Fake It Till You Bake It(80)

He’d done a bit of research before coming here tonight. Her parents were both doctors and scientists, as was Jada’s sister. Those credentials could intimidate the most secure of individuals.

The home was spacious and well-appointed without being ostentatious. These were people who had money but wouldn’t dream of blinging out their home. The house was decorated with expensive, yet understated items, as though professionals had been called in for the job without much input from the home’s residents. Wood floors, tasteful splashes of blues and greens mixed in with the neutral palette of grays and white. The warmth he so closely associated with Jada was missing.

They passed a spiral staircase and entered the living room located toward the back of the house. A man and woman stood from the sectional sofa dominating the space. Jada’s father and sister, clearly. Like her mother, Jada’s dad was dressed simply in a well-tailored blue button-down shirt and slacks. He had close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair and a medium build. Jada’s sister eyed him with curiosity. Unsurprisingly, she and Jada bore a striking resemblance to each other, though she had a few inches on Jada.

“Jada, I’m glad you could join us this evening,” her dad said. “Why don’t you introduce us to your young man?”

Jada gripped Donovan’s hand. “Donovan, this is my father, Walter. Dad, meet Donovan Dell, and as I’m sure you know, he plays for the Knights.”

Her father’s eyebrows drew together. “Of course I know. You think I’m going to let someone date my daughter without finding out everything there is to know about him, especially when we didn’t know he existed three days ago?”

Donovan took it as the threat it was obviously meant to be. And the fact that her father cared little about his wife’s family business.

Jada sighed, a vee of stress appearing between her eyes. “Donovan, this is my sister, Patrice.”

Donovan nodded at them. “It’s nice to meet you both. Thank you for inviting me.”

“This should be fun,” Patrice said, eyeing him with speculation. “I can’t wait until Grams gets here.”

Nina checked her watch. “She should be here any second now. My mother is never late, especially when we’re celebrating her birthday. Why don’t we have a seat while we wait for her to arrive? We can get to know each other.”

Donovan and Jada sat at one end of the large sofa while her parents took the other. Patrice sat in a matching chair across from Jada.

Donovan reached for Jada’s hand. She looked at him, her lips slipping into a tremulous smile. That familiar twinkle in her eyes had returned. Good. There was the woman he … cared about.

Shit. A fist squeezed his heart, cutting off his ability to breathe. Yes, he cared about her, enjoyed being in her company, but what if it was something more? But it couldn’t be. Not yet. You didn’t fall in love with someone you’d known for less than a month. It didn’t make sense. It wasn’t logical. His brain rebelled at the thought even as his heart leapt at it.

A pealing bell cut into his riotous thoughts.

“That must be my mother,” Nina said, rising. “I’ll get the door.”

“Hello, everyone,” a familiar voice drawled from the doorway a minute later. Mrs. T stood there, quite content to have all eyes on her, looking regal as usual, despite her diminutive size.

“Grams,” Jada and Patrice exclaimed simultaneously.

Walter stood and took the few steps to meet her.

“Joyce, welcome. Happy birthday!” He placed a hand on her elbow and guided her to the empty chair next to Patrice.

“Thank you, but let’s remember, I stopped counting birthdays years ago.”

His brow wrinkled in confusion, clearly not understanding that logic. “Right.”

Nina took her husband’s place, exchanging polite kisses on the cheek with her mother. “Happy birthday.”

Mrs. T turned her hawklike gaze on her daughter. “I labored for twenty-six excruciating, never-ending hours before giving birth to you, and that’s all I get?”

Nina smoothed her hair back, though not a hair was out of place. “Mother, really. Must you be so … colorful?”

Mrs. T shook her head. “I knew I shouldn’t have sent you to the fancy private school for gifted students. They filled your head with all kinds of science and math and sucked all the humor out of you.”

“I love you too, Mother,” Nina said dryly. “And no, a happy birthday wish isn’t all I have for you. I got you a gift, and I’m happy you’re here.”

Mrs. T patted her on the cheek. “That’s more like it. Love you, honey.” Mrs. T waved her hand when her granddaughters made to stand. “You’re already sitting, and I know you love me as much as I love you.”

Mrs. T clasped her hands together. “Well, well, what do we have here?” she asked like she hadn’t spied Donovan the moment she stepped foot in the room. “I guess the dating rumors are true.”

Donovan grinned. “Nice to see you, Mrs. T.”

“Look at my worlds colliding. I never thought I’d see the day. A player from my team in my daughter’s home alongside the rest of my family, who couldn’t possibly care less about football.”

Nina groaned. “Mother.”

“I’m only speaking the truth.” A smile stretched across her face. “Donovan, I hear congratulations are in order. We’ve agreed on a new contract with your agent.”