She wasitfor him.
They sat with her father and Bev at her father’s home for the dinner they’d been invited to. Little did she know she would be returning the favor this weekend at his own parents’. For some reason, she seemed skittish whenever he mentioned his mother or father, yet he couldn’t wait to show her off.
His mother had known of his fascination with all things Maya Werner for years. She’d been the one to keep him up to speed on Maya whenever he asked. And she was dying to see him and Maya finally together, if only so she could shut him up about her.
“You two look happy,” Bev commented. She poured them wine before sitting down next to Roy. “Work going well?”
“Terrific. I had the best shots I’ve ever taken a few days ago.”
Maya choked on her drink.
“Oh?” Roy asked.
“Yeah.” He gave Maya a smug smile, then described a sunrise shot over the mountains he’d taken—the day after his session with Maya in his studio. “I would have asked your daughter to go with me, but I’ve seen her before she’s had her coffee in the morning. It’s not pretty.”
She glared at him and took a large sip of wine. “You went out at five.A.M.Er, so he told me,” she added quickly.
Her father rolled his eyes. “Because you’dneverspend the night with a man who’s not your husband.”
“Which she doesn’t have,” Dex added with an unspoken,Yet.
“And never will.”
Her father winked at him. “I think someone’s protesting a bit much, don’t you, Dex?”
Since Monday in his studio, Dex and Maya had spent every night together at her place. Four great nights where they teased, made love, watched TV, played games and just stared at each other. Four days of bliss and torture, because he wanted every day to be that great, but he was afraid if he told her, she might bolt.
Before he could answer her father, Maya said, “Isn’t that a bit ironic coming from you? A thirty-year commitment-phobe?”
“Is that even a word?” Dex tried to make light of what might be a sensitive topic.
“No, she’s right,” Roy said. “I’ve been playing around instead of dealing with my feelings. Did it so long it became a habit.” He reached for Bev’s hand. “Until Bev shook me out of feeling sorry for myself.”
“What?” Maya stared at their hands.
Uh-oh.Dex had a feeling Roy had big news to share. Then Maya shocked him by reaching for his hand under the table.
He clutched her, giving her the lifeline she needed.Thank you, Roy.
“I know it seems sudden, but sometimes you just know.” Roy winked at Bev. “I’ve asked Bev to marry me, Maya.”
“Holy shit.”
Bev grinned and accepted the peck on the cheek Roy gave her.
“Congrats, Roy. Bev.” Dex smiled at them, inwardly cringing when Maya crushed his hand. “Maya?”
At first she forced a smile and nodded. But as he watched her, he saw her soften as she studied the pair. “You really asked her to marry you?”
“I did.”
“Voluntarily? She didn’t have a gun pointed at your head or anything?”
Bev chuckled. “She has you pegged.”
Roy explained, “Bev put it to me pretty plainly. We’re not getting any younger, and what are we doing together? I had a hard time answering at first, because I’ve never felt this way about anyone besides your mother.”
Maya eased up on Dex’s hand, but he wouldn’t let her pull away. To his surprise, she didn’t fight him on it.
