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But the moment I spot who’s talking to August, my heart bottoms out and I wish I’d never walked into this room looking like this.

“Well, good morning.” The amused voice belongs to his freaking sister, Iris, who’s watching me with dancing eyes. “Sinclair, right?”

I want to shrink into myself and disappear because I know, I just know, the older, absolutely stunning woman standing beside Iris is their mother.

“Yes. Um, hi, Iris.” I duck my head, hoping she doesn’t notice the way my face flames with embarrassment.

“Sinclair.” August sounds surprised and I’m terrified to look at him. I probably wasn’t supposed to make my appearance known. Did he leave me a note somewhere? He definitely didn’t send me a text asking me to stay in the bedroom. “How are you feeling this morning?”

I chance a look at him to see he doesn’t seem bothered by my appearance at all. “Much better, thank you.”

His smile is faint. “Good. I was just telling my mother and sister what happened to you last night.”

“Sounds awful.” Iris is relishing this moment. I can tell from the devious expression on her face.

“You poor dear. I can’t imagine how terrible that must’ve been.” Their mother approaches me and I freeze, my lips parting but nothing comes out. “It’s nice to meet you, Sinclair. I’m August’s mother.”

“Uh.” A gargled noise leaves me and I try to swallow it down. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Lancaster.”

“Please, call me Summer.” She pulls me in for a hug and I return the gesture, surprised at how warm and kind she is.Though I suppose she has to be a saint to tolerate her husband. The rumors about Whit Lancaster abound. If I think August is intimidating, I’m sure his father is ten times worse. “It’s wonderful to see you here. August never brings a girl around.”

“Because you do stuff like this,” August says once his mother lets me go. “I should’ve known you’d check my location and show up here unannounced.”

“Iris and I were in the neighborhood to go shopping.” His mother lifts her chin, looking as dignified as she sounds. “I saw you were at your apartment and we had to stop by.”

“Oh yes, we did.” Iris sounds like she’s going to start laughing at any second while August just scowls at her.

I take the pair in, noting how they’re dressed to perfection with not a hair out of place and I’m a wicked mess with bedhead and clad only in August’s T-shirt. This is not the first impression I wanted to make on his family. Hell, I never even thought about impressing his family because I didn’t believe I’d ever get the chance to meet them. It wasn’t on my radar.

“Well, you two should go on with your shopping then.” His tone is polite, but I hear the faint ferocity in August’s voice. He wants them gone. Is it because he’s embarrassed that they caught us together? I can’t blame him. He seems to keep his private life extremely private, even from his family.

“I suppose we should.” Iris and her mother share a look before they turn toward me, a united force while I stand there gaping at them like an idiot. “It was lovely meeting you, Sinclair. Hopefully August brings you over for dinner soon.”

“I hope my brother redeemed himself in your eyes,” Iris says, her focus only on me, though I know she can hear August growling at what she said. “What he did to you back in high school was just…appalling.”

Summer Lancaster glances over at her daughter with a frown. “What did he do? Oh God, do I even want to know?”

“I’ll tell you in the car.” Iris pats her mother’s arm and theyapproach August, wrapping him up in hugs that he ducks out of, the faint disgust on his face obvious. “Bye, Augie!”

His mother kisses his cheek and they exit the kitchen, leaving behind a cloud of expensive perfume. I stare at August from across the room, shifting my feet, not speaking until I hear the door click and I know the women are gone.

“Um.” That’s all I can manage to say.

He crosses his arms, leaning against the edge of the counter, his amusement at my bumbling making me fumble more. “What did you think of my mother and sister?”

“They’re beautiful” is all I can come up with.

“They’re a pain in my ass.” He shakes his head, but his tone is full of affection. “I should turn off my location for my mom. I’m sure she told Iris I was here after checking where I was at. And I’m positive my sister had a suspicion you would be with me.”

“Wait—you’re saying they came over here to meet—me?” I squeak, resting my hand against my chest.

“I don’t let just any woman into my inner sanctum. I told you this.” He pushes away from the counter and drops his arms to his sides, making his way toward me. “I’ve never had anyone here before. I don’t like sharing my space with a woman for too long. They start to get…ideas when I do. Not that I ever have.”

“What do you mean, ideas?” If he’s completely playing me, I’m going to be pissed. Seriously. Though why would I think that? I’m here. He’s sharing his private space with me and introduced me to his mother and sister. This means something, doesn’t it?

It just might mean everything.

“That I’m serious with them. If I let a woman spend more than a few hours with me, the next thing I know she’s picking out our wedding china and making lists of our future children’s names.” He shrugs. “I’d rather not deal.”