His voice was low and husky, a sexy rasp in her ear—an auditory caress no less powerful than the feel of his hands on her skin the day before. “Did I have clothes on?”
“Do you need to ask?”
Was it stuffy in here? She fanned herself. “I didn’t call to talk about your fantasies.”
“Too bad.”
Ignoring the fact that he actually sounded remorseful, she said, “You’ve received a royal summons.”
“From?”
“My parents. Well, really my mom. Today I found out that she thinks I’m really a lesbian. I’m not sure she believes you exist.”
“What time should I come over?”
“Like around four?”
“I’ll be there.”
He sounded calm and reassuring, like he had her back, and her heart did something weird. She put a hand on her chest, wondering if she could fit in a visit to the doctor before four and still wash her hair.
KT strode to the entryway to the living room and peeked down the hall. No sign of Chance yet. She checked the time. 3:56. Still early.
Damn it.
Walking across the room, she looked out the window. She’d never introduced anyone new to her parents. Usually it was the other way around, with Lara shoving men at her. When he got here, should she kiss him hello? Was that too much in front of parents?
“Really, Karma, you’re starting to make me nervous,” her mother said from where she sat curled up on the couch flipping through a magazine. “You have me thinking that this Chance is an ogre or something.”
Her dad looked up from the game he was playing on his iPhone. “Karma wouldn’t date an ogre, would you, sweetie? She has better taste than that.”
“How would we know, my love?” Lara looked at her husband fondly. “She’s never brought home anyone before.”
Her dad resettled his crooked glasses on his nose. “What about that unwashed man who smelled like thrift store?”
“That was Bijou, my love.”
“Ah.”
Oh geez. KT put a hand to her forehead, wondering if it was too late to call off Chance, because after meeting her parents he was sure to change his mind about pretend-dating her. But before she could do anything, the Addams Family doorbell sounded.
KT headed off Nellie, their housekeeper, at the door. “I got this.”
“Okay, Miss Karma.” Nellie stayed where she was in the hallway, waiting for the door to open.
KT sighed. Nellie had been their housekeeper since before she was born and was pretty much part of the family. She knew better than to try to shoo her away.
Taking a deep breath, she flung open the door.
Chance stood there, his hair rumpled and slight scruff shadowing his face. He wore slacks, shiny shoes, and a dress shirt open at the collar under a sports coat. He should have looked like a business douchebag, but he just looked really hot. She felt herself flush as she imagined ripping the buttons off the shirt and baring his chest.
Swallowing her lust, she said, “You clean up.”
“So do you.” He looked her over appreciatively.
“I’m only wearing jeans.” Though she
had
found time to wash her hair. It fell down her back in clean waves, so she had that going for her.
“I like you in jeans.” He gripped her waist and gave her a light kiss on the lips.
She blinked, not startled by the casual intimacy but by how
right
it felt.
He must have seen her surprise, because he whispered, “We have an audience. I thought I’d sell it.”
Nellie—right. She tried not to feel disappointed as she pulled him inside. “Where’s the pig?”
“I thought you’d want to introduce Ante Up to your parents next time. He takes some adjusting to.”
“Good thinking. My mom might get it in her head that she wants a piglet of her own and then my dad would hate you.”
“Whew. Disaster narrowly averted.” He slid his arm around her.
Nellie didn’t wait for KT to introduce her. She strode right up to Chance and stuck her hand out. “I’m Nellie Ramsey, the Taylors’ housekeeper.”
“Chance Nolan.” He shook her hand, flashing her a charming smile.
Nellie used his hand to yank him down to her. “I’ve known Karma since she was born, so you better be on your best behavior with her.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said quickly. KT gave him props for the lack of sarcasm.
Nellie stared at him with her laser ray vision, nodding when she decided he was sincere. She let go of his hand and smiled at him. “You’ll do nicely. The duo is in the living room. I’ll bring refreshments in a moment. I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” he claimed.
Nellie beamed. “Good. You children go ahead now.”
“Are you really starving?” KT asked softly as Nellie puttered toward the kitchen.
“Let’s just say I know well enough to eat whatever she puts in front of me.” He took her hand. “Lead the way,
Karma
.”
