She cups the side of my face, which I assume is meant to be playful by the grin on her lips.
But fuck, her touch is warm, soft, and makes me want to pull her lips to mine to see what she tastes like.
“I can handle whatever your dear ol’ daddy has to throw at us. Trust me, he’s the one who should be worried, not me.”
I don’t get a chance to say anything in response because I see the front door of the house open through the window.
“Game faces on,” I whisper before stepping out of my truck, rounding the hood, and opening up her car door to help her out. With her hand in mine, I lead her up the steps to the front door where my mother and father are waiting for us.
“Hi, Mom.” I greet her with a kiss on the cheek, still holding Dilynne’s hand in mine. Mitsy is in my mom’s arms, trying to give me a kiss back. “Hey, Mitsy.” I scratch her behind her ears.
“She’s missed you since you never come visit us anymore,” my mother says with a wink. And then her eyes land on Dilynne. “Dilynne Clark.” Her eyes go wide. “I have to say, I don’t ever think I’ve seen you this dressed up.”
Dilynne plasters a smile on her face that looks unnatural, but I see when her veil slips into place. “I only get dressed up like this for people who matter.” She releases my hand and steps forward, giving my mom a hug. “It’s good to see you. I can’t remember the last time we crossed paths.”
“It was probably when we dropped off our cars to get serviced at your shop.” My dad steps forward, reaching out to shake my hand. “Son.”
“Dad. You know Dilynne,my fiancé.” I drop his hand and place mine on her lower back, pulling her into me.
“I must say, Miss Clark. I didn’t know you could clean up so well.”
“I’m sure there’s a lot that you don’t know about me,” Dilynne replies. I have to fight to hide my smile. “But hopefully by the end of the night, that will change.”
My dad raises an eyebrow at her. “Indeed.”
Mom clears her throat. “Well, let’s stop talking through the door and head into the den for drinks before dinner.”
Dilynne inhales deeply, so I hold us back as my parents walk away from us. “You good?”
“Oh yeah. Just don’t let me drink too much because there’s no telling what will come out of my mouth.”
I chuckle. “Deal. Although, hearing you tell off my dad would be the highlight of my night.”
She twists to face me. “Don’t ask for something you aren’t ready for, Elliot Thorne.”
“I don’t know. I’m beginning to think I might like making some trouble for a change.”
***
“This wine is from Hart Winery, isn’t it?” Dilynne asks as she takes a second sip from her glass.
After my father poured himself and me some scotch, my mother had Ben, the butler, pour her and Dilynne a glass of cabernet before we all settled in the den.
“It is. Glad to know you can appreciate good wine.”
“Laney Hart is my best friend, so I know more about their wines than most people.”
“Their wine is fine,” my father adds. “I’ve had better, but your mother likes it, so I let her get the monthly subscription,” he tells me.
Dilynne clears her throat. “Personally, I think expensive wine is a hoax. It’s all grapes. Why is one more impressive than the other?”
“It’s all about branding,” my father replies. “Just like why people will pay more for a shirt that has a Louis Vuitton tag than a no-name brand from Walmart.”
Dilynne looks over at me, rolling her eyes discreetly. I fight to hide my smile.
“I mean, wouldn’t you want your name to mean something in the car circuit one day?” my father continues. “I imagine that’s harder to do when you’re from a small town like Blossom Peak.”
I clear my throat, inserting myself into this conversation now. “Dilynne is actually a contestant at Motorlux, one of the biggest car shows and auctions in the country. And based on the work she’s already done on the Porsche 356 she’s entering, I’m confident everyone will know who she is by the end of the week.”