“Wow,” she said with a frown. “I wonder why. I mean I told them all of this stuff that day in the restaurant while you were off on your walk.”
“I know why,” Justin said grimly. He was also pretty sure Decker had been in on the deal as well. The two had been messing with him. Paying him back for the hard time he’d given each of them when they’d met their life mates. The bastards were probably sitting in Canada right now laughing their asses off as they imagined him trying to woo Holly with everything she hated. Payback was indeed a bitch, he thought grimly.
“Why?” Holly asked when he didn’t explain himself.
Rather than answer, Justin opened his door and got out. “Come on. They’ve put the dog in the kennel. It’s safe.”
Holly didn’t exactly rush to follow him, but after a hesitation, she did open her car door and get out. After braving a -couple of steps though, she paused and said, “I feel terrible that they had to put the dog away. Maybe I should just wait here in the car while you visit with your parents.”
Translation, she couldn’t see the dogs but knew they were here somewhere and was terrified enough that she’d rather sit in the car and wait then come inside. Feeling terrible about the dog having to be put away was just an excuse, he knew.
Pausing, he turned and moved back to take her arm.
“It’s okay,” Justin assured her quietly, urging her forward. “I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you. Besides, Holly, you’re not a helpless three--year--old child anymore. You’re an immortal. You could have snapped Octavius’s neck, or ripped his jaw in half had he attacked you,” he pointed out, and then added quickly, “Not that he would. He only jumped on me to try to lick my face. My parents’ dogs aren’t vicious.”
“Dogs?” she asked worriedly. “Like more than one?”
“It’s all right, dear.”
Justin glanced forward to see that his mother had returned and was waiting in the shade of the terrace.
“Leave her with me and go greet your father,” she suggested. “I’ll take care of her.”
Justin smiled his relief at his mother. “Thank you. Mom, this is Holly. Holly, this is my mother.”
“Hello,” Holly said politely, holding out her hand as they joined her.
His mother grinned at the politely offered hand and then took it to pull Holly into her arms for a hug. “Welcome to the family, dear.”
Justin’s eyes widened in horror and he shook his head quickly while running his hand across his throat in a slicing action. His mother arched an eyebrow in question at the gesture and then glanced down with surprise when Holly pulled quickly back.
“What?” she squawked, wide eyes flying between Justin and his mother.
“Holly is a friend, mother,” Justin said quickly. “A very married friend.”
Now it was his mother’s turn to peer from Holly to him wide--eyed as she squawked, “What?”
Justin heaved a sigh, and then simply said, “Mother, read my mind.”
His mother arched a surprised eyebrow at the request. He supposed it had something to do with the fact that he was usually complaining when she read his mind. But then she shrugged and concentrated on his forehead. A moment passed, then another, and then she let her hands drop and stepped to the side.
“Your father is in his study,” she said quietly. “You go ahead. I’ll take Holly to the kitchen for some coffee and cookies.”
“Thank you,” Justin said quietly and then turned to Holly. “Will you be all right?”
“Of course, she will,” his mother assured him, slipping her arm around Holly and turning toward the house. “Go on and see your father,” she suggested. “We’ll be waiting in the kitchen.
Justin watched his mother lead Holly inside and toward the back of the house and then followed them in and headed for the study.
“So you breed dogs for a living, Mrs. Bricker?” Holly asked, staring out the kitchen window at a large kennel with half a dozen huge--looking, bear--like black dogs either resting or playing inside.
“Call me Mattie,” Justin’s mother instructed. “Mrs. Bricker makes me feel so old. Which I am, of course, but no one wants to feel that way.”
Holly turned to peer at the other woman curiously. Matild Bricker was a tall, statuesque blonde who looked no more than twenty--two or --three with her ponytail, jeans, and T--shirt. Despite knowing that immortals all looked in their mid--twenties, it was still difficult to believe that Justin was her son. Actually, it was difficult to believe what her eyes were seeing when she looked at her. The woman talked like a much older woman than her looks suggested and the contrast was continually confusing to the mind. Holly watched the other woman carry a tray of coffee and cookies to the table beside her.