Prue The Prude
Dahlia
Why didn’t I ask Vex to come with me? Just holding his hand would infuse me with all the strength I would ever need.
But this isn’t his battle, this is mine. When the door opens, everything in my world is going to change… for the better.
The door swings open.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Dahlia.” She wraps me in a big hug. “I’m so glad you came home for the weekend. It’s going to be so much fun.”
The way she says ‘fun’ puts my nerves on edge.
“We got a new neighbor. He moved in this week.”
The last time a house sold here was almost a decade ago. People move in here, and they don’t leave until they retire. “That’s nice.”
“Your father invited him to golf yesterday.”
Dad and golf… “Please don’t tell me Dad lost.”
“Of course, your father didn’t lose.”
Good. If he lost, I’d head home now and try again next week. Dad’s a good loser when it comes to everything, but golf.
“He said Maverick has potential, but he’s rough around the edges. They have plans to play again at the club next week.”
“It’s nice Dad got another golf buddy.”
“And a handsome one at that.”
“MOM.”
“What, I’m neither blind nor dead. Maverick doesn’t hold a candle to your father.”
I hope I’m like that when I’m her age… or any age. Though Vex wouldn’t like me even appreciating another man’s looks.
“Why don’t you go settle in? Dinner is in forty minutes or so. We’ll be having company.”
Company? “Who’s coming over?”
“Just your brother, Montgomery... oh, and Maverick.”
I freeze. It’s not odd for Montgomery to be invited over. He’s my brother’s best friend and has practically lived here since they were both teenagers. But Mom would never — “How old is the new neighbor?”
“He’s about your age. Maybe a few years older.”
She says it offhand, but my mother is too determined to get me married to not have planned this. “Mom.”
“What? Don’t look at me like that. He’s rich, single, handsome, and your dad likes him. It can’t hurt to meet him.”
Except I came here to tell you I’m in love. “Mom.”
“Just meet him. It’s not like I’m asking you to go on a date. He’ll probably spend most of the night talking to your dad about golf.”
Why don’t I believe her? “I came here to spend time with you.”
“And you will. We have the entire weekend. Oh, you’re going to have to stay in your old bedroom. We’re redecorating the guest house. ”
What? “You are?” We redecorated it together just a couple of years ago.
“It was time for a change.” A haunted look passes over her face. “It’s going to be a gym for your father and me. A pretty yellow room that will wipe away all the bad memories.”
“They weren’t all bad memories. I learned that no matter what happens, you and Dad will be there for me.”
Mom brushes a tear away. “Go settle in. And put on something pretty—” Mom stops. Her eyebrows crinkle. “Something is different about you.” She examines me for a long minute.
Can she tell I’ve fallen in love? I’m certainly happier than I was weeks ago.
“You’re wearing new clothes.” A tear rolls down her cheek. “You look so beautiful!”
“My clothes aren’t worth crying over.”
She smiles. “They are worth drooling over. We’ll go shopping this weekend.”
There’s no stopping Mom when shopping is involved. “Dad’s going to end up crying too after he sees the bill.”
“Yes, he will, but not because of the bill. I’m so proud of you, Dahlia.”
I blush. Such a small change made a profound difference.
Now all I need to do is be brave.
***
A simple sweater dress from the dream closet that Vex stocked for me is the perfect outfit for dinner. It’s warm enough for the fall weather, even if we have drinks outside, but still shows every one of my curves.
It’s only a little fail to have hidden in my bedroom until just before dinner.
Mom is in the kitchen and no one else is to be found anywhere.
“Where is everyone?”
“They’re still golfing, except for Maverick. He had to work in the city and couldn’t make it until dinnertime. ”
“The food smells wonderful.”
“I made all your favorites.”
“The boys will be happy about that.” My brother is liable to complain non-stop.
“They can deal for one night.” She pulls the oven open, revealing breaded and stuffed pork chops.
“Those look good too.”
Mom shakes her head. “The idea of you eating meat still messes with my head. But don’t worry, I made you one too.”
The doorbell rings.
“Would you answer that? It’s got to be Maverick.”
Like I couldn’t have pulled the rolls out of the oven and put them in the breadbasket. “Of course.” Time to meet tall, dark, and handsome. And then disappoint my mother.
I swing the door open and freeze. “What are you doing here?”
Vex grins at me.
In a three-piece suit, he definitely would win sexy and lethal.
“I was invited.”
“By whom?” That was so rude. Why did I say that? The whole point of this is so that I can introduce Vex to my family. Not be rude and alienate him.
“Dahlia, is that Maverick or a salesperson?”
What do I say? No, Mom, it’s the man I’ve fallen in love with but haven’t told you a word about yet. That will go over so well.
Is it too late to run back to Urbium? Vex isn’t helping. He’s just standing there grinning at me.
What do I do?
This weekend is all about being brave. But all that flew out the window when he walked up to the door. How do I explain all of this?
“Who is it?” Mom joins me at the door. “Maverick. It’s so lovely to see you again.”
Maverick?!? Mom just called Vex, Maverick ?
“Maverick, this is my daughter Dahlia. The one I’ve told you so much about. She’s visiting us for the weekend. Dahlia, this is our new neighbor, Maverick Steele.” She waits for us to shake hands like civilized people.
“She’s almost as beautiful as you.”
Mom preens at the compliment.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Vex holds out a hand to me.
Take it. Don’t just stare at him. Ignore the fact that he’s smirking at you. “It’s nice to meet you too ‘Mr. Steele’.”
“Why don’t you get Maverick a drink while I put the finishing touches on dinner.”
Mom walks away before I can figure out a response.
“You’re supposed to pour me a drink.” Vex… Maverick takes my hand and leads me to the bar in the formal living room.
“What’s going on?” Even though Mom is two rooms away, I whisper. Mothers also hear everything… at least mine always did when we tried to get in trouble. “Why did my mother call you Maverick Steele?”
“Because that’s the name on my license and the deed to my house.”
What? “Your license? Your house? What’s going on Vex?”
“I love you, and I want to spend forever with you. But I don’t ever want to hide from your parents when they come to visit. And I don’t ever not want to be by your side at a party. And I won’t ever not sleep by your side again.”
He… He…
“Vex won’t work for your parents. They won’t be able to accept him. But they love Maverick Steele, the entrepreneur who lives next door. He’s everything they want for their daughter.”
Vex created a whole new person just so that we can be together. “I love you. You didn’t—”
The front door bangs open.
It’s got to be everyone coming back from golf.
My dad will doubtless head straight for the kitchen, and my brother and Monty right for the bar where Vex… Maverick and I are .
Is it too late to hide in the guest house? I walk over and grab Maverick a beer out of the fridge, as well as two more. Maybe if they have beers waiting, they won’t drive me nuts.
“Maverick.” My brother, Basil, walks up to him and offers a fist bump. “Man, we missed you on the course today.”
“You mean you missed winning another grand from him.” Montgomery saunters in. “Prue the prude. You’re looking lovely, as always.”
No.
No.
No.
He wraps an arm around my shoulder and takes a beer from my hand. “How have you been beautiful?”
I try to shrug out of his grip, but that rarely works. Montgomery doesn’t take the word no well. “How is your wife?”