Chapter 10
MEL
Something is tickling my face. I wrinkle my nose and move my head to the side, but the tickling doesn’t stop. Groaning, I force my eyes open and freeze.
Pete is lying beside me, still deliciously naked - seriously, sports lawyers shouldn’t have chests and abs like that - propped up on his elbow, grinning down at me as he uses some of my hair to tickle my nose.
“Child,” I mutter, swatting at him.
“Snorer,” he returns easily, sliding out of bed. I swat at him again, but he’s already gone.
“I don’t snore!” I gasp, outraged. He winks, strolling out of the room. I get distracted by his tight ass, staring at it as he leaves. Holding the sheets under my chin, I grin goofily as the shower starts to run.
It drops off my face quickly, my cheeks heating as Pete’s head and hand appear back around the doorway.
“What are your plans for today?” he asks, quirking a brow.
“Uh. I hadn’t really planned anything. Getting ready to start at Sea Nest tomorrow mainly?”
Pete wrinkles his nose. “Sounds lame. Come to a wedding with me.”
Uh, what? My mouth drops open, and I stare at him.
“A wedding?” I squeak, still holding the sheets under my chin. An easy grin spreads across his face.
“Yeah. A wedding. Sun, champagne, great views of Lake Washington. You’ll love it.”
“Uh, what do I wear?”
“Something nice. Cocktail, okay for an outdoor wedding.”
“An outdoor wedding in the middle of March?”
“The sun is shining…no stilettos. You’ll sink into the grass.”
He disappears again, and I stare at the space where his head was for another moment as my brain processes. Holy shit. I need to get ready for a wedding.
I scramble out of bed, ignoring my naked state as I race to my closet, shoving it open and flipping through my dresses there. I finally find one that might be suitable. A knee-length light pink dress with a floaty skirt and elbow-length sleeves.
“That’s nice. Very wedding-y.”
My cheeks heat up as I spin to meet Pete’s gaze. He is getting dressed in his clothes from last night, his eyes moving down lazily to take in my nakedness. Oh god, he needs to stop looking at me like that. I’m going to a wedding. I need to get ready.
Sighing, his eyes snap back up to my face like he had the same thought.
“I’ll be back here in three hours to pick you up.”
“Okay.”
Pete presses a kiss against my mouth, cupping my ass with his hand and squeezing it before disappearing. I shake my head, trying to clear it from his deliciousness. Three hours isn’t long enough. I need to start getting ready now.
Flicking the coffee machine as I dart past, I hit the shower, washing my hair, shaving, exfoliating… everything. My hair is too short to do much with, so I blow-dry it and clip it out of my face, donning a mask and sipping my coffee while I paint my mani-pedi.
Hair, makeup, dress, suitable heels, a matching coat - I’m barely ready when the buzzer goes.
“All dressed for the ball, Tinker Bell?” Pete’s laughter rings through as I hit the button.
“Wrong fairytale,” I remind him, grabbing my silver satin clutch purse. “But I’m on my way down.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
He is waiting on the stoop. My mouth goes dry at the sight of him. He’s in a sharp, tailored gray suit.
“You look fantastic, Tinker Bell.”
My cheeks heat up at the compliment. It’s accompanied by a scorching look that has me squirming, leaving me in no doubt he means every word.
“Thanks. I like your suit,” I tell him as he takes my hand, leading me over to my car.
“Thanks, I matched it to your eyes.”
He winks, closing the door on my gaping face. He what? Is that a thing? That’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me. Holy shit.
As he pulls into traffic, Pete takes my hand, stroking his thumb over mine like he always does, driving east to Denny-Blaine. My eyes widen as they take in the enormous houses. This is a seriously nice neighborhood and not one I have ever set foot in.
There’s a lineup of very expensive cars stretching along the road, which we join. I focus on the huge houses lining the street as Pete drums his thumbs on the steering wheel.
Finally, we reach the reason for the line. Pete angles the car, so we are almost pulled up at the curb, where a group of uniformed valets is waiting. One of them opens my door, another opens Pete’s, and we step out. Pete doesn’t seem to mind that I didn’t want for him to help me out, but that might be because there is still a long lineup of cars behind us.
“You would think a wedding venue would have a better parking system,” I mutter as Pete’s hand slides into mine, gripping it. He leads me over to the stone steps, which rise from the sidewalk, leading to a long path up to the front porch.
“It’s not a wedding venue. It’s my parents’ house.”
My footsteps falter, and I stumble, Pete’s hand tightening on mine. He stops, turning and looking concerned as he shuffles me to the side of the path so other attendees can pass us, shooting interested looks our way.
“Are you okay?” he asks, bending his head to mine, his voice full of concern.
“This is your parents’ house?” I hiss, glaring at him. “I’m meeting your parents?”
Pete has the gall to look amused. Asshole. “Well, it’s a family wedding at their house, so yes, they will be here.”
“You said I would enjoy this. Views of Lake Washington, champagne, that sort of thing!”
“You will enjoy that part of it, Tinker Bell.”
“I won’t enjoy meeting your parents!”
His lips twitch as he takes both my hands in his, smoothing his thumbs over the inside of my wrists. Damn him. That is actually calming me down. I don’t want to be calm. I’m about to meet his parents.
“Am I going to meet them, meet them?”
Pete blinks, frowning as he attempts to decipher my words.
“They will probably introduce themselves, yes,” he finally settles on. My stomach churns.
“How are you going to introduce me?”
His face clears. His eyes are laughing now. “As my date.”
Okay. That doesn’t sound too bad. “All right. I’m ready.”
Pete’s lips twitch again, and he drops my wrists, taking my hand again as he leads me up to the large house. I stare at it, my eyes wide.
“You know, if your parents live in a place like this, I’m going to have to assume you come from money.”
“I do.”
Oh. I mean, I knew that was probably the most likely scenario, but he’s so open about it. Geez.
“So…you grew up in this house?”
“Yes. My childhood bedroom is still here, in all its glory.”