A Mysterious Man novel Chapter 6

"What's up?" she asked, carefully stepping into the kitchen, trying unsuccessfully to avoid getting any flour onto her worn converse sneakers.

"Jonah was just going to tell me who made her so flustered. After all, it's been a long time since I have seen evidence of Jonah when she's been interested in a guy."

"Mom!" I nearly screeched. "It isn't like that!"

"Oh really?" The skeptical lift of her perfectly arched brow made me bite my lip, but I didn't back down. I wasn't going to lose this. She wasn't going to know.

"Yes," I hissed out to her, eyeing Kennedy, trying to silently tell her that any type of intrusion would be welcome.

"Jonah?" I heard a questioning voice that I now recognized as Grayson's call into the house. It sounded like he was on the stairs making his way to the first floor. "I put on some pants like you asked."

Not that kind of intrusion.

"Oh dear Lord," I mumbled. My mother perked up, her eyes widening as she stared at me like she was seeing me for the first time, her lips twisting into a smile that made my insides condense into a tiny ball. Kennedy looked at me in a similar way, her bangs ruffling as she tilted her head at me, a small smirk teasing the corners of her mouth.

"Is there something you want to tell us, Jonah?" My mother asked. "Or are you still going to pretend that nothing happened before we arrived." She paused for a second before saying: "I knew you looked flushed."

I gasped, my cheeks flooding with color. "Mom!" My mouth opened and closed like a fish; there was nothing I could do or say that would change her mind from what she thought had happened. No sound came out of my throat, but somehow I was able to splutter a few words to try and defend myself. "B-but… I didn't… Just… NO!"

Bubbling laughter from the person next to me drew my attention to Kennedy. Laughter was peeling out of her, and the sad part was that she was trying to hold it back - and not succeeding at all. I glared at her with nearly the same amount of venom that Edgar was able to put into his patented glares. I could have sworn she flinched away, but there was no way to be sure. After all, I wasn't Edgar.

"Jonah?" Grayson asked the house again. "Are you there?"

"Well it is wonderful to meet you," My mother said. She was piling the honey on so thick I was surprised I couldn't visibly see the stuff coating her and Grayson. Grayson must have realized it too, because he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, a smirk curling the edges of his lush lips.

"Same," he said, holding a hand out for my mom to shake. My mom wasn't a hand shaker. She proved it when she pulled on Grayson's hand and pulled him into a tight hug, rocking a little on her feet as she clutched him. With the way her arms were wound around him like an octopus, I was surprised she didn't try to grope him. Hell, maybe she did and I just didn't see it.

My mom finally released Grayson from her embrace, and he stumbled backwards a few steps - the first sign of any type of uncertainty I had seen from the man. Granted, I had known him less than a day, but when he was talking to me naked, having a perfectly normal conversation, he had seemed completely at ease.

"Jonah this house is huge!" Kennedy said, changing the subject. I was thankful. "Show me your bedroom."

"Sure," I turned and began to walk out of the room. As I was padding down the hall, a dark figure jumped out of nowhere and leapt underneath my feet. Edgar. With a small shriek I tipped forward, shooting my arms out in front of me to lessen the impact of my face on the floor. Before I could hit the wood though, I felt a strong arm slide along my waist, and I instantly knew that it was neither my mom nor was it my sister. That only left… Grayson. The guy who had been kind enough to let me fall to the floor earlier, but was a gentleman and rescued me now? Hm.