“We are.” Dr. Wagner folded his hands, resting his elbows on the table. “We just want her to be happy.”
“And I am.” Kiara smiled at Blaise. “More so now.”
Janet returned with the drinks before carrying a tray of puffed pastries around the table. “I’ll bring the salad out in a few minutes.”
“Kiara, I meant to tell you I ran into Eli’s mother in the grocery store the other day,” Kathleen said, her face lighting up with enthusiasm. “She tells me you and Eli reconnected recently.”
Blaise’s hand slid from Kiara’s leg at the mention of her former boyfriend. Her parents obviously liked and approved of him, probably because he was an Ivy League grad.
“I wouldn’t say we reconnected,” Kiara said, shooting her mother a warning glance. “We ran into each when we were both in Philadelphia on business a month or two ago.”
“In Philadelphia?” She laughed. “Such a small world, isn’t it? It’s almost as though fate brought you back together again.”
Blaise reached for his scotch and took a healthy swig as he tried to ignore Kiara’s concerned glance in his direction.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Kiara took a deep breath. “Same time, same place. Just a coincidence, happens all the time.”
“But he also came to see you in Arlington, didn’t he?”
Blaise knew Kathleen was just trying to stir up trouble, but he refused to give her that satisfaction. “He did, as a matter of fact.” Blaise smiled at Mrs. Wagner. “I met him at Kiara’s office.”
“You did?” She sounded surprised.
“Your informant didn’t mention that?” he asked, unable to hide his sarcasm.
Kiara pinched her lips together, obviously trying not to smile at Blaise’s jab. “He was just passing through town on business and stopped by to say hello. I wouldn’t make too much of it.”
“Especially since your daughter made it very clear she’s not interested in him,” Blaise said, regarding Kiara’s mother over the rim of his glass. Since she’d obviously decided he wouldn’t get their stamp of approval, Blaise saw no reason to pull punches.
“You shouldn’t burn your bridges,” Mrs. Wagner said to her daughter. “You and Eli had a very good thing going for a long time.”
“And now she has a very good thing going with me.” Blaise took another deep swallow. “She’s not interested in looking elsewhere.”
Dr. Wagner tried to pull his face into a look of consternation when his wife looked his way, obviously expecting him to back her up, but he couldn’t hide the amusement lighting his eyes. “Kiara has always had a mind of her own, Kathleen. She’s a grown woman and can date anyone she chooses.”
“Of course,” Kathleen said, a blush staining her cheeks as she smoothed the napkin in her lap. Meeting Blaise’s eyes, she said, “I hope you don’t think I was being rude. I just worry about my girls. Kiara’s sisters are married, with families of their own. Kiara is my baby and the only one still single, so I guess I focus too much attention on making sure she finds the right man.”
“The right man?” Blaise couldn’t help but ask, “Define for me, if you wouldn’t mind, who you think would be the right man for your daughter, Mrs. Wagner?”
Kiara seemed a little uneasy about Blaise challenging her mother, but she reached for her glass instead of intervening.
“Well…” Kathleen pursed her lips, looking at Kiara. “She’s very strong-willed, as I’m sure you know, so he’d have to be someone who could handle a strong woman.”
Blaise smiled at Kiara. “That’s one of the things I love most about her.”
“And he’d have to be confident and self-assured. She’s obviously successful in her own right, and her career aligns her with wealthy, handsome athletes, many of whom aren’t shy about making a play for her.”
Blaise had already made his feelings on that clear to Kiara, and he wouldn’t pretend otherwise just to score points with her parents. Blaise reached for Kiara’s hand. “I’m not going to lie—your daughter is an incredible woman. She’s probably better than I deserve. I know that.”
“Blaise, that’s not true.” Kiara brushed her lips across his cheek. “You don’t realize how amazing you are.”
Her parents watched the exchange with curiosity.
