Teasing in Texas (At the Altar Book 10) (7 page)

She rolled her eyes. “Not at all. This is my way of talking you into letting me sleep before we stuff our faces.” She walked into her bedroom and pulled the covers back. “I’m going to change into pajamas. I’ll put on something clean after my nap. I always feel like I’m covered in filth after a long car ride.”

He nodded, stripping quickly while she got her pajamas to change into. She could keep worrying about wearing clothes around him if she wanted, but he was perfectly content to go naked around her. He slid between the covers, exhausted. They’d have to set an alarm to make sure they didn’t sleep all night. Vacations were exhausting.

Jenni was surprised to find Tony already asleep when she got back from the bathroom. She stood for a minute watching him sleep before climbing into the bed beside him. She hoped he was able to get past her history, because she couldn’t do anything about it.

*****

Jenni was woken the following morning by her phone, which stopped ringing, and then started again thirty seconds later. That was her mother’s signature. Call, and if you don’t answer, call back again immediately.

Jenni brushed a kiss against Tony’s shoulder before walking over to her dresser where her phone had been charging overnight. “Hello?”

Tony sat up in bed, looking at her with a frown. He glanced at the clock and saw it was only seven. Who was up at seven on a Sunday morning?

“Hi, Mom. Yeah, I’m back from my cruise. Yes, I had a very good time! Did I marry any random strangers on my cruise and bring them back to live with me? What kind of question is that?” She looked at Tony, her eyes wide. “Actually, I did. His name is Tony.”

Jenni held the phone out and away from her ear for a moment, and Tony could hear the loud female voice from across the room. “No, Mom, I’m not joking. I really did get married.” There was another pause as Jenni held the phone away from her ear. “Yes, we’ll come to dinner. When?” Jenni bit her lip. “No, I don’t think we have plans. We’ll be there.” She ended the call and set the phone down on the bed, walking over to climb back under the covers with Tony.

“So we’re going to your parents’ house for dinner?”

She nodded. “Tonight at six. She reminded me to dress appropriately.”

“What’s the appropriate way to dress for dinner? This is Texas. Even fancy restaurants are usually okay with jeans and a button up shirt. Cowboy boots.”

She sighed. “Suit and tie for you. Dress for me. Slacks are not acceptable dinner attire.” She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. “I guess we’ll spend the day working on packing up your place, and the evening dealing with my parents.”

He groaned. “I don’t even want to think about it.”

“They won’t bite.” She snuggled close again. “I’m not ready to get up yet. Are you?”

“No, but I’m not sure I can sleep knowing I have to meet them today. How am I ever going to fit into your world?”

She sighed. “That’s what you’re not getting. It’s not my world. Not anymore. My world is cleaning up vomit and changing adults’ diapers. I don’t live in their world and haven’t for several years.”

He didn’t say anything to that as he stroked her hair, holding her close to him. If she could handle introducing him to them, he could handle meeting them. It wasn’t something they could put off forever.

An hour later, they were both dressed and headed for the door. “Let’s take my truck to your place. We can fit more in it. Do you have a storage unit?”

He shook his head. “I don’t. We’ll have to deal with all that stuff tomorrow. For now, we’ll just bring over my clothes and the essentials. Furniture and stuff can wait.” He was suddenly nervous about her seeing his place. All the furniture had been purchased secondhand, and it would probably be best if he just sold it all. He didn’t need it anyway. Everything she had looked new and was of good quality. “How does your mother feel about you driving a truck?”

Jenni grinned. “She thinks I should drive a Lexus, because it’s more fitting to her social status. I love my F-150 though. It’s great for moving or whatever I need it for. I even have a pair of Wrangler jeans and a pair of boots the same color red as my truck.”

He laughed. “Sounds like you’ve gone all out doing whatever you want to do.” He couldn’t help but admire that about her.

“Why shouldn’t I? It’s my life now. Not hers.”

“Is your dad as bad as your mom? You keep talking about your mother, but I’ve heard very little mention of your father.”

“Dad didn’t have a lot to do with me growing up. I’m sure he would have if I’d been a boy, but I was a girl, so it was my mother’s job to make sure I grew up properly.”

“And what about now?”

