Page 33 of It's a Widow Thing

“You’re welcome.” He plucked his boxer briefs from the floor, keeping one hand on her hip.

Sabrina hopped off the desk and carefully stepped into her dress, shimmying it up her body. “Can you zip me?” She turned her back and coyly glanced over her shoulder, making him toy with the idea of refusing to help.

“Of course.” He placed his hand on both of her shoulders when he was done. If she thought it was great that he’d brought dinner, what would she think about the other, more serious thing he was about to set before her? “Hungry?”

“I am now.”

He stepped over to the shopping bags and began unloading one. “I wasn’t sure what you would want, so I went with picnic stuff. An assortment of meats and cheeses from the deli. A loaf of French bread. Some fruit salad and a few chocolate chip cookies.” It wasn’t the heart healthy meal he was supposed to be eating, but he figured that moderation was key. He couldn’t deny himselfeverything.

She parked herself on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. “Come sit with me. I have a question for you. Well, actually, it’s more of an invitation.”

He sat, wondering how she’d managed to breech the subject he’d been dragging his feet on. “Yeah. Shoot.” He pulled out the bottle of red wine he’d bought, along with two plastic glasses the deli had given him. Yeah, it was wine, but it was heart-healthy wine.

“So, it’s a secret, but there’s this massive beauty store opening in Times Square late next year and my company has contracted to be one of the retailers they’re including.”

“Oh, my God. Sabrina. How exciting.” He handed her a glass of wine. “We should toast.”

She knocked her plastic cup into his and took a sip. “Thanks. But you didn’t let me tell you about the invite. There’s a ground-breaking party next Friday. I was hoping you’d be my date. I know it probably sounds like a lot, me asking you to a work function. But I think it’s really just a social thing. Nothing too serious.” She reached over and grabbed a hunk of baguette, then took some salami and gouda and made herself a mini sandwich.

“I’m in. Sounds like fun.”

She finished chewing and smiled at him. “Great. Awesome.”

Of course, now his question was hanging over his head like a big fat cloud. If she was worried thatherinvitation might be too much at this stage in their relationship, what would she think ofhis? “Good day today?”

“Yep. What about you? Anything exciting other than the monster day on the market that didn’t seem to make much of an impression?”

Michael swallowed hard. “Talked to my dad. Which was immediately followed by a talk with my mom. Because she can’tnotstick her nose in everything.”

“Is something wrong?”

“My brothers and I wanted to plan something nice for her seventieth birthday. It’s in a few weeks. So I called my dad to ask for his take on it.” He constructed his own sandwich and sat back, hoping that taking a relaxed pose would make him actually feel some sense of relative calm. “He gave me a few ideas, but then she called me like five minutes after we hung up. She has to be involved if there’s anything social going on in the family.”

“Oh. Were you hoping to surprise her and your dad tipped her off?”

“Not exactly. She was always going to figure it out. It was more that she called me to weigh in on the guest list. She wants my brothers and I to come out to the beach house in the Hamptons that weekend. And my sisters-in-law of course, plus my niece.”

“That sounds like a fun family gathering. So you’ll be gone that weekend?” She reached out and touched his leg. “I’ll miss you, but your mom’s birthday is a big deal.”

“Yes, but that’s not everything.” His heart felt as if it was about to blast through the front of his shirt, not good considering the state of his health. “You see, my mom knows about you. Brian and Daniel told her all about meeting you. And she really wants you to come.”

Sabrina reared her head back, looking astonished. “Come with you. To meet your parents. For a weekend.”

Shit.“It’s not even an entire weekend. Just one night. I know it sounds like a lot…”

“If I’m being completely honest, it does.”

Fuck.“It’s okay. I completely understand.” The disappointment registered first in his shoulders. It was like he had cinder blocks up there. But then it worked its way through the rest of his body, sapping his energy. He knew this was a bad idea.

She reached out and softly caressed his arm. “I’m sorry.”

“No. Don’t be.” He tried to convince himself that he was capable of shrugging off the humiliation. Thank God there was more wine.

“Can I think about it? Would that be the worst thing in the world? I just want a little time to digest the idea, if that’s okay.”

Just like that, he had his glimmer. That was really all he needed. It wasn’t a yes, but it was better than a no. “Of course. Take your time.”

She cocked her head to the side. “What exactly did you brothers tell her?”