Blaise said, “Could she meet someone better suited to her someday?” He shrugged, trying to act as though the mere thought of that didn’t cut deep. “Perhaps. And if she does, I’ll find a way to wish her well. But I refuse to waste a single moment with her worrying about the future. That has a way of taking care of itself.”
Kathleen looked chagrined. “I suppose you’re right. Kiara can take care of herself, but I’m of a different generation. I’d like to know that she also has a man who can take care of her, should the need arise.”
“Mom, I—”
Blaise cut Kiara off by squeezing her hand under the table. “Mrs. Wagner, should your daughter choose to spend her life with me, I’m more than capable of taking care of her. But you’re right, she can take care of herself.”
“I’m sorry,” Kathleen said, shaking her head. “I guess I just don’t know enough about your former profession to gauge your income.”
Smirking, Blaise said, “Let’s just say that for the past fifteen years, I earned more than the C.E.O. of a Fortune 500 company. Does that put your mind at ease?” Blaise had never flaunted his wealth, but he knew he wouldn’t gain the Wagners’ approval until they understood that he wasn’t just some washed-up fighter.
Kathleen’s mouth dropped open as her gaze flitted around the table. “I would never be so ill-mannered as to ask about how much money you made, but seriously? Boxers earn that much?”
Blaise chuckled. “Heavyweight champions do, ma’am. That was a title I was proud to own at various times throughout my career.”
“Wow,” she said, adjusting her scarf. “I just had no idea.”
“Now that you do,” Dr. Wagner said to his wife, “can we stop being so uncouth and talk about something other than how much money our guest earns?”
“Of course.” Kathleen shook her head, with a smile teasing her lips. “Blaise, I’m sorry. You must think I’m dreadful.”
“No, ma’am,” Blaise said, softening when he looked at Kiara. “I think you’re just trying to protect your daughter. That’s something we have in common.”
***
The rest of the dinner went smoothly, so when Kiara suggested Blaise retire to the family room with her father to watch a hockey game, he wasn’t apprehensive.
They’d settled in and were focused on the game when Dr. Wagner said, “Can I tell you how impressed I am with the way you handled my wife? Once Kathleen gets started, it’s not easy to shut her down. Kudos.”
Blaise laughed. “I just wanted you both to know that I care about Kiara. I want to take care of her, not that she’d ever let me.”
“I hope you won’t be offended by this, but I’ve been a psychologist for many years. I’m able to see a person’s emotional scars as easily as most people see physical scars.”
Shifting in his seat, Blaise prayed Dr. Wagner wasn’t going where he feared he might be.
“You were nervous when you came in, almost as though you were facing a firing squad. Can I ask why?” Dr. Wagner took a sip of his espresso. “You’re obviously a confident young man. You’ve been at the top of your game, professionally, so why were you nervous about meeting us?”
Blaise could have tried to sugar-coat it, but he knew he couldn’t fool someone who was used to delving inside people’s heads to get to the truth. “My upbringing was very different from Kiara’s. My parents weren’t at all like you and Mrs. Wagner. I guess I was concerned about fitting into your family.” He didn’t want to overstep, so he added, “I mean, I guess I just wanted you to like me.” That made him sound like a new kid at school, anxious to make friends, but it was too late to take it back.
“Do you still have a relationship with your parents?”
&n
bsp; “Such as it is.” Blaise had no intention of airing his dirty laundry with Kiara’s father.
“They must be very proud of you.”
“I don’t know.” They were proud of how much money he’d earned. They were proud of the house and car he’d bought them, the vacations he’d paid for, but they’d never claimed to be proud of him.
“It’s hard to spend your life looking for approval and never get it, isn’t it?”
Blaise swallowed. There was no way he could answer that question without sounding pathetic.
“My father was a harsh man,” Dr. Wagner said. “Very judgmental. He expected the best from me and my brothers. Nothing less would do.”
