Read Sinful Ever After (Sinful Serenade Book 5) for Free Online Page B

jumps in. "I love salmon too, honey. Don't worry. Your father used to torment me about it. Eventually, he accepted that I know what I like."
    "You need variety," Douglass says.
    "Sometimes. Sometimes, you need the thing you know you like. Something to comfort you." Susan smiles. "Besides, there's plenty of variety with salmon. Baked, broiled, poached, grilled. On salad, pasta, rice, with vegetables or mashed potatoes."
    Meg clears her throat. "I like other fish too. Mahi Mahi. And ono. And tuna, any kind of tuna." She turns to me. "Fish is healthy."
    "Whatever you want, Princess." I rub her palm with my thumb.
    Susan cocks a brow. "Princess?"
    Meg shoots me a what have you done look.
    "Like Princess Leia," I say.
    Susan's expression relaxes. "Oh, that's perfect. You know, Meg went as Princess Leia for Halloween five years in a row."
    I smile like Susan doesn't tell me this every time I see her. It's sweet the way her eyes light up when she talks about Meg as a little girl.
    "Of course, Rosie hated Princess Leia." Susan laughs. "She hated Star Wars , but she still went as Luke Skywalker one year. She went around with this little—what's it called?"
    "Lightsaber," Meg says.
    "That's it." Susan drifts into a memory. "She hit everyone with it. We had two dozen parents call us that night, insisting Rosie never be allowed another sword."
    "I don't remember that." Meg's brow furrows with concentration.
    "She was a stubborn girl. Almost as much as Meg is." Susan looks from Meg to me. "You're very handsome, Miles, and from the sound of things, quite wealthy-"
    "Mom!" Meg covers her face with her hands. "Is it always about money?"
    "Sweetheart, let me finish." Susan folds her hands. Her expression gets serious. "It's not about money. Douglass and I can take care of Meg forever. And I have no doubt that Meg will get through school and become a doctor. I know you won't stand in her way, Miles."
    "I'll die before I let her quit medicine," I say.
    Susan's lips purse. "You're as stubborn as she is, but... I learned the hard way that you can't always protect the people you love." She blinks back a tear. "You can't make good decisions for them."
    Meg bites her lip. She looks to me then to her mom. Her expression twists with uncertainty. My fiancée isn't exactly a people person.
    "I understand your meaning. Meg deserves to make her own choices, free of what you or I want for her," I say.
    "I'm right here," Meg says. "I know you guys mean well, but please don't talk about me like I'm out of the room."
    Susan turns to Meg. "Of course, sweetheart. But you're my baby girl. I'll always be protective of you. It's a lot for a mother to see her little girl get engaged—with plans to get married a few days later." She turns to me. "Tell me I was dreaming when you said you're doing this the day after tomorrow."
    I study Susan's expression. I'm not sure she's convinced. Must be a better way to do it. We want the same thing—what's best for Meg. Just have to honest.
    Fuck. That's not my strong suit. I can snap my fingers and conjure up a charming smile. But Susan will see through that. I need to lay my cards on the table here.
    I make eye contact with Susan. "I have a venue booked for that evening, but it's up to Meg to make the call. She can live with the two of you forever, if that's what she wants."
    Meg gasps in horror. "No offense," she mumbles.
    Susan looks from Meg to me. "Douglass and I were together three years before we got engaged."
    Douglass nods. "We were engaged for a year and a half."
    I study Susan's expression. There's apprehension in her honey eyes, but there's a willingness too.
    She wants to be on board with this.
    "We won't do anything without your blessing," I say.
    Susan smiles. She gets that dreamy, falling into a memory look on her face. "You know, when you first showed up last Thanksgiving, I could tell Meg thought you would scare me."
    "Was it the tattoos or the motorcycle?" I ask.
    Susan laughs. "I'm still horrified about