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If nothing else, I needed time to get my head screwed on straight about how I really felt about this man, this situation, and the future. The comment about pulling some harebrained shit in my short life was not an exaggeration. This arrangement, or whatever we decided to label it, needed real examination.
“Hey, wait a minute,” I called to Elijah’s driver. “Can you wait one more minute?” And then added quickly, “Please?”
“Yes, of course, Miss Farsey,” the man responded with a quick dip of his head.
“Carmen, go with him. Let him drive you home, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I tried to take the handle of my suitcase from him, but he blocked it with his body.
“Storm, let’s go inside and talk to your parents. At least they can start getting used to seeing us together. You can drive me home later, and then you can see the apartment.” His mien changed every time he issued instructions, and for some reason, I agreed.
“All right.” I told myself it was the path of least resistance, and he could take an Uber home in fifteen minutes when I ushered him out.
“Never mind, Lorenzo, I’m going to stay here. We really appreciate the ride.” Carmen strode over to the man with an outstretched hand.
The two shook heartily, like old friends, and then we stood on the front step for a moment while I tried to control my rioting nerves.
“They’re going to kill me. They’re going to be so mad. This is never going to work out,” I continued to mutter to myself while my husband reached forward and opened the door.
“You’re back!” my mom called from just inside the door. “I thought I heard some commotion out here.”
“Hey…” I greeted and then trailed off.
Carmen, on the other hand, pushed us into the entranceway farther with a firm and calming hand to my lower back.
“Oh, Carmen!” my mother chirped in her brightest voice. “So nice to see you again.”
I stood slack-jawed while my spouse charged forward and bussed my mother’s cheek in greeting. Of course, never far from each other, my dad came from the living room to say hello too.
Somebody just shoot me. Please, make it quick and painless and put me out of my misery.
“Mr. Farsey, hello.” Carmen offered his hand to shake. “How was your return flight yesterday?”
“What’s to complain about?” My father laughed. “A guy could get used to traveling that way, right?”
“Definitely.” Carmen smiled widely, and my heart skipped a beat or two. He really was a good-looking guy.
Thankfully, I snapped out of the lust fog and said, “Okay, thanks for seeing me home. I’ll call you, okay?” I locked eyes with him and silently begged him to just go along with the exit strategy.
But my mother, with all her hostess grace, interrupted. “Nonsense. You two are probably exhausted. Carmen, won’t you stay for dinner?”
My pleading stare turned to a threatening glare. I knew before he even spoke that he would take her up on the invitation. She’d played right into his plan, and we both knew it. I gave my head an imperceptible shake, but he answered for himself.
My youngest sister, Clemson, strolled past the huddle just inside the door at that exact moment, stealing everyone’s attention with her comment.
“Nice rings.”
I. Am. Going. To. Kill. Her.
And if I found out Hannah had anything to do with her keen observation, I’d be down two sisters.
While the others carried on with their conversation, I was frozen in place. Completely afraid to move in any direction and encounter an expectant stare. I studied my feet with keen interest until Carmen’s strong hand was at my lower back again, confidently moving me deeper into the house.
“Why don’t I help you unpack?” he asked with a stare of his own then that I hadn’t seen before. He was both giving me the courage to escape this awkward situation and some sort of direct instruction on how to do it.
“Sounds good!” I chirped in an overly bright tone. I was barely finished with the comment before I took off down the hall toward my bedroom—hubby hot on my heels.
Behind the safety of my closed bedroom door, I looked up at the man as he pulled me into an unexpected embrace. It was going to take some time to get used to his touchy-feely ways. My body automatically stiffened on contact, but the moment I caught a whiff of his comforting scent, I relaxed.
