Excerpt from Groomed to Perfection!

It could have been seconds or minutes, but she faced him when she felt more in control. “There was a reason why we both knew this was a bad idea,” she began, unable to fully look him in the eye. Staring at his jaw seemed to work better. “And I don’t know if I can handle someone like your mother wanting to dominate our lives.”
“It wouldn’t be like that,” he said in earnest. “I promise you. If you give us a chance…”
But she held up a hand to stop him. “It hurts that you wouldn’t tell her exactly who you were dating, Cooper. Her haughty condescension was already offensive, but you refusing to admit to dating me was flat-out insulting.”
“It wasn’t my intention. I swear. I honestly was just trying to find a way to end a really bad situation.” He walked over to her. “I truly just wanted us to have some time without any interference—time for us to learn more about one another and, selfishly, I had hoped with a little more time that you’d feel about me the way I feel about you.”
It would be so easy to cave and tell him she loved him and that everything would be alright.
However…this was a huge red flag for her, and she knew if she didn’t speak up for herself now, it wouldn’t be long before she found herself in this same kind of situation again.
“Here’s the thing,” she began levelly. “I am an awesome person. I’m honest and hardworking, I’m a loyal friend, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my family.” Her voice started to shake, so she took a moment. “I stand up for and take care of the people I care about, and I expect the same in return. So if you can’t stand up for me—hell, if you can’t even admit we’re dating to anyone you know—then we’re both wasting our time here.”
“Emilie…”
“I’m not with you for your last name or for your damn money! As a matter of fact, those are the least attractive things about you! I don’t want you to buy me things and I’m not impressed by the people you know or the things you have!” She started to pace again. “I fell in love with the man who brought sandwiches to my grandmother! The guy who promises to watch Jeopardy! with an old lady just to make her smile! That’s the guy I’m proud to tell anyone and everyone who’ll listen that we’re dating. And knowing you won’t do the same for me…”
He was in front of her in the blink of an eye. “I’ll take out a full-page ad in any newspaper, rent a billboard, and shout it from the highest rooftop if that’s what it takes to prove to you that I’m sorry and that I’m serious about us! I panicked! I’m human and I made a mistake. Tell me what I need to do to make this right and I’ll do it. Please,” he begged.
It was a complete no-brainer.
“No more lying,” she told him. “If you’re serious about me—about us—then you have to be willing to be open about it. I refuse to feel bad about who I am because I am not a bad person.”
“You’re not,” he agreed. “I know you’re not.”
“Well, that’s how you made me feel, Cooper. I’m normally a confident person and you made me doubt myself,” she said sadly before meeting his tortured gaze. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
“I won’t,” he promised softly. “I won’t. I promise. I’m so sorry.” He slowly wrapped her in his arms, and she hated how much she needed it.
Needed him.
It didn’t take long until her arms were around him and they stayed like that for a long time.
“Did you mean what you said?” he whispered.
“Which part?”
“When you said you fell in love with me.”
Crap.
That part just sort of slipped out, but now that it was out there—and she made a whole big stink about honesty—she couldn’t deny it.

GROOMED TO PERFECTION is coming May 10th!!
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