Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)

He heard a car pull up and opened the front door. Fortunately it was only Jack and Taryn. Kenny pulled up behind them. He noticed how they now blocked the driveway, which would make it harder to escape. Harder, he thought, but not impossible.

It was late afternoon and they’d all come from the office. Taryn wore one of her usual tight dresses that probably cost more than he’d spent on his favorite suit. But she looked good, he thought. Happy. Her relationship with Angel was good for her and—

He swore under his breath. Dear God, it was already happening. Just the knowledge that his parents were only a few miles away was changing him into a woman! He had to get out of here now.

“Don’t even think about it,” Taryn said as she walked up the front walkway. “You aren’t leaving. You’re going to stay and greet your parents like the mature, full-functioning adult that you are. You’re going to listen to their stories and be grateful you have a loving family, no matter how much they annoy and frighten you.”

Her violet-blue gaze was steady. She spoke quietly, as if only for him to hear. And he got the message. Because Taryn’s home life had been shit. She didn’t say much but he’d figured out enough to know that things had gone badly for her. That when she’d met Jack, she’d managed to put herself through college and graduate with honors, but she’d also been broke and practically living in her car.

In the scheme of things, he had it easy. His big complaint was that his family loved him too much. And his parents had sex on the brain. Poor, poor him.

“Good point,” he said, pulling her close and hugging her. She wrapped her arms around him and hung on. The contact was comforting. And siblinglike. There were no thrills when holding Taryn. No need for more, no burning hunger.

He stepped back and grinned. Probably for the best, he thought. Angel could so take them all. It wasn’t that the other man was stronger; it was that he knew how to fight dirty and wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever it took to win. Jack, Kenny and Sam had been raised with the idea of a fair battle and a code of conduct.

“You’ll be fine,” Taryn told him, just as a BMW X5 drove up and parked in front of the house. The doors opened and an attractive older couple stepped out.

Sam happened to know their ages, but he would guess that anyone else would think they were at least a decade younger than they were. His dad was tall, with dark hair and eyes. Lark was five-eight, with wavy dark blond hair and deep blue eyes. They wore jeans and shirts, like regular people, but Sam knew the disguise was simply to help them blend in. That soon enough they would show their true, weird colors.

But they were also his parents and, despite everything, he couldn’t help being pleased to see them. Maybe he was overreacting, he thought. Maybe the visit would be fine. People mellowed as they aged. They could be completely normal.

Lark reached Taryn first and hugged her. “My favorite almost-daughter,” she said, and stepped back to study her. “You’re so beautiful. I can see you’re having regular sex and it’s wonderful.” She tilted her head. “You’re in love.”

Taryn laughed. “Yes, I am. You’re going to meet him this weekend.” She held out her left hand where a large diamond flashed in the light.

“I can’t wait to hold him in my arms.” Lark stared, then sighed. “Wonderful. Reggie, look. Taryn’s engaged.”

“Congratulations,” Reggie said, hugging her tight. “He’s a good man?”

“The best.”

Lark smiled. “You know a good sexual relationship is the cornerstone to any marriage. I have some new techniques I want to discuss with you and your young man. It’s all about mindfulness and breathing. It makes a man last for hours. Reggie, my love, you’ll talk to Taryn’s friend about his end of things, so to speak.”

“Of course.” Reggie dropped a kiss onto the top of his wife’s head. “Depending on how shy he is, I’ll show him the video of what we’ve been practicing or just tell him.”

Sam hung his head. Yup, these were his parents, and from what he could tell, no one had mellowed.

Kenny slapped him on the back. “This is the best show in town.”

“Watch it,” Sam warned. “Or I’ll ask my dad to give you a private demonstration.”

Kenny winced. “Ah, no, thanks.”

Lark moved to Jack and hugged him. She studied his face. “Still not giving with your heart?”

Jack shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s always good to see you, Lark,” he said, and kissed her.

She sighed. “You’re emotionally elusive. We have to fix that.” She turned to Kenny and smiled. “You know, of all Sam’s friends, you were the one I thought would be most interesting in bed.”

Reggie rolled his eyes. “You tell him that every time you see him. Give the kid a break.”

Kenny grinned. “I like being the favorite.”