Page 33 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

“I thought we would.Is there somewhere else you need to go first?”

She looked over at him.“I was hoping we could go see my parents.Mom’s kinda worried about me.I mean, I talked to her on the phone, but they didn’t get to visit.”

“I understand, and it’s no problem.Where do they live?”

She gave him directions to her parents’ house.

He parked in front of the house and turned off the engine.

At the same moment, her mother rushed out and up to the car.

She opened the passenger door.“Hi, baby.How are you feeling?”

“Sore.I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”

Her mom pulled her into a gentle hug, then stepped back and looked her up and down.“Are you sure you’re all right?”

Meri smiled and placed her right hand on her mom’s shoulder.“I’m sure.”

Chase came around the front of the car and stood next to Meri.He put his arm around her waist.

It was just for support because she was weak.At least, that’s what she told herself.

“Mom, this is Chase Harper.He’s the man I told you about.I’m doing the mural in his office.”

“Chase, this is my mom, Carole Anderson.”

Chase shook hands with her mother.“I can see where Meri got her beautiful red hair.”

Her mother instinctively smoothed her hand over her hair.“Thank you.Why don’t you both come inside?No need for the neighbors to get a show.Bill is at work, I’m afraid.He is getting antsy about retiring in six months.”She sighed.“I don’t know what I’ll do with him underfoot all the time.”

They all walked inside, and Chase kept his hand on Meri’s waist the entire way.

They entered the house and immediately found themselves in the living room.It had an open floor plan with a beautiful rock fireplace on the outside wall and a big screen TV above.

The sofa faced the fireplace with Queen Anne chairs on either end, separated from the couch by a small end table.Bookcases were on another wall, and the wall by the door had a large picture window.

Meri had always loved this room.The sun streaming in provided her with all the light she needed to read during the day.

Her mom stood there for a minute, looking at the living room.

She wondered if her mother was seeing the times she’d spent there with Daddy.

As though waking from a dream, her mom blinked several times.“Why don’t we go into the kitchen?I’ve made fresh lemonade.”

“That would be great.”Meri turned left and started toward the kitchen, following her mother.

Chase brought up the rear.

Meri sat at the small square table.

He sat beside her.“You have a lovely home, Carole.”

Her mother got three glasses, filled them with ice, and then poured in the lemonade.Bringing them to the table, she set one in front of both Meri and Chase.Then she sat across from him.“So, tell me, Chase, how will you protect my daughter?”

He cleared his throat.“I’ll be in the apartment most of the time.I plan on stationing my security staff on each floor and in front of the door to my apartment.The assailant won’t get to Meri again.”

“It all sounds so surreal.”Carole took a sip of her lemonade.“This could be something out of a movie.”