She shrugged. “It seems that Mother does all the talking for both of them, and when I’m a disappointment, she’s the one who makes sure I know about it.”

“It’s going to be an awful night, isn’t it?”

“Not if we use a lot of antiperspirant.”

He blinked a few times, trying to follow her line of reasoning. “How is that going to help us?”

“Well, I learned when I was about thirteen that I could handle anything my mother threw at me if I kept one very important rule in my mind at all times.”

“What’s the rule?” he asked, frowning. What was she talking about?

She stood on tiptoes, her hand going to the nape of his neck as her mouth went to his ear. She whispered, “Never let ‘em see you sweat.”

He laughed, hugging her close. “So we’re meeting one of the most important doctors of our time and his wife, and the only rule I need to remember is not to let them see me sweat? Are you sure about this?”

“Have I ever failed you?”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve only known you for a few days. How could you have already failed me?”

“But we’re married, and I’ve never failed you. See? This can go on forever. I’m just that good.”

He sighed. “Sometimes I think you have the rules and manners your parents must have worked very hard to instill, and then I see this side of you. Kaya and Bridget have corrupted you more than you can see on the surface.”

Jenni grinned at him. “Isn’t it awesome?”

“That’s one word for it. There’s also ‘frightening.’ I think I prefer my word actually.”

“If you’re not nice, I’ll find a karaoke bar tonight and make you sing
I Got You Babe
.”

Tony laughed softly. “Bring it on. I can do it if you can.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure I can. I was never a fan of the song, but if I had been, it would now be forever ruined…”

“I can see why!”

Chapter Seven

Tony and Jenni worked most of the day at packing up his apartment. They were nowhere near finished at the end, but they were at least satisfied that they’d done as much as they could in one day when they returned to the apartment to prepare for dinner with her parents.

“I wore my best suit for our wedding,” he said, obviously worried. “I need to have it dry cleaned.”

“Do you have a second best?” Jenni asked, rummaging through her clothes. Something sedate in black would please her mother the most, and tonight would be all about appeasing her.

“Can’t we call them and say we’re busy making them grandbabies and not go?”

Jenni choked on a laugh as she laid a black tea length dress on the bed. “Having met your mother, I think that would work on her, but not on my parents. Mom has been pushing me to marry, but not to have kids yet.”

“It was worth a try.” He sighed, pulling out the suit he’d just hung in her closet. “I guess I can wear this. White shirt and black tie?”

“That will please my father.” She walked to him, putting her hands on his shoulders. “We’re going to get through this. Remember, we don’t need their approval to be happy.”

He groaned. “I guess we don’t.” He caught her waist and pulled her up against him, his mouth descending to hers. “Are you sure I can’t talk you into staying home?”

Jenni sighed, pulling away. “I really wish we could. As much as I don’t need them in my life, they are my parents, and I feel like I need to respect them. Do you know how much pain and agony my mother went through to have me? And that was before she was even pregnant!”

He grinned at her, knowing her mother had tried to guilt her about the pain and agony for years. “I guess we should go.”

“Get dressed. We don’t have to stay forever.”

“Fine.” He knew he wouldn’t be able to get out of it, so he didn’t bother trying again. “I’ll get ready, but I won’t like it!”

She went into the bathroom to quickly change clothes and came out. “We’re going to have to take my truck. Do you want to drive it?”

He frowned. “My car gets better gas mileage, I’m sure. Why would we take your truck?”

She shrugged. “It’s the annoyance factor. My mom hates my truck so much I don’t want to show up in something she’d consider respectable. I know it’s a little crazy, but it makes me happy. I’ll dress for dinner. I’ll act like a lady. But I’ll do it all while driving my F-150.”

“You know that’s a little nuts, right?”

“I’ve spent the last five years hanging out with Kaya and Bridget. Remember, a little nuts is mandatory. It’s when I need a strait jacket that we all need to worry!”

He shook his head as he looked in a mirror to straighten his tie. His accounting firm was casual, and he was able to get away with wearing a pair of slacks and a polo most of the time. He only had a couple of suits for weddings and funerals. He sure hoped dinner at her parents’ wouldn’t be a regular thing.

On the drive there, he drove her truck, and she put in a CD of country love songs. They sang along with it, and he loved how much fun she had doing something so simple.

