Marie Harte - Bending the Rules

“I’ll pick you up at six Thursday night. We’ll go as friends. Don’t worry. And don’t keep me waiting.”

Then he left. Without asking for her address, which he’d no doubt weasel out of Personnel.

She stared at her open doorway. Such a strange Monday morning. Being hit on, then asked for a date to the swanky party she’d been dreading. All by a gorgeous charmer who looked as if he’d been born in that suit. Had she ever liked being called sugar before? She couldn’t remember. But despite what she’d said she’d liked it just fine today.

“I need coffee. Stat.” She sighed and grabbed a cup, then poured herself a healthy amount. Just in time, too, because her right hand man, Harper, showed up with a glower that would have intimidated anyone else. Derrick followed behind him, arguing into her office and not stopping.

Back to her typical Monday. “Okay, gentlemen—and I use that term loosely. What the hell happened now?”

“Rex, sweetie. You look wonderful.” Sue Samson hugged her son as if she hadn’t seen him two days ago.

“Yeah, Momma. You too.” He hugged her back, praying they could skip the lecture about his pitiful social life this time. After driving her and his daddy back from the airport last weekend, he’d left them to settle in, barely escaping with his sanity. Swear to God, his mother had a real hankering for grandkids. As the only child, he was supposed to breed on command. Lucky him.

“Sit, sit. Some tea?” she asked as she bustled about the kitchen island.

He nodded. He’d grown up in this house. Well, mostly. The early years had been fraught with economic disaster, and they’d moved around a lot. His father had worked his tail off to become a successful venture capitalist, and all with the support of his lifelong partner, Sue. Despite having an old-school father who thought women were no better than chattel, Harry Samson had always treasured his wife. The pair had been through a lot, but always together.

They doted on Rex. Which made disappointing them such a sour ball in his stomach. He so badly wanted to be what they expected—a young Georgian in love with sweet tea, football and country music. Married at twenty-four, kids by twenty-five. But Rex was anything but typical. He liked the tea and football, sure, but preferred jazz to country. And the thought of settling down with some little Susie Homemaker scared the crap of him, because she’d bore him to tears.

Still, he tried to play the part they wanted him to, out of love and respect.

“Great tea, Momma.” He smiled.

“Good. I made it last night. Had to let it steep, you know.” She wore her hair shorter now, but still frosted to perfection, courtesy of the salon downtown. Attractive, friendly, and with a smile that warmed him whenever he saw it, Sue Samson was everyone’s best friend.

“You’re going to the gala next week, right?” Rex hoped to forestall what was sure to be a painful dissection of his current dating prospects. “Me too. I’ve got a date, so don’t even ask.”

“Oh?” She pretended not to care as she put the dishes into the dishwasher, but he knew they’d circle back to his new friend like a heat seeking missile. “That’s nice, dear. So I met Barbara Warren the other day. I’d seen her around, of course, but never met her. Then we started talking, and she is just the nicest woman. I invited her and her husband over for dinner tomorrow.”

“Warren?” That name sounded familiar. “Derrick Warren’s mom?”

The Warrens were well known in town, if she was indeed talking about the same family.

“Yes. I think he’s one of twins.”

Derrick’s brother, Dr. Dylan Warren, was a noted psychiatrist. Derrick worked in construction with their younger brother. The family was well-liked. Rex knew Derrick pretty well. He’d seen the others around town but had never had much to do with them.

“What about them?”

“Barbara’s thrilled. Her boys are all in committed relationships.”

He stifled a groan. Not long now…

“I saw her at the salon, and we got to talking. You know, it’s strange you never met her boys growing up. But I suppose spending the summers in Savannah with your cousins took you away from us. That and you had to attend Harvard.” She made a face.

The one time he’d put his foot down. He’d wanted to go to one of the best business schools in the country. It had been a real fight not to attend his parents’ alma matter at Clemson. But hell, look at him now. He’d been worth it.

“Momma…”

“Hush. I’m just sayin’.” She smiled. “Want some dinner, honey? I have some leftover chicken.”

“That’s fine. Thanks.” He watched her serve him. Any attempt to get his own food would result in an order to sit himself down and wait for her to do it. He dug into the tender chicken, glad he’d skipped eating out.

“Your daddy will be back soon. Went to the store because we ran out of milk.”

He waited for it…

“So this date of yours…”

The ax started to fall.

“How did you meet her?”

“I met her while visiting with Tom Jessup. She works in the city planner’s office. Smart gal. I thought she’d make a nice companion for next week. Plus, she knows most everyone who’ll be there.” He’d spent so much time concerned with business details and expansion that he didn’t have the connections in town he wanted just yet.

“Good boy.” She smiled. “What’s she like?”

“I don’t rightly know yet.” But I will. He was itching to find out if she’d be mean in bed. “She’s smart. Really pretty. Tall, thin, brown hair, hazel eyes.”

“Oh. I’d like to meet her.” His mother’s eyes sparkled. He knew that look.

“Heck no. I don’t want you scaring her away with talk of grandbabies. It was hard enough getting her to agree to go with me next week.” Hard indeed. To his surprise, even days after meeting her, he’d had some hot, hot dreams about her. Many of them surrounding the image of him kneeling between her spread thighs.

Embarrassed at getting aroused while sitting next to his mother, he focused on the here and now.

His mother mused, “I wonder if Judge Goode will be there next week.”

“Probably. Poor Brian.” His best friend’s father was a horse’s ass, and that was the best thing Rex could say about him.

Sue laughed. “Now, honey, that’s not nice.” She paused. “But true. How that man can treat his son like he does is beyond me.” She moved around the island to kiss him on the cheek.

“Momma.” He felt all of two years old while she fussed over him. And truth be told he loved it.

“So sweet, my little Rex. You know, your daddy and I have always been so proud of you. You’re so successful and smart.” She patted him on the shoulder. “That’s why I’m always on you about a girlfriend, baby. I want you to have what your daddy and I have.”

“I know. But maybe that’s why I still don’t have that special girl yet. None of them measure up to you.”

His mother blushed. “Oh now. Get on with you and your pretty words.”

He chuckled as his father returned. Rex looked just like him, and was often called a chip off the old block. A better compliment he’d never earned.

“Got the ice cream.” His dad held up a paper bag with pride.

“Milk, Harry. I said milk.”

Harry blinked. “Oh. Well, I suppose I can go back out.”

Rex chuckled. “I’m meeting Brian tonight. I’ll grab your milk and drop it off tomorrow before I head into work.”

“We don’t want to put you out.” His mother frowned.

“But we will, because I don’t want to go right back out just now.” His father grinned. “Got us some rocky road. Yum.”