He looks relieved. “It shouldn’t take too long. Can you hang out with my mom?”
I nod.
He leans over and brushes a quick kiss to my temple. I inhale the warm, spicy scent that is woven into my subconscious as being purelyCollin. I’m pretty sure I could be blindfolded and in a strange land, and one whiff of that, and I’d be able to find my way home.
Collin flicks his gaze to his mom, and I follow his line of sight. Bev has a soft expression on her face, but when we look at her, she blinks and smiles.
“Come, dear.” She ushers me into the kitchen.
I take one quick peek over my shoulder and see Collin with his eyes closed, taking a deep breath, as if trying to collect himself before he faces his father. My heart squeezes, and I say a silent prayer that I’m wrong about Dirk Rattler…for my fake husband’s sake.
“What can I get you, Noli? Coffee? Water? I can put the kettle on for tea.”
I turn my attention to Bev and pull out a stool that’s tucked under the kitchen island, plopping down and conjuring up a smile. I feel bone tired, and it’s only eight in the morning. “Coffee is perfect. Thank you. Please don’t make a fuss for me, though.”
“Nonsense. Fussing is what I do. That’s what Dirk always tells me anyway.”
She means it as a joke, but I frown, and she must catch my expression.
She offers me a wry grin. “Don’t worry, dear. I’ve learned to take it as a compliment, and I don’t let what that man says or does bother me these days.”
I’m trying to read between the lines here, to pick up on what Collin’s mom isn’t saying. Before I can figure out how to press her on the subject of her husband in an appropriate way, she sets amug of steaming coffee down in front of me along with a pitcher of cream.
She settles onto the barstool next to me. “Now. What’s going on between you and my son?”
I blow into my drink and side-eye Bev. She’s staring back at me expectantly. I feel bad that she’s going to hear about this from me—I feel even worse that Collin and I deceived her—but what can I do at this point?
“The article wasn’t wrong,” I say with a sigh. “Collin and I did arrange everything. We started fake dating because his team thought it would be beneficial for his campaign. Then things escalated.”
I’m leaving out my own role in this for the time being. Sweet Bev doesn’t need to worry about Nelson and my awful track record where men are concerned. Heck, if and when she finds out, she’ll probably warn her son away from me.
Bev sucks in a breath. “His team? Then Dirk knew?”
I shift my jaw and nod. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. Collin said his dad thought the fewer people who knew the better…because news spreads like wildfire in this town. Clearly, it didn’t matter. Somehow the story leaked.”
Bev runs her hand along the lip of the granite countertop. “Somehow,” she murmurs.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Rattler. I wanted to tell you. Collin did too.”
She brushes the counter clean before waving her hand. “Don’t worry about me. I’m used to being left in the dark.”
The thought of Collin’s mom being in a position in her marriage—in her household—that could be dangerous in any way, spurs my next comment. “Bev, I apologize if this is completely out of line for me to ask, but are you safe here?”
Bev is silent for a moment before reaching over and covering my hand with hers. “You’re a good girl, Noli. Thank you for asking that.” She pats my hand twice. “My husband is not the easiest man to live with, that’s for sure, but he’s never laid a hand on mephysically. He loves me in his own way. It might not be the stuff of romance novels, he and I, but I love him too. I wish he’d take my advice now and then. I think he could be a better man if he did.”
“I don’t doubt that. You’d be nothing but a good influence.”
“Well, I don’t know about that. I’ve been known to have a wild streak here and there.” Bev’s eyes twinkle when my eyes widen. She chuckles softly. “Don’t look so surprised, Noli. And don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
I study her before nodding slowly. “Okay. But if you ever need anything, I’m here. And Collin is here. He loves you.”
She gives my hand a squeeze. “I worry about him most, you know. With the pressure his father has put on him.” She frowns. “To go so far as to devise a plan to pair Collin off for the sake of his career… I mean, honestly.” Bev clicks her tongue.
My cheeks heat, and I tuck my hands in my lap, fiddling with my thumbnail.
“But I have to hand it to Dirk, I suppose. He may have inadvertently helped our son find happiness. I suppose I can’t be sorry about that.”
I tip my head up to see Bev smiling broadly. I feel like I need to say something to temper her expectations. I clear my throat. “Collin’s and my relationship is…complicated.”
