Dinner With a Bad Boy (11 page)

One week later Mitch knew he'd made a mistake. All his life he'd trusted his gut. If he felt pain, then something had to change. So years ago he'd walked out on his parents, and now he had a good job, a good home, a good life. All in all, a good decision.

Except he didn't feel so good right now. He couldn't shake the thought that Su Ling's refusal to break with her family, to stick by them through the good and bad, gave her something he'd lost in his adolescence. Misguided or not, her family would go through hell, even brave a potential drug-dealing psychotic to protect one another. Wasn't that worth preserving?

He'd told himself that no woman, not even Su Ling, was worth this agony. He'd repeated it a million times as he tried to focus on the wonderful life he had without her. But every time he told himself, the words sounded hollow. As if a part of him were missing. As if
she
brought him something he hadn't had in a long time.

But what?

He mulled over their times together—the best and the worst—and he nearly laughed out loud at his stupidity. What was missing from his life? Why did he feel so alone? Because he was alone. He began teaching children because he loved children. His first mind-blowing attraction to Su Ling came when she'd offered him not only a dinner with her gorgeous self, but all her relatives as well. Then came the time spent discussing, arguing, and laughing... over what? Mandy. And Su Ling's family. Sure, she'd used them as an excuse to run from him. But that had only increased his soul-deep need to pursue her.

Could it be that easy? He knew he loved her—loved her wit, her strength, her prim exterior, and her wild-woman interior. But when he pictured their future together, he saw a family. One with children
and
grandparents.

God almighty, she was right. Her family was a part of her. And part of what he loved about her. He didn't want her to break with her parents. He wanted her parents to accept him. But when Ma Ma had proved difficult, he'd simply walked out, just as he'd done to his own parents. Instead of sticking it out, instead of finding a way through the problem, he'd just walked.

What an idiot!

But how could he fix it? How could he show Su Ling he valued her family? And in a way that would convince Mrs. Chen, too? Obviously words wouldn't be enough. He had to show them that family mattered to him, and that he honored family ties.

He looked at his closet. Buried in the back, in a box that had followed him from move to move, lay a picture album. A pathetic album, actually, one that contained three pictures. Christmas candids, to be exact, of his parents, his sister, and him happily tearing apart presents. The rest of the pages remained blank, empty except for his intention to fill them one day with pictures of new memories, new family. Except now he knew he'd never be able to fill the latter pages until he reconciled with the earlier ones.

In short, he had to talk to his parents again. He had to honor his own family ties before he could accept someone else's.

He took a deep breath and picked up the phone, dialing quickly before he changed his mind. His father answered, and over the heavy beating of his heart, Mitch spoke, saying the words he should have said years ago. "I'm sorry, Dad. Not for the way my life's turned out, but for everything else. Can we try again? And this time I won't be such a jerk."

* * *

Victories come in small pieces, Su Ling reflected with a sigh. After Mitch left, Su Ling finally had it out with her mother. Ma Ma had to respect Su Ling's choices, she'd said. Family needed to support, not dictate. If Su Ling quit her job, her mother needed to have faith that Su Ling would find another. If Su Ling picked a man, then her mother had damn well give him a chance. After all, Su Ling had respected her mother enough to give all those dragon men a chance. Didn't Su Ling deserve that same respect?

Of course, Ma Ma had readily agreed. She'd already gotten what she wanted: Mitch, irretrievably gone. Ma Ma had left, firmly putting "that horrible dishwasher man" out of her thoughts, but Su Ling remained miserable, mourning what she might have had with Mitch. If only she'd been a little stronger, thought a little faster, had it out with her mother a day, an hour, a minute earlier. Maybe things would be different. But it was too late. Mitch's face when he'd walked out told her she'd chosen her family over him one time too many.

