Page 40 of Burning Obsession

“Jakie-poo!” Lena squeals when she sees me heading toward her. She practically runs into my arms, hugging me tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispers into my ear.

When she pulls away from me, she looks over to Victor.

“So you’re the one who snagged my favorite cousin’s heart?” she asks.

“I think it’s the other way around.” He smiles and she quickly steps forward, hugging him tightly. “You better take care of him.”

“I will,” he says, winking at me. I can feel my face heating up from his words.

“Victor, now that Lena’s met you, these are the most important people in my life. My mom, Mary, and my dad, Earl.”

“It’s very nice to meet you. You have an amazing son.” Victor extends his arm, shaking both of my parents’ hands.

“It’s nice to meet you too. It’s been so long since Jake’s brought anyone to a family affair. You must be special.” My mom smiles at me and I can’t help but return one to her.

“So what do you do, Victor?” my father asks.

“I’m an accountant. I have my own business. Employee of one,” he laughs. “My goal is to keep growing my clientele so that I can open my own firm and hire some employees.”

“Jake, I need to talk to you real quick. Victor is in good hands with your parents.” Lena takes me by the arm and drags me across the room.

We step just outside the door, away from the noise. She turns to me with a huge grin on her face.

“He’s so cute, Jake.”

"Who?" I know the answer but I love messing with her so I play dumb.

She gives me a stern look, a small growl creeping from her mouth.

"You know exactly who. The hottie that you brought to my wedding.”

“Yeah, he is cute.”

She hooks her arm through mine and we start to walk down the hallway away from the banquet hall.

"How did you meet? I need all the details.”

"At a coffee shop.”

"That's it? Where’s the details? I meet people at the coffee shop all the time, but I don’t bring them around my family. Nor do I look like a love sick puppy around them. I’ve seen how you can’t take your eyes off of him. Now spill.”

“Fine.” I stop, holding my hands up in the air. “I’ll tell you. Let’s just sit down here.” We head toward the bench on the wall in front of the window.

"Okay, so the shop was crowded. I was sitting alone, playing a game on my phone when he stepped up and asked to sit down. There was an open spot at my table, so he sat down. We started talking, and it just went from there."

Her face is beaming as she reaches out and squeezes my hand. "That's so freaking adorable. It’s something out of a romantic comedy."

All I can do is shake my head. This girl and her fucking sappy-ass movies. “Please don’t embarrass me and tell him that. We’re still new and I don’t want to scare him away.”

“So who made the first move?”

“I really don’t know. We just started talking and well, I guess he did, because he flirted with me. And I asked for his number.”

“So things must be going good since you brought him here.”

“They are. I’m not sure why I asked, other than I didn't want to be away from him this weekend. We’ve only had another coffee date and then we had an early dinner at my place before work the other day.”

“So instant love?”