Into The Fire by E. L. Todd Read Free Book Online

front of them. “Let’s get this shit over with.”
    “Aren’t you going to put your arm around my
waist or something?”
    “Why?”
    “So it looks like we’re together.” She rolled
her eyes. “You really weren’t kidding about the girlfriend
thing.”
    I put my arm around her waist. “Okay. Does it
look like we’re in love?”
    “Whatever. This is the best we can do.”
    We approached the table where my parents sat.
“Yo, what’s up?”
    Mom ignored my greeting. Usually she had
something smart ass to say about my choice of words but tonight she
didn’t. “Hey, honey. Did you not have time to change after work?”
She eyed my t-shirt.
    “No, I did.” What was wrong with what I
was wearing?
    “Oh…this is a nice place, Ash.” Mom lowered
her voice to a whisper.
    She didn’t waste any time, did she ?
“Mom, meet my girlfriend, Alessandra.”
    Mom took her in, and judging the smile on her
lips and the way her eyes shined like the sun, she loved her. “Oh
my goodness, you’re so beautiful.”
    “I know how to pick em’, huh?” I said with a
grin.
    Mom shook her hand. “It’s lovely to meet
you.”
    “You too,” Alessandra said. “Thank you for
inviting me to dinner.”
    “Oh, you’re so polite.” Mom hugged her like
she’d known her for years.
    I guess my mom was expecting me to bring
Marilyn Manson.
    I gave Dad a quick hug. “Hey, old man. What’s
up?”
    His eyes were glued to Alessandra. “Nice job,
Son.”
    “Yeah, I know,” I said with a shrug.
“Supermodels have always been my thing.” I walked around the table
then pulled out a chair for Alessandra. I was never a gentleman
like this but the night was going well and I was in a good
mood.
    Alessandra gave me a quick smile before she
sat down.
    I took the place beside her. “Do you want
wine or anything?”
    “I’ll have whatever you’re having,” she
said.
    I flipped the menu over. “Do they have
beer?”
    “No,” Mom said in an annoyed voice. “This is
an Italian place.”
    “Do Italians not drink beer?” I blurted.
    Alessandra leaned toward me and looked at the
wine list. Her smell came into my nose, and her soft hair slightly
tickled my forearm. “Let’s do the merlot. It’s bitter, but not too
bitter.”
    “I don’t drink wine.”
    “I know,” she said. “I think you’ll like
it.”
    “Whatever you say, sweetheart.” I set the
wine menu down. I remembered that I was supposed to be affectionate
with Alessandra. I wasn’t totally clueless when it came to women,
but I was only touchy behind closed doors. I never went out to
dinner or took a stroll around the park. I put my arm over the back
of her chair and tried to act natural.
    Mom looked thrilled. “So, you two met in a
coffee shop?”
    “Yep,” I said. “I saw her across the room and
knew I had to have her. The rest is history.”
    “He was very charming,” Alessandra said. “He
knows how to make me laugh.”
    “That’s wonderful,” Mom said. “What do you
do, Alessandra?”
    Now that the boring part of the conversation
came, I moved to the breadbasket and ate all the slices inside. My
parents didn’t seem to notice because they were so absorbed with my
date.
    “I run a flower shop in Manhattan,” she said.
“Gardening has always been a hobby and I really enjoy it.”
    “That’s great,” Dad said.
    “Adorable,” Mom said.
    “I like to take flowers home and put them in
my apartment. The place always smells like summer.”
    I discreetly eyed the front of her dress. Her
cleavage line could be seen from this angle, and I couldn’t stop
myself from taking a peek. Damn, her tits were nice.
    “How long has this been going on for, Ash?”
Mom asked.
    “Uh…” I pulled my eyes away from the
beautiful sight. “Three weeks now. I was reluctant for a
relationship but Alessandra is special.” My fingers gently rubbed
her shoulder. “I didn’t want to let her go.”
    “Awe…” Mom leaned toward Dad and grabbed his
arm.
    I couldn’t