Zack shrugged. “But it makes him so happy.”
I stared at him, little butterflies invading my belly, warmth and fuzziness washing over me. Why did he have to do such a sweet thing for his cousin? It made me wish he didn’t save his surly self for me.
“Hey, Autumn.” He shifted his weight to his other leg as his gaze made a circuit around the room. “My mom wants to meet you.”
Warm and fuzzy turned to cold and prickly. What if his mom didn’t like me? “Why?”
“I don’t know. She just does.” After a moment, he turned and I followed him down the hallway, since anything else would’ve been rude.
He tapped twice on a door, then opened it and motioned me to go ahead. The room was light and sunny, the curtains riding the wave of a light breeze. Sunflowers greeted me from a vase on the nearby nightstand.
The woman in the bed flicked a remote and silence filled the room. Pallid complexion aside, she had the kind of timeless beauty that required no makeup. Long, dark brown hair, olive skin a shade darker than her son’s and catlike eyes that crinkled in the corners from her welcoming smile.
“Ah, tesora, come closer.” She patted a vacant spot next to her on the bed. “It’s so rare Zack has a girl over.”
“Mom, I told you. We’re just working together. She’s not a girl.”
Ouch.
Favianne’s brows rose. “She looks like a girl to me.”
“I meant she’s not my girlfriend.” He sighed. ”She’s paying me to help her buy a car. This isn’t a social call.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. De Luca,” I said, offering a tentative smile.
“Call me Favianne.” She beamed at me. “What are your plans today?”
“We…” My eyes shot to Zack, hoping he’d save me, but he only stared back. “We’re going car shopping.”
“Sounds exciting.” She grinned.
Her enthusiasm and graciousness permeated my body, calming me. “It is. I’m still not sure what kind to get though. But I won’t keep him out long.”
She waved a hand at me. “Borrow him as long as you want. When he’s home, he mopes around. Especially lately.” Favianne switched to Zack. “Did you two meet at school?”
“Mom. Stop,” he moaned. “It’s not a date.”
His mom tried to hide her smile. I felt oddly connected to her and she was so sweet, I had an overwhelming desire to see her happy.
I just couldn’t resist.
“Actually, we met a little over a week ago. He’s really been there for me — helped me with my car when it broke down. One thing led to another and last night, we double-dated with Trevor and my best friend.” I snuck a peek at Zack whose mouth had dropped open.
Favianne beamed. “When you’re done car shopping for the day, you’ll both come here for dinner.”
Oops. Zack was going to kill me.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“That was low, even for you.” Zack rocketed down the steps of his house and marched across the lawn, trampling an innocent plant before jumping into the Jeep.
Mindful of the flowers, I followed suit and strapped on my seatbelt. Was I sorry for what I’d done? I recalled the way Mrs. De Luca’s eyes lit up. No, I wasn’t. I’d only just met her and already loved her. And Zack… well, I was never going to please him anyway.
“What? It was a double date. Sort of.” I shrugged.
“I can’t believe you stood there and lied to her.” He exhaled sharply and the tires squealed as he steered the car from the curb. “It’s my life, my family, Autumn. Mine.”
“I didn’t lie to her. Everything I told her was the truth.”
“It wasn’t a date.” His eyes shot to me, wide and wild.
Poor guy. He was pretty worked up. “Not to us. But technically, since it was us and another couple, you guys picked us up and paid, it was a double date.” I let that sink in, before speaking again, but in a softer tone. “I’m sorry it upset you, but I’m not sorry for making your mom so happy. Did you see her face?”
Zack eased up on the accelerator and the Jeep slowed, his shoulders relaxing. He blew out a breath. “If you could let me do most of the talking over dinner, I’d appreciate it,” he said stiffly. At least he was calmer.
“I’ll try, but if someone asks me something, they’ll think I’m an idiot if I don’t answer.”
“Eat dinner. Then go. The sooner you leave, the less trouble you’ll get me into. Where are we going, by the way?”
“There’s a dealership I want to check out on Palm and Brand.”