Blaise wanted to ask for more details, but that would be rude, so he remained silent. He’d never expected to be able to relate to a world-renowned psychologist, but it sounded as though their starts in life had been eerily similar, and Blaise wanted to hear more.
“I was always a failure in his eyes.” Dr. Wagner sighed. “Nothing was ever good enough, so eventually I stopped trying to impress him. I went through a rebellious period, dropped out of school, and ran away from home.”
“Really?” Blaise couldn’t have concealed his shock if he’d tried. He never would have imagined Dr. Wagner had hit road bumps along the way to his success.
“Really.” Dr. Wagner laughed at Blaise’s disbelief. “I took three years off school and worked every crappy job I could find to keep a roof over my head before I finally realized I wasn’t punishing my old man. I was punishing myself.”
“I guess so.” Dr. Wagner was obviously sending him a message, and Blaise got it, loud and clear.
“That’s when I returned to school, worked my butt off to make up for lost time, got a scholarship, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“Interesting story, Dr. Wagner. Thanks for sharing it with me.” Blaise knew that wasn’t the kind of thing two people typically shared at a dinner party, during their first meeting.
“Please call me Andrew. And you’re welcome.” He smiled at Blaise. “I told you about my experience because I sense there’s a part of you still seeking approval. That usually stems from one’s childhood, parents who made you feel you’re not good enough. Not worthy.”
God, it’s no wonder this man is considered one of the best. He’d hit the nail on the head. Hh
“Blaise, you’re a grown man. You know you’re worthy. You proved that on a global stage when you claimed your title. You proved that at my dinner table tonight when you put my wife in her place.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure which was more impressive, but you definitely earned my respect for the latter. Kathleen’s too.”
“I appreciate that.” Blaise’s words seemed inadequate. He wanted to tell Andrew that he appreciated him making him feel worthy of Kiara, but he couldn’t find words that wouldn’t sound trite.
“Son, it’s not about where you start out in life that matters. It’s where you end up, and only you can decide that.”
“You’re right.” Blaise nodded slowly. “You’re absolutely right.”
Chapter Eleven
Kiara was still a little stunned. That evening couldn’t have gone any better if she’d scripted it. By the time they left, her parents were embracing Blaise warmly and telling him they looked forward to seeing him again soon.
Blaise slipped an arm around her waist as the hotel elevator carried them to their tenth-floor suite. “You’ve been quiet since we left your parents’ place. Anything wrong?”
“Everything’s right.” Kiara’s smile widened as she played through the night in her mind. “I mean, that couldn’t have gone any better. And the way you handled my mother? You deserve an award or something, because I’ve never seen anyone do that.”
He winced. “I’m not gonna lie, I was afraid of overstepping or making you hate me for being rude to your mother, but I wasn’t going to let her make me feel like something she’d scraped off the bottom of her shoe.”
Kiara couldn’t have been more proud of him, not only for standing up for himself, but for defending their relationship. “You were amazing.” She reached up to kiss him. “I’m in awe.”
He laughed. “It was no big deal, Ki.”
“Seems like you and my father made a real connection. I have to assume it had little to do with the fact that the Bruins just happen to be your favorite team?”
“He shared a bit of his story with me,” Blaise said, seeming a bit uneasy. “Helped me realize that I’ve been letting my childhood define me for far too long. Honestly, I don’t give a shit what my parents think of me anymore. They didn’t even know enough to keep food on the table most of the time, so what makes them experts about what it takes to be a success in life, right?”
Kiara was glad that Blaise was leaving some of his baggage behind, but that seemed to be intensifying his resentment toward his parents, and that concerned her. If her parents had been part of his epiphany, she owed them a debt of gratitude. “I’m glad you realized it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of you, babe. But I’m sure your parents did the best they could.”
“Whatever.” He drew her into his side as they stepped off the elevator and walked down the hall to their room. “I don’t want to talk about them. I don’t want to think about them. I feel like we cleared a big hurdle in our relationship tonight, and I’d much rather celebrate that.”
