she possibly be running from, and why was she so frightened? He found himself wanting to know m

mself, and the last thing he needed was to get entangled with a woman. His focus was on expandi

nue eating. Dinner passed in awkward silence, and

to someone? He hesitated at her door, debating whether to knock or simply mind his own business. His heart won out, and he ge

own her face. It hit him harder than he expected; he really had it bad for th

seeing him, hugged him tightly. They fell as

it. Cyrus had left the next morning before she woke up and had been

he saw his mother calling. He considered not picki

nt to have dinner with my son," his mo

aying at his house, and declined imm

over for dinner tomorrow, and that's that," s

t would his mother think of Charlotte? And h

t. He hadn't anticipated his mother inviting herself over,

by one of his most treasured art pieces-a masterpiece he had discovered in a quaint German gall

ce low and husky, betraying the

o his with surprise. For a moment, they simply s

d undone, her lips parted in a soft gasp. She looked as if she'd ju

her voice barely audible. "

him closer. He felt his resolve weakening,

es," he muttered, trying to sound de

hing a delicate pink. She bit her lip, an

k from work tomorrow," he growled, turni

the feeling that he was playing with fi

work, he turned to Charlotte and dropped a bomb

etched across her face. "Oh, I-I'll

join us," he said, enjoying the sight

happy that he was finally letting a woman back into his life? He quickly dismissed the thought. He wasn't doing this for his mother's sake,

long day ahead and couldn't afford to be distracted. But as he walked to

te. She looked stunning in the dress he had picked out for her. The sound of the doorbe

he door, he kissed his mother's cheeks and exchanged pleasantries before introdu

te. Cyrus could already imagine his mother playing matchmaker in her head. She had no idea who C

w she was thinking, "This is the one," and he wasn't sure if he was ready for that. But as he looked at Ch

Charlotte with funny stories about him, making him groan. But Charlotte's

opped a bombshell. "Cyrus, I need you to attend an art exhibition on

nk. "Mom, do

cousin will be there too,"

is self-entitled attitude, and his arrogance made Cyrus's skin crawl. The

your date along, dear." She smiled sweet

w could his mother do this to him? Did she really expect h

he started to protest

leave you to discuss the details." With that, she got up and