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“Does two work?” he asks.

“It does,” I reply as we finish up our conversation. After I hang up, I throw my phone onto the counter, my hands now moving to Hannah’s ass as I pull her closer. “Good morning,” I murmur, dropping my mouth to her neck.

“Morning,” she whispers, her arms wrapping around my waist. “What was that all about?”

Chuckling, I lick a path up to her mouth, kissing her deeply before I say, “My parents are coming up to Napa today. We’re catching up for a late lunch, they can’t wait to meet you.”

Hannah stiffens in my arms, pulling back a little as she rests her hands on my chest. “Um, what?” she asks, blinking slowly.

Laughing, I squeeze her ass, grinding her hips against mine. “Babe, settle down, it’s no big deal, okay.”

“Ah yeah it’s a big deal,” she says, her eyes wide. “I mean, shit, Leo, what if they don’t like me or what if they think I’m not good enough for you or fuck, what if they think I’m a crap chef?” I burst out laughing now, my head falling back as Hannah slaps at my chest and says, “This isn’t funny!”

“I know it’s not,” I reply, sliding my hands up her back and under her tank. “But I promise you have absolutely nothing to worry about. They are going to love you.”

Hannah exhales, her head falling to my chest. “I hope so,” she murmurs.

Smiling, I lean down and drop a kiss to her head. “I know so,” I say, trying to reassure her. “But hey, I’ve got something that can take your mind off this, you wanna know what it is?”

Hannah lifts her head, hitting me with a look that makes me laugh because of course I know exactly where her mind has gone too.

“Filthy, girl,” I mutter as I reach for my phone, opening up the text thread I have going with Dylan.

“Here, take a look at this,” I say, turning the screen to her so she can see the cheeky text I sent her brother this morning.

Me: Dude! Nice going on the invention…I’m impressed. So is your sister every time I use on her

Dylan: LEO! FUCK! STOP!!!!!! You do NOT get to say this shit to me. Ugh, gross…fuck. I hate you right now.

Me:

Hannah bursts out laughing, shaking her head as she looks up at me. “You are such a shithead,” she says.

“Right? You gotta admit though, it’s hella funny fucking with him.”

“Yeah, it is,” she confirms.

I throw my phone back onto the counter before wrapping my arms around her again. “So, you wanna help me out with lunch today?”

Hannah shakes her head. “No way, I am not going to be the one responsible for your parents hating me when I fuck up lunch because I’m so nervous!”

Chuckling, I smack her on the ass. “Okay, fine. I’ll take care of lunch even though you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I gotta head over to the kitchen to grab some shit, but we’ve still got some time, so…”

“So…?”

“So,” I grin, slipping a hand inside her panties. “What do you say we go put that toy your brother invented to good use for a while? Give me some more ammunition when I’m next giving him shit.”

Hannah huffs, slapping me across the chest again. “You’re lucky I love you, Leo Marsh.”

A couple of hours later, I’m back at my place, putting the finishing touches on lunch when a knock sounds at the door. I know it must be my parents, because Hannah, who is over at her place getting ready, would just let herself in.

I head down the stairs, opening the door to find my mom and dad on the other side, their hands filled with food and things from the restaurant my dad runs.

“Hey, come on in,” I say, hugging them both before we all head upstairs.

Inside, we all move into the kitchen, and I watch as my dad casts an eye over the counters, taking in the food I’ve prepared. It’s not done in a condescending or bad way, it’s more that this is how he sees what I’ve been up to kind of way.

“Smells good,” he says, glancing back at me with a smile.

It’s probably the best compliment he can give me, and I know they are not something he gives out easily.

As much as I love my dad and as much as I know he is an amazing chef, I could absolutely never work for him.

He and I have two very different styles of working and teaching the staff under us.

Five minutes standing in the kitchen at his restaurant when I was first starting out was enough to convince me of that.

Which is not to say we don’t ever cook together; we do all the time. Family gatherings when it’s just him and me in the kitchen are always awesome and even though I know we will never work together professionally, it doesn’t mean he hasn’t taught me a shit load of the stuff I now know.

I have so many memories of when I was a kid, standing in the kitchen beside my dad as he taught me how to steam a fish or sear a ribeye for the perfect medium rare.

I learnt a bunch of stuff from mom too, but with her catering company, she tended to focus more on sweet things.

The stuff dad did was always more my style.

“Drink?” I ask, as I grab a bottle of Somerville chardonnay from the fridge.

My dad nods, just as mom asks, “Where’s Hannah?”

“On her way,” I reply, handing the bottle to my dad as I grab four glasses from the cupboard. Just as I put them on the counter, I hear the front door open and close. “Speak of the devil,” I say, winking at my mom.

I walk over to the stairs, waiting for Hannah as she comes up. I can tell she’s nervous as hell, although I can’t help but smile at the huge bunch of flowers she’s brought with her.

“Hey, babe,” I say, pulling her in for a kiss. “Just chill, it’s gonna be okay,” I whisper, before throwing an arm around her shoulders and walking into the kitchen.

My mom is waiting, a huge smile on her face as I make the introductions, smiling as my mom pulls Hannah into a warm hug. When she lets her go, I see my dad turn from the stove, a smile on his face as he waits.

“Hannah, babe, this is my dad, Roy. Dad, this is Hannah, my girlfriend.”

The silence that suddenly falls over the room is deafening and both my mom and I watch confused as my dad and Hannah stare at each other, neither of them saying anything.

My dad’s face is a mix of confusion and apprehension, but when I turn to Hannah, she’s as pale as a ghost and way more nervous than she should be.

“Babe, are you okay?” I whisper, squeezing her hand in mine.

Hannah swallows hard as she slowly shakes her head and murmurs. “Shit, no, this can’t be happening,” before she pulls her hand from mine and turns and runs out of the room.