Chapter Twenty
After the recording session, I mentioned Daddy’s phone call and his insistence that we join him for lunch. To my surprise, Colt readily agreed.
Now, I’m pacing the bedroom floor while Colt takes his time in the shower.
What am I doing?
Introducing Colt to Daddy feels like a monumental mistake.
My heart pounds so fiercely it feels like it might burst from my chest, only to be stomped on by Daddy. Running a hand through my hair, I continue pacing, trying to steady my racing thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, I remind myself that Colt’s willingness to meet Daddy is a positive step. Perhaps, despite my fears, this luncheon could go better than I expect.
“You okay, baby?” Colt asks.
I turn to look at him, and he’s wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. His chest glistens with water droplets running down his tattooed chest, heading south to where I want to be.
“Dee, stop ogling and talk to me,” he says, snapping me out of my lust-induced trance. I shake my head and focus on his face instead of his rock-hard abs and his drop-dead sexy V leading…
South.
“Dee!”
My head snaps up again, and I exhale loudly. “Put on some damn clothes, will you? I can’t concentrate with you standing there all wet and gorgeous and practically naked.”
Colt smirks and drops his towel to the floor, and I’m pretty sure—no, I am sure—my ovaries explode. He chuckles and walks over to me, taking my cheeks in his hands and pulling me up to look at his face.
“You just want me for my body,” he says with a smirk and leans in, kissing me quickly. Then, walking back to his towel, he picks it up and dries himself.
Well, at least he stopped me from thinking about Daddy for a minute.
Fuck! Daddy and Colt.
Shit! Colt and Daddy.
Shit!
Fuck!
Shit, fuck, shit!
I start to pace the floor again.
“Dee, it’ll be fine. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
I scoff like he’s being an idiot. “Of course you will. It’s Daddy who won’t be. He’ll be a right royal arse, Colt,” I reply.
He simply chuckles in response.
“It’s not funny, Colt. After meeting him, that man will ensure you hate me. I just know it.” I start to panic.
Colt walks over and holds me at arm’s length. “Dee, I can handle your father. Trust me… I’ve dealt with worse.”
“Oh, really? You think! Who could be worse at degrading you than my father? He’s done a pretty good job of it so far,” I say, resting my hand on my hip and tilting my head, waiting for his reply.
“The paparazzi. They degrade me all the time. For each lover out there, baby, there are twenty haters. I’ve heard it all. So don’t worry, you’re stressing over nothing.”
I shake my head because he has no fricking idea!
Not long after, we are driving, and Colt’s at the wheel, which is weird, since we always have a driver, but Colt’s car is gorgeous, a black XKR Jaguar Convertible.
We are making our way to Norman Manor much faster than I would like.
Actually, I would prefer it to take a year or so to get there.
Colt knows Daddy’s rich, but I don’t think he expects my family home to be a manor in the heart of Oxfordshire.
My heart is thudding ridiculously fast in my chest, and I can’t help but be concerned that today’s luncheon with my parents isn’t going to run as smoothly as Colt seems to think it will.
We pull up on the cobblestone driveway too soon, and I exhale loudly as the engine’s roar stops abruptly.
“Baby, I know you’re worried, but it’ll be fine,” Colt says, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles before getting out and walking around to my door.
I have to say, I’m impressed with the effort Colt’s making today. He swapped his everyday distressed jeans and black tank top for a polo shirt and black slacks. He even wore a polo shirt with longer sleeves to cover his tattoos. To top it off, he doesn’t seem the least bit nervous.
Colt opens my door, and I step out, exhaling loudly. He takes my hand while carrying a bunch of flowers in his other hand for Mummy. I told him not to bother, but he insisted.
“You nervous, baby? Your palms are all sweaty,” he says.
I scowl. “You know I’m nervous, you bloody idiot.”
“Hey,” he exclaims, stopping and turning me to face him. “I got this. You know how I feel about you. That’s not going to change. Will you stop worrying and enjoy whatever happens? You haven’t seen your parents for a long time.”
“I’m sorry. And you’re not a bloody idiot. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just so fucking anxious, is all.”
He pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly. “Stop swearing, Dee. Or I will have to take you behind the house for a quickie.”
I laugh and take a moment, wrapping my arms around his waist.
The door to the manor opens, and George stands there, trying to hide a smirk.
I let go of Colt, taking his hand, and walk toward the front door. “George, how are you?” I ask and lean in to give him a one-handed hug. As always, he tenses and pats my back awkwardly.
“Miss Norman, it’s good to have you home… finally. We’ve all missed you,” he says as I pull away.