At least it'd worked out for Mandy. The family had been so upset by Su Ling's rebellion that they quickly folded when Mandy followed her aunt's example. The girl flatly told her mother and grandparents that she'd given violin and piano a chance. She hated them. Now they needed to let her try something she liked: volleyball. In fact, the Chens caved so quickly that now everyone—grandparents, grandaunt, and granduncle—all dutifully filed in to watch the first of Mandy's tournament matches. Score one victory for self-determination.

The cost, of course, had been Mitch. Now more than ever Su Ling knew that she loved him. She loved how she grew stronger around him, finding value in herself. He helped her stand firm against an abusive boss and a frightened, domineering mother. What would happen to that strength without him beside her? In keeping the structure she'd always relied upon, had she thrown away the one person who forced her to grow, to become better?

She wanted a second chance with him, but she doubted Mitch would risk his heart again. He'd come in second—to her family and her job—too many times for him to believe she'd put him first from now on. So she decided to act—publicly and in full view of her family—hoping to show him once and for all that part of her would always be his. Forever. If only she could stop shaking long enough to do it.

She arrived late, of course. Her first day of classes had been a lot harder than she'd expected. But she would adjust. Thanks to Mitch, she had enough determination to keep at it despite the temptation to grab the first accounting job that came along. She would
not
run to the easy, familiar road again.

She hurried into the gym, immediately spotting Mandy in play, her rosy-cheeked happiness clear. Her family, Mandy's mom included, occupied the center black hole of Chinese stoicism in the middle of the bleachers. But as Mandy executed a beautiful spike, Su Ling caught Ma Ma's sudden beaming smile amid the Chens' polite clapping.

Su Ling absorbed these details in a flash as she paid for her ticket. But the center of her attention focused on Mitch as he called to his team from the sidelines. He looked different, she realized with a touch of sadness. None of the haggard exhaustion seemed to dog him as it had her. Instead he seemed relaxed, almost happy in a crisp new suit with a stylish tie. He'd even cut his hair, though the cubic zirconium still flashed from his earlobe.

He looked up and saw her. Something unreadable flashed across his expression, and Su Ling felt momentarily paralyzed, wondering if he could see the apology in her eyes and the love in her heart. But before she could guess at his thoughts, a stylish brunette touched his arm, physically drawing his gaze away from Su Ling.

Su Ling bit her lip, looking down at her feet as she made her way to the bleachers. Just over a week, and already Mitch had found another woman. She'd missed her chance. Looking up, Su Ling couldn't stop herself from studying the brunette. She sat in the bleachers behind Mitch, occasionally turning to talk to a handsome elderly gentleman and his wife. Her parents, no doubt.

Su Ling almost laughed. Not only had Mitch picked up another woman, but one who came with her own family encumbrances. Obviously Mitch could tolerate family interference with the right woman.

Meanwhile the match continued as the Franklin team struggled. All through it, Su Ling fought her tears. Just because things didn't work out with Mitch didn't mean she regretted the experience. She was a stronger woman because of Mitch. Or so she told herself, even as her mother reached out and patted her shoulder in sympathy. That was the thing about Ma Ma. The woman could be totally clueless, but she was always there and she always cared.

The volleyball match finally concluded with a Franklin rally ending in victory. Parents and friends stood in the bleachers, all cheering and chatting and generally getting on with their lives. All except Su Ling, who felt completely numb. Then the principal grabbed a mike and asked for everyone's attention.

"Mr. Kurtz has made an unusual request, but since he is one of our best teachers, I've decided to indulge him," the principal said as she offered the mike to Mitch. But he simply gestured sideways to the brunette's father, who took center stage as if he were born to it.

With a formal air, the older man bowed first to the principal, thanking her and calling her Madam Principal; then he walked across the gym floor, approaching the Chen family in an equally dignified manner before bowing deeply to Su Ling's father.

"Mr. Chen," he intoned. "I am James Kurtz, an Illinois supreme court justice and father to Mitchell Kurtz, teacher and coach to your granddaughter."

Su Ling's gaze flew to Mitch, who was watching her with the type of vulnerable intensity she'd seen from him only when they were in bed. And as she colored at the memory, her sluggish brain finally assembled the pieces. The elderly couple were Mitch's parents. Which meant the brunette was his sister.

