The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(35)

"Do you have him now?" Jack asked.

"I left him back at the house," Charlotte said. "It's not like we're staying the night."

"I was meaning to talk to you two about that," her mother said, coming back to the table and taking the open seat next to Jack. "Did Charlotte tell you that we're pressing cider in the morning? You could meet the whole neighborhood, Jack. Would you two like to help?"

Charlotte wished her mother would turn to see her death stare.

"It would give us a chance to get to know you a little bit better before we walk our daughter down the aisle. You're not part of the family until we've conscripted you into manual labor," Ellen said, touching Jack's arm.

"I think dad took care of that when he asked Jack to climb up on the roof to do the decorating," Charlotte said. She waited for silence before continuing. "I wish we could stay, but Jack and I are planning on heading back tonight. He has a full day tomorrow, and I don't think he can get out of any of his commitments.

"I texted my scheduler already," Jack said. "I had her push everything just in case tonight went longer than planned. It's just a few fundraisers and a staff meeting. My chief of staff is making an appearance at the only real engagement I have for the day. He loves that stuff anyway. It gives him a chance to wield his authority. Give him a meeting to run, and he's like a dog with a bone."

"You don't have to do that, honey," Charlotte said. "My parents understand how busy you are. They're just being polite."

Charlotte just wanted to head back to DC and figure out what was happening between her and Jack. He had kissed her. After ignoring her all week, he had kissed her, and she had enjoyed it. In fact, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. All dinner long, she kept thinking about the way his kiss lingered on her lips, the way the memory of his touch made her long to wrap herself up in him again.

The last thing she wanted was to hang around her parents' house for another night while pretending that everything was hunky-dory between her and Jack. She couldn't just haul him into the other room and ask her fiancé where they stood. Her parents might overhear and wonder what the hell was going on. Then there was Jack's story about their engagement, and how he had fallen for her. It sounded almost believable enough to be true. "Nonsense," Jack said. "We'd love to stay. Tell me what I can do to help, and I'll do it."

"Then it's decided," Ellen said. "You two can sleep on the pull-out in the den, unless you think you can both squeeze onto the one in Charlotte's room."

"Are you sure you can make this work?" Charlotte asked Jack, turning away from her parents so they wouldn't see her don't-make-this-work look.

"Of course," Jack said. "I can't think of anything I'd rather do."

"Well, I don't want to rock the boat. You can take the den, and I'll sleep upstairs," Charlotte said.

"Charlotte, it's not like you're sneaking him in through the window. You're an adult. He's your fiancé, and we should get used to the two of you sharing a room when you stay over. Think of all the holidays we'll get to spend together as a family. Plus, if we're ever going to have grandchildren," Ellen said, leaving a pregnant pause in the air, "you'll have to sleep in the same bed at some point."

"You did not just say that," Charlotte groaned. It was bad enough to think that her parents were acknowledging that she and Jack slept together, but it was even worse to think that they already were starting to talk about grandchildren. They were already starting to get attached to him. This was exactly what she had feared.

"Jack, you can help Pete clear the table, and Charlotte and I will go get some fresh linens," her mother said.

Charlotte looked at Jack and gave him her best attempt at dagger eyes before she followed her mother into the hallway.

"They say it's never polite to discuss politics at the dinner table," she heard her father say, "but they never said anything about what you can discuss while scrubbing dishes." At least Jack was in for an earful.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Charlotte's mother pulled her aside by the arm. "He's nice," she said. "And he's handsome."

"I know he's nice and handsome. I'm the one marrying him, Mom."

"It just seems a little fast."

"I know."

For the first time that night, Charlotte figured maybe she could use her true feelings to her advantage. She just wished she could tell her mother the truth and ask for her advice, but how could she say, I think I'm falling for my fiancé; what should I do?

"I just feel swept up in it," Charlotte said. "I've never felt this way about anyone. It's just hard to describe."

"It's a little fast," her mother repeated. "Are you pregnant?"

"Mom!" Charlotte said. "I haven't exactly checked, but I'm pretty sure I am not pregnant."

"Oh trust me," Ellen said, "you'll know when you are. I still remember the morning I realized I was pregnant with you. I thought I had food poisoning. They call it morning sickness, but that's a lie. For me, at least, it was morning, noon, and night. And anyway, I only ask because it would explain the hurry. I mean, we're meeting him for the first time tonight. You've only known him for a few months."