When they were close, she turned down the radio. “I’ve always wanted to drive up to their house with the music blaring, but I’ve never had the guts.”

He shook his head. “Don’t look at me. I’m not going to encourage that.”

She sighed. “I know.” Looking down at her hands for a minute, she sighed. “I’m sorry you have to be inspected tonight.”

“Is that what this is?” Tony asked her. “Inspection?”

“Oh, absolutely. At least you work in a profession my father will approve of. He’d come unglued if you were a construction worker or something.”

He followed her instructions and pulled up in front of the house, swallowing hard. “This place is huge.”

She leaned over and caught his tie, pulling him in for a kiss. “You’re already part of the family. It’s not like they can force us to divorce!”

He shook his head at her, checking the visor mirror to make sure there was no lipstick on his face. Then he straightened his tie. “Don’t muss my appearance when I’m about to meet you parents.”

She laughed hysterically. “Muss? You’re worried I’ll
muss
you?”

He reached over and rubbed a bit of lipstick off her cheek. “You mussed
you
! Why wouldn’t you muss
me
?”

Jenni giggled. “We’re going to be okay. I promise.”

They went to the door, and her mother opened it, looking Tony up and down, before presenting her cheek for Jenni to kiss. “Hi, Mom. I’ve missed you.”

“Is that why you got married without me? Now tell me how you met this young man!” Tony’s first impression of Judy Thompson was that she was much shorter than her daughter.

Jenni reached for Tony’s hand and followed her mother inside, where they were led to a formal living area. Jenni sat on the couch and pulled Tony down beside her before answering. “I first saw him in line for the cruise ship. He was a little surprised by Kaya and Bridget.”

Her mother sighed. “I should have known those two were the friends you were going on the cruise with. I hope they behaved.”

“They sang
I Got You Babe
to each other on the last night of the cruise in front of a roomful of people,” Tony offered.

Jenni glared at him. It was the first time he’d opened his mouth since meeting her mother, and it was to insult her friends.

Judy sighed. “I’m sure that was pleasant.”

Jenni had only ever brought the twins to her mother’s house one time, and the two of them had argued with each other. They hadn’t been invited back. “We had fun, Mom. I kept running into Tony on the ship, and we got married our third night.”

Her mother shook her head. “So you knew each other for less than forty-eight hours?”

“A little less,” Tony said. It was obvious Jenni didn’t want her mother to know they’d actually met at the altar.

“I can’t believe you married someone you knew for such a short time. Where will you live?”

“For now we’re going to share my apartment in Roanoke, but we’ll look for a house together.”

Her father stepped into the room then, his gaze going from Tony to Jenni and back. Jenni stood up and embraced her father, kissing his cheek. “Hi, Dad.”

“Hello.” His gaze was steady on Tony as he hugged her. “Introduce me.”

Jenni stood back and took a deep breath. “This is my husband, Tony Jarrett. Tony, this is my father, James Thompson.”

Tony stood up and offered his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

“What do you do, Tony?” her father asked.

Tony stood, not sure if he should sit down before her father or what was expected. He knew basic manners. He didn’t know how to act around people like this. “I’m a CPA. I work for a firm in Grapevine.”

“What firm?” her father asked.

After Tony named the firm, he added, “I’ve been there for four years. I’m working my way up to being a partner.”

“That’s a good goal.”

“Thank you, Dr. Thomspon.”

“You know who I am, then?” her father asked, one eyebrow raised. “You didn’t marry my daughter to get your hands on my money, did you?”

“No sir. I’m not sure I’d have married her if I’d known you were her father, to be honest with you. I’m very much a man who believes in independence in all things.”

Jenni took Tony’s hand and pulled him onto the couch, sitting beside him. “He’s a good man, Dad. No worries there.”

Her father sat down on a sofa across from them, obviously not convinced yet. “Where did you grow up, Tony?”

“Arlington. I went to UTA for grad school, just like Jenni.”

“We didn’t want her to go to UTA.” Her mother’s voice was flat.

Tony wasn’t certain how to respond to that. “I see.”

“We were hoping she’d go to a good college back East, but her choice was UTA, for whatever reason. She had the test scores and grades to go wherever she wanted.” Her father frowned at Tony as if it was his fault she’d gone to a college they didn’t want her to go to years before he’d met her.

