Perhaps I should've felt the disruption in the atmosphere when I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex, but I didn't sense how off the universe was until I opened my front door and was hit in the face by the scent of pine cleaner and lemon dusting crap. I almost backed quietly out and ran for the hills without a word, but Shannon appeared from the kitchen as soon as I walked in.

She clapped her hands together with glee. "You're home!"

Things were sparkling. I didn't like it. This wasn't home. This was a trap. A domestic trap. I shoved my keys into my pocket and looked around suspiciously like toxic gases might start flooding from the vents. "What did you do?"

"I just straightened up a bit," she said as she sashayed toward me.

I unzipped my coat. "I...um...it looks—"

She cut me off by grabbing the lapel of my jacket. "Leave the coat on," she said. "We've got to get going."

"Get going where?" I asked.

"Your parents'."

"Excuse me?"

She giggled and leaned into me. "We're having dinner at your parents' house tonight instead of tomorrow."

Surely, I misheard her. Or misunderstood. Or suffered a stroke between my truck and the front door. "What?"

"Remember? Your mother and I set it up a few days ago. She's cooking and I promised to bring dessert."

Shit. I had completely forgotten all about it. Warning bells were chiming in my brain. Red flags were waving before my eyes. "Shannon, don't you think it's a little soon to be meeting my parents?"

She draped her arms around my neck. Her perfume was intoxicating.

Keep your head, Nate. This is how she sucks you in every damn time.

"Do you think it's too soon?" She moved so close that her breasts brushed against my chest.

My eyes closed involuntarily. I felt my head shaking 'no' despite the screams of the dying bachelor inside me.

I've never been afraid of commitment; I've just never had time for it. And something about this chick made me feel like I wasn't behind the wheel of this love boat, and I didn't like that one bit. In fact, I was pretty sure I was playing scalawag to Shannon at the helm and my mother as first mate.

Her lips trailed soft kisses down the side of my neck.

I had to remind myself to breathe.

"How long does it take to get to their house?"

"Huh?"

She pulled back. "Nathan."

I opened my eyes and realized my head had dropped back toward the ceiling and my mouth was hanging open. I blinked. "Sorry, what?"

"How long does it take to get to their house?"

I sighed. "About forty-five minutes."

She dug her fingers into my hips. "Well, we'd better get going so we're not late." She leaned close to my ear. "And because the sooner we get there, the sooner we can get back home."

I whimpered. I actually whimpered.

And before I could object any further, we were on our way to see my parents.

********

Sorry for the short chapter. I'll make it up by posting another one this week. :)