“Oh, well that would come in handy.”
“Mom!”
“What? It’s true. For a mechanic I’ll throw an extra goat into your dowry. Good thing he’s not a plumber. Even I can’t afford that many extra goats.”
“My god, woman! Don’t you have something to crochet?”
“No way. I want to watch this. Can I make popcorn?”
“No popcorn!”
“You’re such a drag.”
The doorbell rang.
Riley huffed out a breath as panic tried to seize her.
“For the love of God, behave, mom. And FYI, no one says things are a drag anymore.”
“Yeah, well no one says FYI anymore either, you little popcorn hater.”
Riley stared at her side of the door, trying to slow the drumming of her heart.
“This part of the show is boring. Fast forward to where you open the damned door,” her mother stage whispered.
“Shh!”
Pasting a pleasant smile on her face, she opened the door, bracing for how hot he was. Even after mentally preparing herself, the crackle of sexual energy between them as soon as she their gazes met was completely indecent.
“Hi,” she said, impressed she could string two letters together.
“Hi, yourself.” He leaned against the brick wall beside the door, and she had to stifle the whimper of desire that threatened to make itself heard.
“Holy shit!” came the inevitable response from behind her.
“Mom!”
“The boy is ripped!”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Make it two goats.”
“Mother!”
“You’re my only child. It’s the least I can do.” She laughed manically. “Hi Nate! Good to see you! I want grandchildren before I die!”
Nate’s cheekbones stained red, but he took her joking in stride. “Hi, Mrs Dawson. It’s nice to see you again.” His smile was blinding and Riley was helpless to look away.
“It’s good to see you too!” Her mother beamed for a long moment, and Riley could tell she’d decided Nate was the answer to all of her prayers. “Well, I’ll leave you kids alone so you can talk.”
“Mom, if you listen at the door, I’m not paying for your therapy.”
Her mother chuckled. “Got it. Oh, and no sex on the new couch.”
The sound of her mother’s walker hitting the doorframe into the kitchen, then the hiss of the sliding door to the back deck made Riley fairly certain they had privacy.
“What are you doing here?” Riley asked rudely.