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“I can take my own car... unless you’re going in that same direction.”

“I am.”

“Great. I’ll Uber back. No sense in driving separately.”

We headed back to his car, holding hands the whole way.

Half an hour later, we pulled in front of my parents’ house. Zachary came over to my side even though I’d already started to open the door. He pulled it open even wider as I stepped out. Then he closed it, looking down at me.

“I want to see you again, Grace.”

“I want to see you again as well,” I whispered.

“Good. Then that’s settled. Now, as to when—”

“Hi, Grace.”

“Oh!”Oh crap.My parents were on the porch. I hadn’t seen them.

Zachary stepped to one side. Mom and Dad were coming toward us. I instantly felt sixteen again.

“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.”

“And who are you?” Dad asked Zachary without even as much as a hello.

“I’m Zachary LeBlanc, Mr. Deveraux.”

“LeBlanc.” Mom looked surprised. “Were you two at the ranch?”

Oh, that would be a good explanation... except it wasn’t true.

I cleared my throat. “No, we had breakfast.”

“For goodness’ sake,” Dad exclaimed. “This man was all over her, disrespecting her right in front of our house.”

I stared down at my feet, now feeling even younger.

“Clayton, you don’t have to be so explicit about things,” Mom admonished. “Let the kids do what they want.”

Dad cleared his throat. “No, I’m the head of this family.”

I snapped my head up, needed to quell this before it got out of hand. “Dad, that won’t work. I’m not sixteen. Zachary and I are dating. Please don’t make a big deal about it, and don’t embarrass me.”

I didn’t like to be short with my parents, especially not in front of others, but it had to be done.

Dad looked at me intently for a few seconds and then nodded. “Okay, but one of these days, you and I will have a chat,” he informed Zachary, who nodded right back.

“Sure. I can give you my number. You can call me and ask anything you want, sir.”

Dad just narrowed his eyes, which meant Zachary wasn’t in the clear. Then again, I considered it a victory that he’d stopped his tirade.

Zachary turned to me. “Grace, have a great weekend.”

“You too. Enjoy the movie.”

He winked at me before getting in the car. “Will do. It was great meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Deveraux.”

“Likewise,” Mom said, then turned to me the second he closed the door. “Oh, he’s a looker.”