Page 8 of Daring to Love You (Priestly Family #3)

Chapter Six

D orian pulled the chicken parmesan from the oven and sat the pan on the counter.

Her job at her parents’ bed and breakfast was to cook the meals, as well as prepare desserts and snacks for the guests.

Tonight, along with the entree, she had made pasta, baked homemade bread, and made a large Caesar salad to go with the meal.

She opened the door of the second oven and peeked at the apple pies baking. A few more minutes and everything should be done.

Years ago, after her parents opened the B&B, Dorian never imagined she’d one day work alongside them.

However, over a year ago, despite plans of one day becoming an executive at the company, she had walked away from her marketing job.

She hadn’t wanted to leave, but the drama she’d been caught up in while there forced her hand.

It turned out that leaving and joining her parents at their quaint B&B had been the best decision she could’ve made.

She had always enjoyed cooking and baking, so working there was a good fit. Her parents had once feared none of their children would want to keep the B&B going after they retired, but Dorian was looking forward to overseeing the business someday.

“Baby, you should go ahead and get changed so you don’t be late for your date,” Virginia Priestly said as she strolled into the kitchen carrying several rolls of paper towel and a large pack of napkins.

She stored them in the pantry. When she came back out, she was putting on a red apron over her colorful sundress.

Though her mother was in her sixties, her flawless dark skin, stylish updo, and welcoming smile made her look years younger.

Her vibrant personality also helped with that and made her perfect for hosting guests at the B&B.

“I can finish up dinner, and Gwendolyn Renee will take care of cleanup this evening,” she said of Dorian’s aunt who also helped out at the B&B.

“I appreciate that.” Dorian removed her apron.

Then she grabbed her duffel bag from a cubby in the back of the pantry which held her change of clothes.

“The dinner is done, but the pies need a few more minutes. I set the timer, and they should be ready to take out in ten minutes. Oh, and there’s a bowl of fruit in the refrigerator to set out tonight, as well as pastries.

” She pointed to the counter on the other side of the baker’s rack.

The B&B was full to capacity, which wasn’t unusual for the summertime, and she tried to make sure there was always extra food and snacks available for the guests.

“Got it,” her mother said and smiled as she approached with her arms outstretched.

The woman was a hugger, and normally Dorian craved her hugs, but she knew what this was about. Her mother was in the let-me-get-all-up-in-your-business mode. She felt she was entitled since she was the one who introduced her to her date, Glen.

Her mother was still on her matchmaking kick, and Dorian was a little sick of it.

It wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t just focused on her, instead of Dorian’s two older sisters, Cree and Essence.

But nope, she was the one getting all the attention, and telling her mother to back off was akin to telling her to try harder.

Virginia felt it her duty to find the perfect man for her baby girl.

Her words. Not Dorian’s.

Her mother hugged her tightly before releasing her and stepping back. “I’m so excited you and Glen are going out again. This is a good sign. It means you two must be getting serious.”

“Mom, don’t get ahead of yourself. Glen is nice and all, but we’re just friends. Right now, I’m keeping my options open and not limiting my dating life to one man.”

Her mother waved her off. “Oh hogwash. Glen is perfect for you. Nice-looking, great job, well-mannered, and he always smells so good when he delivers our packages here.”

He worked full time for a shipping, receiving, and delivery company, and the B&B was a part of his route.

“Besides, I asked him all the important questions months ago,” her mom said as if it was perfectly normal for a mother to vet her daughter’s dates in advance.

“Never been married. No kids. Owns his home, and he adores his parents. I can totally envision the two of you having a long life together. All I ask is that you don’t elope.

Don’t be selfish like your sister, Nyla.

I want to be a part of your big day. I even want to help plan your wedding, and your dad and I will pay for it when you’re ready. ”

Dorian rolled her eyes, knowing she should run from the room right now before her mother continued.

A loud sigh came from the entrance into the kitchen and Dorian perked up when her aunt, Gwendolyn Renee, who she called Aunt GiGi, strolled in.

“Ginny, leave the girl alone,” she said.

“She’s thirty-three years old. She doesn’t need you butting into her love life.

That’s probably why Nyla and Harrison eloped.

They didn’t want to put up with you and your helicopter parenting and know-it-all self. ”

“Oh hush,” Dorian’s mother said, smiling and not looking deterred in the least, but she did stop with the wedding talk.

“Thanks, Aunt GiGi,” Dorian whispered as she hugged her fashionista auntie whose makeup was done to perfection, including the red lipstick she favored.

Dressed in tight blue jeans and a light strapless blouse, she looked as stylish as usual.

She was a retired educator. Now she helped out wherever needed at the B&B, and she always looked amazing.

She had once told Dorian that it was more important to be ready for an opportunity to meet a man than to have a man show up and you look a hot mess.

“I appreciate you sticking up for me, but you won’t have to after tonight. I’ve already made a mental note to myself to never let my dates pick me up from here.”

She had mainly done it these last few times because she hadn’t been ready for Glen to know where she lived. He was nice enough, but she didn’t feel a spark when they were together. It was safe to say he might stay in the friend zone.

Dorian left her mother and aunt in the kitchen, then headed to the bathroom at the back of the huge home.

After leaving their corporate jobs, her parents had remodeled the Chicago Greystone, maintaining its Italian architectural charm.

The ornate, old world style building, with its historic and modern amenities, had been featured in several magazines over the years.

The home was stunning inside and out with dark woods and grandeur artwork and furnishings.

It had seven huge bedroom suites, a large eat-in kitchen—which happened to be Dorian’s dream kitchen, a dining room, living room, and a library.

What made it even more perfect was the two-bedroom, two-bathroom innkeeper’s cottage directly behind the main building where her parents stayed.