Kiara watched him slide the key card into the door and push it open, gesturing for her to precede him into the suite. She set her purse on the desk in the foyer. “I never meant to make you feel like this was some kind of test. I’m not a teenager. I don’t need my parents to approve of the guys I date.”
“I know.” He pulled her into his arms before tossing the key card on the desk. “But I know you’re close with your family. I don’t want to cause a rift between y’all. If we’re going to have a future together—”
A knock interrupted him.
“Must be our luggage,” Kiara said, stepping farther into the room. She really wanted him to finish his thought. She knew where she hoped their relationship was headed, but it would be nice to hear him confirm that they were on the same page.
Blaise tipped the bellman and thanked him before turning toward Kiara. “I could use a shower. Care to join me?”
She wanted to ask him what he had been about to say before they were interrupted, but she didn’t want him to feel pressured. “I could be persuaded.” She peeled his shirt off before reaching for his belt buckle.
He grinned. “I could get used to this.”
“Good.” A sense of urgency drove her as she shed his clothes while he helped with hers. He kissed her with his eyes before his mouth landed on hers. She was so primed, so ready, she wasn’t even sure they’d make it to the shower.
“You make me crazy.” He sighed, closing his eyes while she explored his neck with her tongue. “I lose control when I’m with you… and I’m not sure I like it.”
“I love it.” She closed her hand around his shaft, spreading the evidence of his arousal before gliding her hand up and down. “I love being the only one who gets to see this side of you.”
“Hmmm…” He traced her lower lip with his thumb before his free hand closed over her breast. “That’s true. You make me feel things, Ki.”
She wanted him to tell her she made him happy, satisfied, content. Instead he left her hanging, questioning what she made him feel. When she couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, she nibbled his jaw before whispering, “Tell me. Tell me what I make you feel.”
“Scared.”
She reared back, her hand falling. Of all the things she’d expected him to say, that hadn’t been one of the words that came to mind. “Why?”
“Staying detached is easier, safer.”
“You’re still questioning me? Us?” She tried to convince herself he was simply being cautious, that maybe he had the right idea, but it still felt like a slap in the face.
“I don’t know if that’s the right w
ord.” He raked a hand through his hair, stepping back. “Look, just forget I said anything. Let’s—”
“I think I’ll take that shower now.”
***
Blaise cursed himself as soon as he heard the soft click of the bathroom door closing. She wasn’t mad—she was hurt, and that was so much worse. He walked over to the mini-bar and poured himself a drink. He tossed it back while he questioned why he couldn’t seem to help himself. They should be on solid ground, but he had to open his big mouth and say that he was scared. With every day that passed, he was a little less scared, though. He should have told her that. He should have told her that he was learning to have faith in what they had, to believe they had the strength to go the distance. Instead he’d said something stupid.
He had to fix it. Setting his empty glass down, he walked to the bathroom and was relieved to find she hadn’t locked him out. Her back was toward him as she let water pour over her.
Blaise entered slowly and whispered, “Hey,” so he wouldn’t startle her. He reached for her, pressing her back against his front. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I run my mouth without thinking.”
“It’s okay.” She leaned her head against his shoulder, heedless of the fact the water was pelting her cheek.
He shifted their bodies so he was taking the brunt of the hot spray on his back. “It’s not okay. I want to get this right, but I don’t have a lot of experience with this whole relationship thing. I guess that’s why I keep screwing up.” His hand skated over her stomach before closing over her smooth mound. Kissing her neck, he slid a finger between her legs, drawing a breathless moan from her. “Forgive me?”
“Yes.” Her eyes rolled back before closing. “Yes. I forgive you.”
He knew he shouldn’t ask for more, but he couldn’t help himself. “I want to wipe the slate clean, baby.” His shaft was slipping between her crevice, making it difficult for him to hold back. “Let’s start over. Can we do that?”
Going For It (Texas Titans #7) Page 11