A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(69)

Later that afternoon, there’s a knock on my office door, and I expect to see Nancy’s head peek through.

“Mom. What brings you here?”

“I wanted to pop in and see my baby.” Her smile is like watching someone yawn—when I see it I automatically grin in return.

“I think I’ve passed the baby stage.”

“Not for me you haven’t. But the truth is, I wanted to see if you and your new man can come to dinner tomorrow night.” She grabs one of the chairs in my office and pulls it close to mine so she can check out what’s on my computer screen. My mom is a curious sort and loves to see how my business operates.

“I can check with Ben, but he’s been crazy busy at work. Can you give me another option just in case?”

She clicks her tongue and says, “Tomorrow was going to be perfect because your sister and Evan were free, too.”

Shitdiddles! She wants me to introduce Ben to the entire family? What the hell?

“Oh, Mom, we only started dating. Don’t you think this is a bit early to do the whole family thing?”

Her hand tucks an errant curl behind my ear. “No, and the reason I don’t is that last boy you dated ended up breaking your heart. Your sister and I want to make sure this boy doesn’t do the same.”

“Oh for Pete’s sake, Mom. First, Ben is not a boy. And second, I’m a grown woman and can watch out for myself.”

She clicks her tongue again. “Sweetie, you know you always say that but then end up a sad mess. I think we need to give our approval this time.”

“Did Laney put you up to this?” Knowing my mother hen of an older sister, I can see her conniving mind behind all of this.

“No, she did not. It was my idea I’ll have you know. And Evan was free, so when I called Laney, she jumped on it.”

“I imagine she did. Tell you what, I’ll ask Ben, but I will not pressure him. If he says no, then it’s no.”

“Fine, but will you come without him? We still want to see our baby.”

Smiling, I say, “Yeah, Mom. I’ll be there as long as my work is caught up.”

“You work way too hard, honey.”

“I know.”

“So, any decision yet?”

“Oh, Mom.”

She puts her hands on my shoulders, rotating me so we face each other. “Honey, can I tell you something? Remember when your grandmother died?”

“Yeah. It was awful. You know I loved my Grammy.”

“I know you did. She adored you, too. But it took every bit of wind in the world out of my sails for at least two years. Oh, I put up a good front around you girls, but ask your dad about it. But see, here’s the thing, sweetie—that’s how it’s supposed to work. It was hard, but it’s the order of things, you know. The parents are supposed to go before the children. I just couldn’t bear it if anything …” Her voice cracks and she stops to compose herself, dabbing at her eyes. “Sweetie, I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you, especially since we have all this wonderful information nowadays. You see?” Her eyes pull down at the corners and tug at my heart.

Now I feel terrible when she puts it this way because I can’t imagine how awful it would be to lose a child. “Okay, Mom. I promise I’ll do something. And let you know about dinner.”

We hug and say our I love yous, and I get back to work. When I get home that night, I hit Lauren with all my insecurities.

“I think you’re good as far as that vengeful loony Karen goes. She sounds like she’s on the crackwagon and Ben wouldn’t want anyone like that,” she reassures me. “Like you said, he didn’t have to say a thing. He could’ve lied and then said he went out to dinner with a client and told you nothing. You never would’ve known. He didn’t though. He came clean and you can’t argue with that.”

“I know. It’s just that woman was hanging all over him. And the fact that she’s a nutjob scares me.”

“You also said he acted like he couldn’t stand her. If she’s that mental, you know he won’t go for that.”

Lauren’s right. I’m beating myself up over this and it’s making me as crazy as she is. I need to drop it and move on.

Ben calls me later that evening and he sounds like he’s gone nine rounds. Or maybe even twelve.

“You sound awful.”

“I feel it. This has been one hell of a bad day. I’m whipped.” The desolation in his tone is contagious and his bad mood curls in my chest.

“Hey, you okay?”

“No, but I will be once this crisis is averted.”

“When will that be?”

“We’re working on it. It’s so complicated, and not that you wouldn’t understand, but honestly, I’m just talked out right now.”

“You don’t have to explain. I think you need to go home and rest. Get a good night’s sleep.”

“I’m heading out of the office now and hope to be home soon. At least I’ve managed to put that pain-in-my-ass Karen off for another day. I would love your company, but I’ll probably be asleep in twenty minutes and then I’m going in earlier than usual tomorrow.”

“Be safe driving. We’ll talk tomorrow.”