“She seems to be happy with where UTA took her in life.” Tony hated that her parents were talking about her as if she wasn’t there. No wonder she hadn’t wanted them to be involved in the planning of her wedding.

A young woman stepped into the room. “Dinner’s ready.”

Jenni stood, ready to get the evening over with. “I’m starving,” she said.

Three hours later, Tony was relieved to finally be able to leave the house. Jenni hugged both of her parents goodbye.

“When will you be back?” her mother asked.

Jenni shrugged. “I have to go back to work on Thursday. I’ll probably be here close to Easter, like usual.”

“Are you working on Easter again this year?”

“Probably. But we can come for dinner that night.”

“I’ll count on that,” her mother told her. “I’ll send a wedding gift to your apartment. If you need help decorating when you move into the new house, let me know.”

Jenni smiled. “Thanks.”

They walked to the truck, and Tony opened her door for her to get in. He’d never done that before, but under her father’s gaze, he didn’t feel like he could do anything else.

After he’d pulled out of the driveway, he released a breath filled with pent-up emotion. “Now I know why you didn’t want them at the wedding.”

“They love me!” Jenni said, knowing it was true. “But they don’t approve of anything I say or do. I could have married the boy they wanted me to marry, and I still wouldn’t have done it right. My dress would have been wrong, or my veil would have been too short or too long.” She groaned. “I forgot to take our wedding pictures. Mom would have been happier with me if I’d taken them!”

“I’m sure she would have. Oh well. We’ll be back, I’m sure.” He shook his head. “Is your trust fund tied to them?”

“No, it was from my grandmother. She said that no woman should ever be reliant on her husband for wealth, and she shouldn’t need to work if she didn’t want to. So she left me a whole lot of money so I wouldn’t feel the need to work or marry young.”

“Do any women feel the need to marry young in this day and age?”

She shrugged. “Some do. I didn’t. There are still a lot of girls who go to college to get their MRS degree.”

“Their MRS?” he asked.

“You’ve never heard that? Their missus? They go to college to find a man to marry?”

He laughed. “Nope. Never heard that one.”

“You’ve obviously never lived in a female dorm.”

“Nope…I wanted to, though.”

She grinned at his teasing. “I think tonight went really well, considering my parents are my parents.”

“Just don’t make me see them too often.” He sighed. “And it’s going to be a pain if you work totally different days than me.” He didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to him she might not have weekends off.

“I know, but I don’t have the seniority to do anything else.”

He frowned. “My work is mostly solitary. I’ll talk to the partners, and maybe they’ll let me change my days off. I can work on the weekends as well as during the week.”

“That would be great if you can swing it.”

As he drove back toward Roanoke, his thoughts were on the people he’d met that night. Their world was so different from his own, it was as if it was another planet. “That was a weird experience…sitting in a house like that and letting people serve me food.”

“It always feels weird to me now as well. I mean, it didn’t when I was living there, but after a month of being in college and eating in a cafeteria, I realized just how strange my life had been.”

“You didn’t realize before that?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.

“No, not really. I didn’t have any super close friends in high school, and if I had, they would have been friends from the same social status. I had no way of meeting real people. I know that sounds strange, but I don’t know what else to say. The people I knew were as fake as my parents.”

“You think your parents are fake? In what way?”

She sighed heavily. “No, fake isn’t really the right word. Their whole world seems very pretentious to me. No one needs to shop for school clothes in Manhattan when there’s a perfectly good Walmart around the corner.”

“Walmart? Do you think your mother has ever set foot inside a Walmart?”

Jenni laughed. “The idea of it is kind of scary, isn’t it? No, I guess I don’t think she’s ever been in a Walmart, and that’s the whole thing. Who doesn’t go to Walmart? I mean, it’s the most annoying store on the planet, and you stand in line forever, but
everyone
goes there. It’s the best place to buy almost everything. So why has my mother never been to Walmart?”

“I don’t know! She’s your mother, not mine. I only know what I’ve read about them, and what I saw tonight. I know my mom has been to Walmart a million times. It’s her go-to place.”

“Because your mother is normal, and my family is as far from normal as they get. They love me as much as they’re able to, and I live with knowing that.”