KT groaned. “Please don’t. And please don’t say we can name our child Kismet.”
“It never crossed my mind.”
She glanced at him. “Liar.”
He grinned. “What did Nellie mean by ‘the duo’?”
“I didn’t tell you about my parents, did I?” she said with a wince.
“They can’t be that bad.”
“Bad? No.” Just the biggest rock stars in the world, next to the Beatles and U2. How did you tell a potential boyfriend that?
“Let me be surprised,” he said, letting her off the hook. He kissed her quickly. “It’ll be fine, KT. This is pretend, remember?”
Right. Nodding, she led him to the living room. She tried to imagine what his first impression of her parents would be. Of course, he’d recognize who they were—natives from the darkest parts of Papua New Guinea knew Anson and Lara. But the reality of them was different altogether.
Her dad was still playing on his phone, but her mother had set aside her magazine and was impatiently waiting. When they walked in, the smile on her face turned to a frown. “Karma, he’s a suit! I raised you better than that.”
Before KT could do anything, like die of mortification, Chance stepped forward, took off his coat, and tossed it on a chair to the side as he extended his hand to her mom. “Actually, I’m a bum posing as a suit. I was looking at an apartment to lease today and thought they’d be more likely to rent to someone who looked like he showered occasionally.”
“Oh.” Her mother beamed, her hands outstretched. “In that case, welcome, Chance. I’m Lara.”
“I see that.” He kissed her mom’s uplifted cheek. “I can see where KT got her beauty from. Your TV appearances don’t do you justice.”
“Aren’t you a dear?” Still holding his hand, she led him to the couch. “Come sit with me, Chance. Anson, my love, Karma’s beau is here.”
Her dad lifted his head from his game and smiled happily. “I’m afraid I have an Angry Birds addiction.”
Chance grinned as he rolled up his sleeves. “I hear they have a twelve-step program for it now.”
Lara smiled at her husband fondly as she curled back onto the couch. “He’s entitled to a vice or two. Karma, stop looming and come join us.”
KT sighed as she slouched onto an oversized chair across from her mom and Chance. This was going to be a long afternoon.
“So, Chance”—Lara focused her bright gaze on Chance—”how strong is your sex drive?”
Groaning, KT smacked a hand over her eyes. “Seriously, Mother? That’s where you’re going to start the interrogation?”
“Life starts with sex, Karma. And, really, your father and I would love to have grandchildren before we’re infirm.”
Chance chuckled. “You still have decades before that’ll be a concern.”
“You’re so sweet.” Lara patted his arm. “Your mother raised you right. Where do your parents live?”
His face shuttered, devoid of all emotion. “My family died in an accident when I was eighteen.”
Blinking, KT sat up. She hadn’t known. Logically, she knew there was no way that she could have—they’d only just met—but it seemed like something even a pretend girlfriend would know.
Her mom looked stricken. She took his hand, squeezing it. “Oh, you poor dear boy. I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago,” he said in the same guarded voice.
KT willed him to look at her, so she could see if he was okay, but he avoided eye contact. She cleared her throat. “Mom, Chance has a little pig.”
Her mother shot her a grateful smile. “Do you, Chance? How peculiar.”
He also shot KT a look, but she couldn’t tell what it meant. Before she could decipher it, he faced Lara and said, “His name is Ante Up. I won him in a poker game.”
“You play poker?” her dad asked suddenly, popping his head out of his game. “Online?”
“Not online. Mostly unorganized games.” Chance leaned forward, elbows on his knees and hands steepled. “Until I came to San Francisco, I lived in the Caribbean on my boat.”
“You’re an adventurer,” Lara said enthusiastically. Then she looked lovingly at Anson. “My love, do you remember the time we chartered the boat in Greece?”
Her dad smiled fondly. “I remember you went topless every day and how we made love like—”
“Okay!” KT jumped up. “Well, we have to go now.”
Her parents blinked at her, confused. Chance just looked entertained.
“But, sweeting,” her mom protested, “Nellie hasn’t even brought the scones yet. I had her make the citrus ones you love.”
The citrus scones. She paused, tempted, but then she imagined what else her parents would tell Chance and pictured him running off, screaming, which was an unhappy image. So she said, “We have plans for, um, dinner.”
