Chapter 206

[ 927 words ]

Emilia’s POV

Scott Hanson stood in the doorway, looking as thrown as I felt.

“Emilia?”

For a moment neither of us moved. Then we both spoke at once.

“What are you doing here?”

Scott recovered first, glancing past me into the living room. “Seriously. Why are you at my mother’s house?”

“Your mother’s—” I blinked. “Wait. Your mother?”

“This is my mom’s place. So I’ll ask again. Why are you here?”

Oh, for the love of—

“Who’s at the door?” Claudine came out of the kitchen carrying a platter of pot roast. She stopped short when she saw Scott. “Scott! What are you doing here?”

“Was driving by, thought I’d stop in.” He looked between us. “But how do you know Miss Taylor?”

“Miss Taylor?” Claudine turned to me. “You two know each other?”

I fought the urge to laugh. “We’re… former colleagues. I used to be his assistant at Hanson Group.”

“You’re kidding.” She pressed a hand to her chest, her face breaking into a smile. “What are the odds?”

“Astronomically low,” I muttered.

Scott had already stepped inside, looking far too pleased about it. “So, Mom. How exactly did you two meet?”

Claudine launched into the story. When she finished, Scott’s smile widened. “Sounds like Miss Taylor made quite the impression. I’d give her a commendation at the next company event. Oh, wait. She doesn’t work for me anymore.”

I shot him a look. “Your concern is touching.”

“Children, please.” Claudine waved us toward the table. “The food’s getting cold. Sit, both of you.”

Scott pulled out a chair. I took the one across from him, set on keeping some distance.

“So, Emilia,” Claudine said, setting down dishes, “you worked at Scott’s company?”

“Mom.” Scott sighed. “I literally just said she was my assistant. Where else would she have worked? The zoo?”

“I wasn’t asking you, smartass.”

I bit back a grin. “Yes. I left not long ago.”

“Oh?” Her eyes sparked with curiosity, but she didn’t push. “Well, I’m pleasantly surprised. I was planning to introduce you two, and here you already know each other.”

The temperature in the room dropped about ten degrees.

Scott cleared his throat. “Right. Let’s eat.”

He made a big show of serving himself the pot roast.

This is fine. Just dinner with your former boss and the mother who tried to set you up with him.

“Here.” Scott dropped a large piece of roasted chicken onto my plate. “Eat more.”

I looked at the chicken, then at him. “I’m perfectly capable of serving myself, thanks.”

“You’re skin and bones. What, does your family not feed you?”

If only he knew. Mila practically forced seconds on me at every meal.

“No danger of that,” I said, poking at the chicken.

Claudine watched with poorly hidden interest, connecting dots I really wished she wouldn’t.

“Emilia, eat as much as you like.” She piled more onto both our plates. “Scott, you too. You work too hard.”

I focused on my dinner, aware of Scott’s eyes on me. The food was excellent, but I could barely taste it through my embarrassment.

“Eve?”

“Oh, I’m enjoying this,” my wolf said, delighted. “Your old boss who clearly still has a thing for you. His mother trying to play matchmaker. And you, married to an Alpha who’d tear the house down if he could see your face right now. “

“You’re not helping.”

“Wasn’t planning to.”

I ate faster, desperate to get out. “Claudine, thank you so much for dinner. But I really should get going. I have some work to finish tonight.”

“Work? On a Saturday?” She caught my hand and drew me toward the living room sofa. “Stay a little longer. Keep me company?”

“Mom, if she says she has work—”

“Hush. I’m talking to Emilia.” Claudine patted the cushion beside her. “Every time I see you, I’m reminded of myself at your age.”

I sat down. “Really?”

“Absolutely.” Her eyes went distant. “Ambitious. Sure of yourself. Feisty”

“She’s not nearly as feisty as you,” Scott put in. “You were terrifying.”

“Am terrifying,” Claudine corrected, shooting him a look. “Nothing wrong with that.”

“Didn’t say there was.”

“Then stop interrupting.”

I watched the two of them go back and forth, and despite how awkward the evening was, something in me settled. The bickering, the way neither of them meant a word of it. This was what a family sounded like.

“Anyway,” Claudine went on, “I hope you’ll come by more often. I always wanted a daughter. Instead the universe gave me this one.” She jerked her thumb at Scott. “Twenty-some years later and I still haven’t quite forgiven it.”

“Hey, you had options,” Scott said dryly. “Ultrasounds existed back then.”

“Scott!”

“What? I’m just saying.”

I laughed. “I’m sure he takes good care of you.”

“He does. When he’s not being deliberately dense.” Her expression softened. “But honestly, Emilia, I’d love to see you again. You’re welcome here anytime.”

“See? Best son you’re ever going to get,” Scott said.

“And there he goes again.” Claudine sighed. “Scott, I’m trying to talk to Emilia. Do you have to narrate?”

He shrugged. “It’s my night off. I’ll narrate if I want.”

The pressure in my stomach chose that moment to twist harder. I stood up quickly, a hand pressed to my middle. “Sorry. Bathroom?”

“Down the hall, second door on the left.”

Maybe I’d eaten too fast. My stomach cramped as I went, one hand on it the whole way. Behind me, I caught Claudine’s voice dropping to a whisper.

“You like her, don’t you?”

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