Total pages in book: 12
Estimated words: 10791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 54(@200wpm)___ 43(@250wpm)___ 36(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 10791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 54(@200wpm)___ 43(@250wpm)___ 36(@300wpm)
“Thanks. So do you.” I felt oddly stiff and formal. Since the elevator incident, we’d hung out a few more times for TV watching with a side of kissing and had also eaten lunch together.
“Is it weird that we’ve slept next to each other, but this is our first real date?” Marshall asked the same question running through my own head.
“A little,” I agreed, then brightened as I unlocked my car. “But I like doing things out of order. Like eating dessert first.”
“Which I can actually do tonight. In moderation.” Marshall grinned at me as he slid his long frame into the passenger seat.
“You got your new pump?” I returned his smile. He’d missed work yesterday to go into Portland for an appointment, and he’d been hoping the endocrinologist would have a solution for him.
“I did.” He patted his waistband area near his left hip. “And the doctor adjusted my overall medication regimen. She said work stress can play a role in blood sugar as well.”
“Next court date, I’m making sure you eat breakfast myself.” I wagged a finger at him. Despite my natural caretaker inclinations, I tried to keep any inquiries regarding Marshall’s health light and minimal.
“You better sleep over then, just in case,” he countered.
“I better.” My cheeks heated. I put the car in Drive to distract from the innuendo.
“Speaking of, how are your cats this evening?” Marshall kept up the flirty tone.
Oh. I was apparently doing more than simply dropping him off later. Win.
“Well-fed, watered, and could easily last until morning.”
“Good to know.” He winked at me as I stopped for a red light. “With my new pump and med tweak, I’m feeling more like myself again.”
“Excellent.” I waggled my eyebrows in return. He’d mentioned rather sheepishly the other night that his medications could sometimes make sex more difficult. I was plenty happy to wait until he felt better, but if that occasion was tonight, so much the better.
We arrived at the hotel ballroom hosting the event and joined the crowd waiting to get in. A well-dressed swath of Mount Hope’s upper class and VIPs waited to show their tickets.
“How did you score tickets to this anyway?” Marshall asked.
“My mother is a pediatrician in town.” I maybe should have shared that fact sooner, but in my defense, I’d been a bit distracted lately. “She couldn’t have any biological kids, so she and my dad adopted the lot of us from foster care.”
“How many siblings do you have?” His eyes widened at the word lot. Marshall had mentioned an older sister who lived in Seattle, but my rowdy collection of siblings would likely be a new experience for him.
“Four. One biological sibling, three adopted. I’m the middle kid.” I scanned the crowd, luckily not spotting any other Callahans. “Fair warning that at least two of my siblings are probably here tonight, but I’ve warned everyone that us dating is super new and to not overwhelm you.”
“Thank you.” Marshall pursed his lips as if thinking hard. “I’m okay meeting your family.”
“Yeah?” That was a pleasant surprise. I showed our tickets to the volunteer working the door, and we made our way into the elegantly decorated ballroom with art deco accents for the occasion.
“This is our last first date, after all.” He nodded decisively. “They might want to get used to me. And I told my mom about you when I was in Portland for the doctor’s appointment.”
Another shocker. “What did you say?”
“That you have terrible taste in shirts, an abundance of cats, a kind heart, and I like you a lot.”
I grinned so widely it was a wonder the lights didn’t flicker. “Good.”
The dinner portion of the evening included introducing Marshall to my parents, which went surprisingly well. After he excused himself to the restroom, likely to check his pump, my mother took the opportunity to slide into the chair next to me.
“I like your friend.” She wore a vintage silver dress and matching chunky jewelry.
“Me too.” I was much too happy to play it cool.
“Is it too early to tell you to bring him to a family dinner?” my dad asked from across the table.
“A bit.” I tensed. Marshall had said he was happy meeting my family but subjecting him to the whole lot of us felt a little daunting. “But soon.”
“I’ll make meatloaf.” Dad wasn’t above bribing me with my favorite. “Do you need me to look in on your cats tonight?”
“Dad.” I was sure I was blushing again.
“Come on.” He leaned forward, tan suit coat stretching across his broad shoulders. “I’ve waited a long time for you to have a nice boyfriend for me to tease you about.”
I had also waited a long time for someone like Marshall to come along. However, I was saved from replying as Marshall arrived back at the table. The band was made up of local community college students, but they were doing an admirable job with the swing playlist. Several couples were already dancing, including Marshall’s emergency room nurse practitioner and his cute younger boyfriend. My parents joined in the fun, leaving Marshall and me alone at the table.