Mitch had made up with his family! The very thought stunned her. And its ramifications... She hadn't a clue. And all the while Mitch's father continued to address her father, elaborating on his son's accomplishments and stellar qualities. In fact, Su Ling had to stifle a laugh when his father extolled Mitch's strong "independent streak."

But then Justice Kurtz bowed again deeply. "I am not completely familiar with Chinese customs regarding a courtship request, but please understand that I and my family, and most especially my son, would very much like to learn. He respects your family and your culture, and we all hope you will accept this token from us to you." Then he presented a small black jeweler's box to Su Ling's father. "It has been in the Kurtz family for six generations, and now we present it to you."

A hush fell over the gym, but it was nothing compared to the sudden stillness in Su Ling's heart. Everyone craned their necks, trying to see into the box her father opened. Then Su Ling saw Ma Ma raise her eyebrows, obviously impressed. "Dragons have good jewels," Ma Ma whispered.

Then the box snapped closed as her father gained his feet, also bowing deeply to Justice Kurtz. Next came the long, formal recitation of the Chen family's lineage and accomplishments before her father accepted the gift on his daughter's behalf. And then her father turned slightly, his smile showing his approval even as he looked to Su Ling's reaction.

She had none. She sat completely frozen by the conflicting emotions at war within her. Five minutes ago she had resolved to try to live without Mitch. But now? She didn't want to guess.

"I think," continued her father, "that this is America. Perhaps we should allow your son to begin his courtship in person." Then he passed the jeweler's box back to Justice Kurtz, who gave it to his son.

As if by magic, or perhaps it was because of Mandy's sudden whispers, the bleachers in front of Su Ling magically cleared as Mitch, black box in hand, approached her. She watched as he swallowed nervously before dropping down on one knee before her.

"Su Ling," he began, his voice starting out soft, but gaining in strength as he spoke. "My father, who turns out to be a much smarter man than I ever gave him credit for, suggested I start out with the basic facts." He took a deep breath. "Fact one: I'm an idiot. Fact two: I love you. I love you because you're gorgeous and sexy and funny and really, really smart. So smart, in fact—number three—that you were right. Your family is part of your strength, and I wouldn't want you to give them up. I wanted you to make all the changes, when in truth I was too cowardly to learn from you." He twisted slightly, indicating his parents and sister, both standing nearby watching him. "I need family. Yours and mine." He looked back at her, holding out a huge diamond-and-ruby ring. "Will you marry me and join our two meddlesome, overbearing, wonderful families together?"

Su Ling reached out, touching not the ring, but Mitch's face. "No," she whispered. And at his stricken look, she rushed to explain. "No, Mitch, you were right. I was hiding behind my family, always running to them for support instead of standing on my own two feet. You taught me that." Then she paused, still trying to believe it was possible. "Did you make up with your family for me?"

He shook his head. "I did it for me. But I never would have realized how much I missed them if it weren't for you. And your clan," he added with a wry sideways glance at the Chens. Then he pulled the ring out of the jeweler's box. "All mature, responsible, unimpulsive people need family around. It grounds them to the past and helps keep them strong for the future. Did I mention that I love you?"

She grinned, for the first time knowing that both her heart and her mind agreed. "I love you, too. But don't quite lose that bad-boy look," she said as she leaned forward to whisper into his ear. "I like my wild dragon—and have a new tattoo to prove it. A tiny one—all dark and mysterious—on the inside of my thigh. Perhaps I'll let you find it on our wedding night."

His eyes glittered. "Have I mentioned that I really, really love you a lot?"

"Have I mentioned that I'll definitely marry you?"

He slipped the ring onto her finger while around them the stands erupted into cheers. And in the background Su Ling could hear her mother repeating to everyone who listened, "I picked him. Dragon for dinner. Good family. Good husband. I picked him. Now maybe she will listen to her mother. Chinese superstition not so stupid anymore."