartment after I moved in so it was going to be pretty bare for a while, but I didn’t care because it would be all mine.
Chapter Eighteen
I worked on Sunday and I was having dinner with my parents that Monday night who I hadn’t spent time with in a while since I had been so busy with work, a
nd I was really looking forward to spending time with them. They knew all about Christian but they had not met him yet. They liked everything I had told them so far, so they were happy that I seemed to have met a nice man.
I met my parents at Philippe on Rush Street. Even though my parents were doing fine financially, I liked to spoil them occasionally and take them to nice restaurants since we never got to do that a lot when I was growing up. They were always working and doing their best to make sure my brother and I had everything we needed, but there wasn’t a lot of money left over for extras. I was making a really good salary so I could afford to do nice things for them, and I enjoyed doing it. When I walked into the restaurant they were already seated at the table and I rushed over to them and gave them a big hug.
“Hi guys, sorry I’m a little late. Work was crazy today.”
“Don’t worry about it honey, we know how busy you must be working as a big designer at a big interior design company. I know we keep telling you this, Eva, but we are so proud of you. You have really made something of yourself.”
I looked at my mom beaming at me and I couldn’t help but smile. They had sacrificed so much for me and I just wanted to make them proud.
“Okay, mom, let’s not get mushy. How was your day?”
“The same old thing. Mary complained about a client all day. I swear she has nothing better to do than complain and it’s exhausting. Shouldn’t she be focusing on settling her cases and helping her clients?”
The attorney my mother worked for was quite a character and my mom always had a story to tell. She complained about her but she had worked for her for years and Mary was really good to my mom, so it wasn’t all bad. Deep down I know my mom thought of Mary as family.
“Mary will never change. It’s a good thing she’s out of the office seeing clients a lot. I’m sure she would drive you crazy if she was there all the time.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh boy, that would be too much!”
“Daddy, how was your day?” My dad was an amazing social worker.
“It was a good day today. Remember the Millers?”
“Yes, you were trying to reunite them with their daughter who was taken away by the state.”
“Yes, well she was finally able to go back home.”
“Oh dad, that is great! I know you have been helping them get their lives back on track for a while now. I’m so happy to hear that things worked out for them.”
My mom gently rubbed his arm. “Yes, honey that is such wonderful news.”
“Yeah, it was a fulfilling day today. So enough about us, how are things with you and Christian? Is everything still good?”
“Things are going really well with him. He is so amazing.”
“He comes back tomorrow, right?” My dad asked.
“Yes, and I can’t believe how much I miss him.”
“I’m just happy you met someone who treats you so well. Now, when are we going to meet this young man who has stolen our daughter’s heart?”
“We’ve kind of been living in our own little bubble but you’ll meet him soon, I promise.”
“Okay, good. We’re looking forward to it.”
We enjoyed a nice meal, chatted for a little while longer and then I went home to prepare for a big meeting I had at work the next day. I also needed to choose what I was going to wear on my date with Christian. I had narrowed it down to three dresses and I wanted to make sure that I looked perfect for him. Sleep couldn’t come fast enough that night and I couldn’t wait to see him the next day.
Thankfully, I was really busy at work so the time passed quickly. The end of the day finally arrived and I don’t know that I spoke to more than two people that day because I was so anxious for it to be over. I buried myself in work and barely took a lunch because I knew that if I took a long break, I wouldn’t get anything done. All I could think about was Christian. For me, immersing myself in work had always been my go to strategy for making time fly by.
Luckily, 5:30 came before I knew it and I rushed home so I could take my time getting ready for my date. Christian had arrived earlier that afternoon but he had a meeting across town so I wouldn’t see him until he picked me up for dinner. He was picking me up at 7:30 and I wanted to make sure I looked perfect for him.
I took my time getting ready, made sure my makeup was perfect and slipped on my new black dress. My long, dark brown hair hung like a curtain down my back and I ironed out any waves I had. I looked pretty damned good and I couldn’t wait to feel his arms around me. My parents were out to dinner with friends and my brother was with his girlfriend, so I was the only one home.
At exactly 7:30 he knocked on my parents’ front door and I rushed over to open it. Christian stood there, leaning against the doorframe with a bouquet of a dozen red roses, and he looked even more gorgeous than I had remembered. He winked at me and I just about melted. I flung my arms around him as he planted butterfly kisses all over my face before gently giving me a lingering kiss.
“Hi, baby, I missed you so much.” His deep rich voice practically purred in my ear.
I held on tight as I whispered back to him. “I missed you too.”
“Where do you want me to put these?” He motioned to the flowers.
I put them in a vase and a couple of minutes later we were out the door. Before we got in the car, Christian closed the gap between us and gently placed his finger under my chin, raising my eyes to his.
“I could not stop thinking about you, Eva. You are consuming every millimeter of my mind.”
I gave him a sweet smile. “I feel the same way.”
When we were inside the car I turned to him, my eyes bright and excited.
“So, the other day you said it was a surprise. Where are we going?”
A mischievous grin touched his mouth and I could tell that he was pretty proud of whatever he had planned for us. “We’ll be there in five minutes.”
He linked his fingers through mine, gently stroking the back of my hand. The car pulled up to the restaurant and when I saw where we were I couldn’t contain my excitement. I had been dying to go to Masla. When we walked into the restaurant it was completely empty. I gave Christian a curious look.
“Are they closed?”
There was that mischievous smile again.
“Yes, they are. For us.”
My eyes were wide as saucers.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you and I are going to have a very special, private dinner. I know I have been away from you for only four days but it feels like an eternity. I didn’t want any distractions tonight.”
All I could do was smile.
“Thank you, baby.”
I felt like a princess as the restaurant staff catered to us in the dimly lit room. The orange and yellow fire from candles created the only light in the room and it was simply beautiful. Christian smiled at me and gently caressed my cheek as his eyes searched mine.
“I’ve been thinking about something.” I didn’t think I would ever get tired of hearing his sexy voice.
“Oh yeah? What’s on your mind?”
“I want you to get to know my family. You are so important to me and it’s time they knew about us. I feel like they are missing out on a huge part of my life and I want them to get to know you because I don’t plan on being without you anytime soon.”
A huge grin spread across my face and it was instantly replaced with panic.
“Do you think they’ll care that I work for you? Especially your mom.”
He immediately answered me.
“No. My family doesn’t care about stuff like that. But, my cousin Kipton has a very sheltered girlfriend, so don’t be surprised if she doesn’t embrace you right away. It takes time for her to warm up to people.”
“What do you mean by ‘sheltered’?”
“She comes from money and it’s pretty obvious that she hasn’t socialized with anyone outside of her world.”
“Oh, you mean she’s a snob.” I j
ust blurted out the words without thinking.
Christian chuckled. “I didn’t say that.”
I winked at him as I giggled. “You didn’t have to.”
“Once you get to know her she’s not so bad. I was really surprised when my brother started dating her because she is the opposite of the kind of girls he dated in the past.”