Dorian entered the bathroom and wasted no time in getting changed into a deep pink, cold-shoulder blouse and black skintight jeans that molded over her hips and butt.

She paired the outfit with black wedge heel sandals and silver jewelry.

Once she finished getting dressed, she freshened up her makeup.

Going for understated but alluring, she added eyeshadow, black eyeliner, and mascara, and in the end, it did what she set out to do.

Now all she had to do was get through the evening without thinking about a certain someone else. The someone who made her tingle inside and who kissed like he created the activity.

Lynix . No matter how she tried, thoughts of him kept creeping in and whenever that happened, memories of their kisses dominated her mind. The man definitely knew how to turn her on with his lips and tongue.

I wonder what else he can do with his mouth .

The wayward thought came with an erotic visual that slammed into Dorian like a powerful wave, and she gripped the edge of the vanity as her body trembled.

It was as if she could actually feel Lynix’s warm mouth on her, sucking and teasing her nipples into tight buds before peppering kisses down the center of her body.

Once he reached the apex between her thighs, his tongue began its exploration, doing wicked things to…

Gawd! She slammed her eyes closed and breathed in and out a few times. What the heck was wrong with her? She didn’t normally have sexual fantasies, but they’d been coming more often, usually while she was asleep.

All of this was a first. She never imagined herself with a man the way she’d been imagining herself with Lynix. She had no right fantasizing about how he could please her in places she had no intention of ever letting him near.

Nope. She wasn’t going there, and neither was he. It was time to stop torturing herself with these thoughts. No sense in thinking about being intimate with the man unless it was going to actually happen, and it wasn’t. Ever.

She just had to forget about him.

They hadn’t spoken in a couple of weeks.

The last time had been a week after Nyla’s wedding reception.

He had called and asked Dorian out to dinner, but she’d already had plans—a date—and turned him down.

He didn’t seem too disappointed and told her that he wasn’t giving up, but she hadn’t heard from him this week. Which was probably for the best.

All she had to do was remember why it wasn’t a good idea to hook up with Lynix.

He might be sexy, funny, and easy on the eyes, but he was also a player.

Granted, he insisted he had changed, but she didn’t believe him.

Besides, dating her brother’s best friend was taboo. Or at least that’s what she’d heard.

But man, her mind kept circling back to Lynix’s delicious kisses.

As well as the way her body sparked to life whenever he hugged or touched her.

Dorian hoped going out with other men would distract her from her sensuous thoughts of Lynix.

Clearly, that wasn’t working, but hopefully it would eventually.

Unfortunately, that last thought made her think of Keenan, a blind date she’d had a few days ago. He was the cousin of a former client, who insisted they were perfect for each other. Wrong!

Keenan, an investment manager, was a nice-looking guy and a great dresser. Yet, he’d been unbelievably boring. He had taken her to a high-end restaurant, and the food had been amazing. Yet, the conversation had been stilted, and she found herself counting down the minutes until the date was over.

No more blind dates, and she also planned to put an end to her mother’s matchmaking. The latter wasn’t going to be as easy, but Dorian had to do something. Her mother was clearly getting obsessed, and it didn’t help that she rarely took no for an answer.

Well, she’s going to have to start getting used to me saying “no” because I’m not letting her fix me up with anyone else. I can find my own dates .

The alarm on Dorian’s phone chimed, informing her that Glen would be there in fifteen minutes. She grabbed her stuff, and checked to make sure she had everything, then left the bathroom.

Voices and laughter from somewhere in the house sounded.

Hopefully, it was her mother talking to guests.

That way Dorian could sneak out the front door without running into her—but no such luck.

When she rounded the corner, her mother was standing behind the registration desk working on the computer.

As if sensing her, she glanced over her shoulder.

“You look wonderful, baby. Do you know where Glen’s taking you tonight?”

“I do,” Dorian said. She pulled her small purse from the duffel bag, then shoved the large bag into the cabinet under the desk. “But I’m not telling you. Can’t have you showing up on my date.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” she insisted, and Dorian just looked at her. “Seriously, I wouldn’t.”

So far, she hadn’t done it to her or any of Dorian’s siblings, but she wouldn’t put it past the woman.

“I’m going to wait outside,” Dorian said, and her mother grabbed her elbow, stopping her.

“That’s not what I taught you,” she said with authority. “You wait until the young man comes to the door and gets you.”

“Normally, I would, but knowing you, you’ll intercept him and ask him more questions that aren’t any of your business.”

“If it involves you, it’s my business.”

“Mom, I know it’s hard to believe sometimes, but I’m a grown woman. You have to stop this. Otherwise, you won’t know who I’m dating until after I’m engaged. Is that what you want?”

“No.”

“Then please stop with all the matchmaking and inserting yourself into my love life.”

“I’ll try, but sweetie, I can’t help it. I want the best for you and yes, maybe I get carried away, but you’re my baby.”

Dorian huffed out a breath. “Why do I even bother?” she mumbled just as she heard the front door open and caught sight of Glen. “Bye, Mom.” Dorian rushed away before her mother could say another word. Glen looked at her in surprise when she grabbed his hand and pulled him back out the door.

Yes, it might’ve been rude not to let Glen at least say hi to her mother, but it was for his own good.

“Umm, is everything all right?” he asked, confusion in his expression.

“Everything is fine.”

Like her, he was dressed casually. He had smooth fair skin, deep brown eyes, and his best feature was his friendly smile. He didn’t have movie-star good looks, but with his buzz cut fade, clean-shaven face, and a tall, runner’s build, he would definitely catch the eye of other women.

“Sorry, I’m a couple of minutes late,” he said as he placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her to his Toyota Supra. “Traffic was a little heavy.”

“No problem. You were actually right on time. Let the fun begin.”