"Ro? Sweetheart? Oh god, please tell me you're dressed and almost ready to go."
Rich hollered up to me as he started making his way up the stairs to the bedroom. His voice was laced with panic and I could just imagine the tiniest beads of sweat forming above his upper lip.
"I know you haven't met the man, and I know it's kind of your hallmark trait to be fashionably late, but my father hates people who lack punctuality."
I grinned at that before stepping up to the doorway. Rich's foot had just hit the top step when he looked up at me and gasped. I pulled my curls back as I finished placing one of my big diamond earrings into the pierced hole.
"You really think your father will hate this?" I smirked as I gestured down at the black dress that I knew hugged all the right curves.
Rich gulped. "On second thought, I'm going to send him a text that we can't make it tonight."
"Oh don't be silly," I laughed. "There will be plenty of time for a good ole romp after we have supper with your Dad."
Rich snorted but offered me his arm as we both descended the staircase. "Did you seriously just say, romp? And supper?"
I blushed and chuckled. "I just want to make a good impression. You and your father come from money. I-- don't."
"Aw, but I love your filthy little mouth," Rich laughed. He booped my nose but then quickly added. "But maybe don't use the word cunt or call anyone a whore fucker. And maybe just refrain from any f bombs at all. Oh, and you probably shouldn't tell that one joke about Superman watching Wonder Woman masturbate but its actually the Invisible--"
"Rich," I snapped. By now we were in his Tesla and buckling up our seat belts. "I got it. Would you relax?"
"I know. I'm sorry," he sighed. "It's just-- my father has never approved of anything I do. And it doesn't help that I've gained like ten pounds since we started dating."
"Wait, what?" My head snapped towards Rich, my right eyebrow arching over my bright blue eyes. "He would really say something about that?"
Rich nodded as my eyes slowly drew over him. He wasn't that overweight and he certainly wasn't unattractive. But he definitely sported the "dad bod" despite not being one. I had tried to encourage him to come to the gym with me, but honestly, he was always out of town for work.
"Well, I can't tell that you've gained ten pounds," I shrugged. "So maybe he won't notice either."
"Thanks, babe." At the stoplight, Rich leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to my lips.
"Is your Dad like some crazy skinny health nut or something?" I asked when we started moving again.
For the second time that night, Rich just sighed. "Not exactly." When I gave him a confused look, he followed up with, "You'll see."
And boy did I see.
"Richard." A rather large man, well over six feet tall stood as he saw us. I could see he was grinding his jaw as he held out his hand for Rich to shake.
'Whoa' was all I thought. It was all I could think. This man-- and my very timid, very painfully, average boyfriend looked nothing alike. Was Rich adopted?
"Sorry, Dad. Traffic was--" I tried to bring my attention back to what had just been said instead of ogling my boyfriend's father. I cleared my throat, and cleared my thoughts, but then that very sexy man turned and looked at me.
"And who's this?" His smile was dazzling and butterflies swarmed my stomach as his large hand reached for mine.
My breath hitched as he brought my fingers up to his lips.
"Rosalie Carter, sir," I quickly regained my composure. Or at least I faked it pretty well. Something I was absolutely used to by now.
"None of that, I won't have my son's girlfriend calling me 'sir'," he chuckled.
It was a deep, sort of manly sound that kind of vibrated through you. I almost sighed-- and then snapped the fuck out if it. What the hell was the matter with me?
"You can call me, John. That's what most people do." He spared Rich a look then added, "or Dad. Perhaps, Daddy--"
I nearly choked on that but just smiled and shook my head. "John it is."
I was relieved when we all sat down and I could take a big swig from the wine glass already waiting for me. Unfortunately, it was awful. Had the elite never heard of adding sugar to their grape juice? Or did they just prefer to drink wine as dry as their souls? This was going to be a long night. Especially if I had to be on my best behavior.
"So, Ms. Carter, Richard tells me you're a trainer at the YMCA?"
"Oh, uh, yeah," I said. Slightly caught off guard. No one had ever called me Ms. Carter before.