“Thanks, George. I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Colter Slade. Colt, this is George, our butler. He’s been here since I was, what? Five or so, George?” I ask, trying to remember.
“Yes, Miss Norman. You had just turned five one week before I started,” he replies with a bright smile. “You’d better come in…” The more he smiles, the more his wrinkles become prominent. “Mr. and Mrs. Norman are expecting you in the rose garden.”
“Okay, thanks.” I nod and walk inside.
“Nice to meet you, George,” Colt calls out as we step away.
“You too, Mr. Slade.”
We walk through hell, I mean, the great hall, toward the back garden.
Colt’s looking everywhere, taking everything in. “This place is massive,” he whispers in my ear.
“Wait till you see out back,” I reply, wiggling my brows at him.
He smirks, and I lead him through the back doors and out to the patio.
His eyes widen as he takes in the lush lawn that carries on forever and all the trees lining the driveway out back.
Tugging on his hand, I pull him toward the garden, and we walk down the stairs, then along the little cobblestone path leading to the rose garden gazebo.
“Seriously, Dee, this is where you grew up?” Colt asks, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
He looks utterly amazed, and my only response is a giggle.
“I wanna live here. Why the hell would you want to leave?” he asks with a chuckle.
“Well, I left to live in London with Joseph, but we came here almost every weekend,” I answer, feeling awkward talking about my ex. He suddenly clears his throat, and his jaw ticks when I look at him.
Yep, I’m not the only one feeling like that was a subject best not discussed. Whoops!
Daddy’s favorite classical music is playing in the garden, and I can’t help but be excited to see my parents. At the same time, I’m completely terrified to introduce them to Colt.
“Okay, you ready?” I whisper as we approach the archway for the rose garden.
He smirks and dips his chin. “Lead the way, Miss Norman,” he says, waving his hand for me to go through first.
“Why, ever the gentleman, Mr. Slade,” I reply in the poshest voice I can muster, and he chuckles.
Taking his hand, I guide us through, squeezing his hand tightly when my parents come into view.
“Hi, Daddy,” I call out.
Both my parents turn and look at me. They smile brightly as we walk up the stairs into the gazebo to greet them.
Daddy walks over and hugs me close. “Let me look at you,” he says, then holds me at arm’s length. “You look skinny. Are you eating? Is he feeding you properly?” Daddy looks Colt up and down.
“Oh, come now, Ford. She looks exactly the same as when we saw her four months ago. Come here, darling,” Mummy says, pulling me toward her in her motherly embrace, and then she kisses each of my cheeks. She looks over to Colt, and her eyebrow rises as she tries to hide a smile.
“Mrs. Norman, these are for you.” Colt hands Mummy the bouquet of irises. She accepts them with a soft smile, lifting the delicate petals to her nose and inhaling their fresh, floral scent. “Thank you so much. Irises are my favorite,” Mummy says, gushing over Colt.
“Oh, Liz, don’t be ridiculous. Your favorite flowers are roses. That’s why we have a rose garden that takes a small fortune to maintain,” Daddy states.
My mummy frowns and places the flowers on the table.
“And you… you must be the rocker from Croydon,” Daddy states in such a way that it sounds degrading.
Colt smiles and puts out his hand for Daddy to shake.
“Daddy, meet my boyfriend, Colter Slade. Colt, meet Rutherford Norman, but everyone calls him Ford.”
Daddy looks at Colt’s hand and scoffs. “You can call me Mr. Norman, thank you. And put your hand away. I don’t know where it’s been.”
“Daddy, stop it, or we’ll leave,” I threaten, irritated with his behavior.
He grunts and walks over to sit at the table. I look at Colt and mouth, Sorry, but he’s still smiling and acting like he’s doing fine. God only knows what he’s really thinking.
“C’mon, darlings, let’s have tea.” Mummy links her arm in Colt’s and moves with him to the table. Colt pulls out the chair next to Daddy for Mummy to sit down, and she blushes, giggling as she sits while he pushes her seat in.
“I could have done that,” Daddy mumbles.
“Oh, Ford, when have you ever pulled my chair out for me?”
Colt walks around, pulls my chair out for me, and then sits beside me. I can’t help but notice that the table has five place settings, with the fifth at the end, next to me.
I wonder who will be joining us?
“So, Colter… if that’s even your real name… what are your intentions with my only child?” Daddy asks.
“Ford!” Mummy asserts loudly while I sit, stunned and shocked.
“Straight to the tough questions. Okay, Mr. Norman, sir. As I’ve told you twice, I care deeply for Dee. She means everything to me. Honestly, she makes me a better person. I live to please and to make her as happy as I can. She’s my everything,” Colt replies, never taking his eyes off mine.