He closed her door and then climbed in his own side. “Can we talk about it?” he asked.
“No, this is my body, and I’ll have the doctor I trust to take care of me.”
He looked like he wanted to argue with her. She shook her head. “No arguing. When you’re carrying my baby then you get to pick which doctor you want to see.”
“You’re going to test me at every turn.”
“Yep, and you’re going to test me. This is going to be an interesting few months, Mr. Thompson.”
He leaned over and kissed her lips. “Mr. Thompson, huh? I like the sound of that.”
Patrick took her lips in an intense kiss that left her gasping for breath. He pulled away and stared into her eyes. “The sooner we can finish lunch the sooner I get you into my bed,” he said.
Her pussy melted at his words. “You’re going to keep me busy, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m going to make sure by the time junior pops out, you’re going to be ready to marry me.”
He pulled away and started up the car. Jennifer chuckled at his words. They’d known each other a short time, but already she felt herself falling for him. Love was such an idiotic emotion, but that is what she was starting to feel for him.
“Please tell me you haven’t picked a seafood restaurant?” she asked.
“No, I saw the paper. You really did a number on that place. Did it smell or something?”
“Don’t start. You know why I threw up.”
Patrick chuckled.
“I picked a nice little Italian restaurant. Your parents should love it,” he said.
“How did they take the news that we wanted to see them together?”
“I think they’re expecting a proposal and a ring.”
“This is going to be a long lunch then,” she said, gazing out of the window.
He caressed her thigh. “Not if I can help it.”
Patrick helped her out of the car when they pulled up to the restaurant half an hour later. She watched as he gave the keys to the man waiting and then escorted her in. The maître d’ was waiting for him. He escorted them to a seat in the back where she saw her parents waiting. The other two people she figured were Patrick’s parents.
“Mom, Dad, this is Jennifer Dixon,” he said.
“Lovely to meet you.” She shook their hands and took the seat Patrick pulled out for her.
Her parents greeted Patrick as he sat down. Keeping her hands in her lap, she stared across the table. The parents looked menacing with their penetrating gaze.
“She’s different from your other women, Patrick,” his mother said.
Gazing down at her plate she tried to think of something to say.
“Don’t start, Mom.”
The waiter brought them the menus.
“Are you okay, dear?” her mother asked. Jennifer looked up at Helen. There was concern on her face. She rarely saw her mother showing any emotion other than annoyance.
“I’m fine.”
Patrick squeezed her leg offering her comfort. The contact made her jump, which jolted the table.
“Sorry,” she said.
His mother sent her a scowl and started muttering to herself.
“Stop panicking. We’ve got this.” He leaned over to whisper in her ear.
Her blush intensified as he kissed her neck. Did he know how he was affecting her? Her body was aware of him in the most basic of ways.
They gave their orders for lunch. She noticed their mothers both ordered a salad with everything removed. Jennifer went for the same so they wouldn’t be glaring at her.
Patrick frowned at her, and she shook her head. He didn’t argue with her choice, and for that she was thankful.
“So, son, do you have some news for us?” Robert asked.
He took her hand, kissing her knuckles. “We have some news, and we don’t think you’re going to like all of it.”
“Before we get started, how did you two meet?” His mother butted in, asking her own questions.
“At a party in the library,” he said.
Jennifer’s words failed her. His mother looked terrifying.
“How charming.”
“Shut up, Susan.” His father growled at the woman next to him. Patrick kept hold of Jennifer’s hand throughout it all. “What news?”
“Well, Jennifer is pregnant with my child. She got confirmation from the doctors, and we’re ready to settle down together.”
“Are you sure the baby is yours?” Susan said.
“But we’ve decided not to marry yet.” Patrick went on ignoring his mother.
“What?” Helen asked.
“We’re going to spend the next nine months getting to know each other, and then we’re going to decide if we should take the next step,” he said.
Jennifer let him lead the conversation. She couldn’t think of a single decent thing to add to it.
“You’re not bringing my grandbaby into this world without marrying my daughter,” Helen said.
Jennifer heard the outrage in her mother’s voice and cringed at her shrill tone.
So the argument began.
****
Patrick wondered how his future mother-in-law would react if he covered his ears. Her voice was irritating. He glanced at Jennifer and saw she was embarrassed by her mother’s attitude. They’d be fighting their parents’ attitude for years to come. He knew there was no changing their minds. Susan, his mother, despised Jennifer. He saw it in her eyes as she assessed the woman at his side. What was wrong with Jennifer? She was nothing like the other women he dated.
She’s nothing like the women your mother has thrown at you either.
No, Susan would never be happy until he did as he was told.
Jennifer’s hand shook inside his, and he felt a possessive wave sweep through him. They made her nervous, and he didn’t like the affect it was having on her.
He eased his chair back and stood. Keeping a firm grip on her hand he addressed their parents.
“We didn’t come here asking for your opinion or getting your approval. This is what we’ve decided. You either accept that, or leave us alone. Come on, Jennifer, we’ve got stuff to do.”
Jennifer followed behind him on their way out to the car. He helped her inside the passenger seat before taking the wheel.
“Linda said they wouldn’t allow it,” she said.
“Ignore them. They can’t control us, and this is what we’ve decided.”
“Sooner or later we’re going to have to face the music. I hope it’s much later.” She eased back in her chair. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she lowered the window.