Her mother glanced at the delicate Rolex on her wrist. “It’s just after four, Karma.”
“I didn’t have lunch.” She took Chance’s hand, ignoring the amused look on his face.
She expected her mom to ask more questions, but the woman just smiled peacefully and said, “Have fun, children. Chance, we’ll have to have you over for dinner. You haven’t met Bijou yet.”
“Anytime.” He shook Anson’s hand and picked up his jacket as Karma dragged him away.
“I have questions,” he said softly, close to her ear as she marched him out of the house.
“Of course you do.”
“Who’s Bijou?”
“My sister.” She winced, thinking about him meeting her. Men liked Bijou. The thought of Chance preferring her made KT pout. “She’s the pretty one.”
“I doubt that.” His thumb caressed her hand. “Second question. Am I missing out on the scones?”
“Nellie’s citrus scones are like a taste of heaven,” she said reverently.
“Damn.” He stopped, pulling her into him. “You’re going to have to make it up to me.”
She swallowed at the hungry look in his eyes. “You don’t mean food, do you?”
“No, I don’t.” He traced a finger across her lower lip. “You protected me back there.”
She hadn’t been able to bear the blank look that, she was positive, covered up a sadness too deep for words. But she didn’t want to seem like a sap, so she shrugged. “I got you into the situation. It was the least I could do.”
He studied her. “You’ve got an awful poker face.”
“Like hell.” She frowned. “I’m
great
at poker.”
“Then we should play sometime,” he said in a husky voice that told her exactly how high the stakes would be.
Something in her belly tightened. She wanted to flirt back at him, but she could only nod.
“Good.” He lowered his head and kissed her, slowly and delicately, like she was to be savored. Like she was as delicious as Nellie’s scones.
She melted against him, unable to help herself and not really caring. Against his lips, she murmured, “There’s no one watching here.”
“I know.” He kissed her again as if punctuating that statement. Then he lifted her chin and said, “Where are we going?”
“I don’t care.” As long as she was with him. “I just had to get you out of there before my mom handed you a box of condoms.”
“Would she have done that?”
“Hell yes.”
He laughed. “She’s amazing. I love them.”
A warm feeling spread through her. Not wanting to analyze it, she squeezed his hand. “Come on. There’s a café a few blocks away that has great pastries.”
“Citrus scones?”
“No, but their croissants are to die for.”
“Lead the way.” He grinned. “I’m yours to command.”
She looked at him. “Really?”
The amusement in his expression turned hot and feral. “Keep staring at me like that and you’ll find out.”
She swallowed thickly, her chest tight with excitement, because for the first time ever, she was tempted. Really, really tempted.
Chapter Five
Chance couldn’t think of anything better than walking hand in hand with KT. Well—actually he could, and it involved whipped cream and a whole lot of naked flesh.
Meeting a woman’s parents had always served like birth control in the past, but this time it’d been different. This time, he sat in that amazingly down-to-earth living room and wanted to belong to that family, as kooky as they were.
As if knowing the direction of his thoughts, KT turned to him and said, “I didn’t know your parents had died. I’m sorry.”
Like always when someone brought it up, he shut down. “You play the hand you’re dealt. It was a long time ago.”
“It doesn’t matter.” KT stopped, making him face her. Putting her hand on his chest right over his heart, she gave him that clear, no-nonsense gaze. “You obviously loved them. That never goes away.”
He was surprised to hear himself say, “My two brothers were in the car, too. They were on their way home from a family dinner. I was supposed to be there, but I caught a cold and didn’t go home from my prep school that weekend.”
She swallowed audibly. “You had two brothers?”
“Older.” He could still feel the way they used to scrub his head and mess up his hair. “My parents named me Chance, because they wanted a daughter and took a chance on their third child.”
Her hand fisted on his shirt. “I can’t even imagine. My mother drives me crazy, but the thought of losing her, or Dad, or Bijou …”
“Don’t think about it,” he said, hating the hoarseness in his voice. “Tell her you love her every day, even when you want to run away from her.”
She nodded, giving him the gentlest kiss. “Okay.”