Real Sexy (Real Dirty Duet #2)(34)

"And those rules exempt pregnant women from doing anything more than enjoying her amazing cooking," Wendy says with a smile. "Come on, you're not gonna want to miss this. I swear she sprinkles crack on the food, because no matter how close I follow her recipes, mine never taste as good."

"Come on, baby. You know I said your meat loaf was just as good as Ma's," Grant says to his wife as he walks into the dining room with us.

"Hush your mouth. You don't want your mama to overhear that."

"Too late, sweet boy. But you're lucky I love you, or there'd be no more meat loaf for you." Boone's mom strides toward me and wraps me in a hug. "Welcome, Ripley. I'm so sorry I didn't greet you properly earlier. It's like conducting a symphony making sure everything's ready on time. We're so happy to have you in our home. Boone's told me a lot about you, and I've been dying to get a look at you. I knew I was right. He finally picked a good one."

He told his parents about me?

"Ma-" Boone tries to interrupt, but Mrs. Thrasher releases me and hugs him hard.

"Shush your mouth, boy. I'm speaking the truth. We've missed you. We're coming up to Nashville soon. Your daddy promised me a night out on the town, and it's time to pay up."

"Anytime you want, Ma. You know my door is always open, or I'll get you a hotel if you want to stay in town."

"I've told you a million times, I'm fine with staying at the Holiday Inn. It's plenty fancy enough for us."

"Don't you dare stay at the Holiday Inn, Ma. You deserve the best I can give you, since that's what you always gave me."

My heart plops into a big sloppy puddle on the floor.

Boone is a mama's boy, and it's the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

"Sit down and eat. My ham will get cold if I take the time to argue with you about this nonsense."

We sit down at the table, with Mr. Thrasher at the head and Mrs. Thrasher at the foot near the kitchen. Everyone joins hands as Boone's dad leads us in a prayer.

By the time his mom serves dessert, it's official. I've completely fallen in love with Boone's family.

Well, most of them.





23





Boone





I could wring my brother's neck, just hard enough not to kill him. It's clear he's not sure about Ripley and doesn't like how fast things have moved with us. But that's too damn bad. There's one thing I know about Ripley now-if I give her too much time to think, she'll talk herself out of giving me a shot and I'll lose my chance forever. I'm not about to let that happen.

"Your brother hates me," Ripley says as I close the door to the garage apartment.

"He doesn't hate you." I drop our bags on the bench at the end of the bed.

"If looks could kill, you'd be picking my body bag up off the living room floor."

The very thought of Ripley in a body bag makes my stomach turn, threatening the ham and scalloped potatoes I ate for dinner.

"Don't say that. He's just looking out for me."

"Was he the same way with Amber?" she asks.

I hate to admit it because I know Ripley's going to draw some sort of conclusion from it, but it's going to be the wrong one. But still, I can't lie.



       
         
       
        

"He didn't like Amber. He only met her twice, and both times, she didn't give him a whole lot to like. I promise he won't be like that with you. He's in protective-older-brother mode right now. I think it's easy for him to forget I'm thirty-two years old and totally capable of making my own decisions."

"He thinks you're making a mistake with me. That you shouldn't have gotten involved with someone else so quickly. I can't say I disagree with him, Boone. I was supposed to be the rebound, but you didn't follow the rules."

"I'll tell him the same thing I'm about to tell you-it doesn't matter how much time there was between, because it was pretty fucking apparent once I got my head out of my ass that I was dead wrong about Amber. I wanted the line of bullshit she sold me, and I was too fucking blind to realize that's exactly what it was-bullshit."

"What if I can't give you what you want? I don't know how to do this!" Ripley waves toward the house as she keeps going. "You have a perfect family. A mom and dad who love each other and care about you. A brother who would kill someone for you. A sister-in-law who isn't a bitch, and a nephew who's as sweet as can be. They even have the perfect dog!"

"So? What the hell does that matter?"

"You know what I had? A murdered mother who slept around to try to escape her reality of being married to an asshole drunk who didn't have a problem showing her-and me-the back of his hand whenever he felt like it. Oh, and don't forget a lying, freeloading bitch of a cousin, and an aunt I haven't seen in close to twenty years."