Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 499

CELESTE

Dominic's palm closed around mine as we walked up my mother's path, and I had to remind myself to breathe.

I had walked this path a thousand times without a single flutter in my chest. Tonight my heart was throwing itself against my ribs like a bird testing a cage, because tonight I was bringing Dominic Ford through that door, and I was so busy grinning that I nearly married the garden hose.

He caught my elbow and laughed under his breath. "Easy. I would like to meet your mother before you introduce me to the emergency room."

"I am perfectly calm."

"You just proposed to a coil of rubber."

"I was testing its intentions."

He lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, and the warmth of it travelled all the way up my arm and settled somewhere behind my sternum. It had been a while since the garden, since the ring, since I had said yes, and he still looked at me like I was a gift he was afraid to unwrap too quickly.

"Whatever happens in there, I love you. Even if your mother takes one look at me and calls the police."

"That is a real possibility. She is very protective."

He laughed, and I pushed the doorbell, and my mother opened the door so fast she must have been standing right behind it.

She looked at our joined hands. She looked at Dominic. Then she looked at me with eyes that had gone suspiciously bright.

"Celeste. You did not tell me you were bringing anyone. I made stew. I would have made a roast."

"Mom, stew is perfect." I stepped inside and pulled Dominic with me. "This is Dominic. Dominic, this is my mother."

Dominic extended his hand, all warmth and polish. "It is an honour to meet you, ma'am."

"Clearly not enough." She pointed at the bowl. "Have at it. I will not have my daughter be with a man who faints from hunger at every turn."

Dominic picked up his spoon and took a bite, and my mother watched him with the intensity of a woman appraising livestock. He chewed, swallowed, and closed his eyes.

"Mrs. Adams, if I had known stew like this existed, I would have proposed to your daughter years ago just to get invited to dinner."

My mother smacked his arm, delighted. "Flattery and good manners. Celeste, where did you find this one? Tell me he has a flaw or I will not believe he is real."

"He snores," I said.

"I do not snore."

"He once wore brown shoes with a black belt and did not see the problem."