Read Online ROMANCE: Meet the Parents (Alpha Male Werewolf Shifter Paranormal Romance) (New Adult Shifter Romantic Comedy Short Stories) by Sicily Duval - Free Book Online Page A

maybe it just appeared that
way to Jared who was a hulking form of a man, standing at six feet five inches
and with shoulders as wide as three women of Elena’s stature. While it did make
him perfect for bear hugs and spooning, it was a rather unfortunate trait when
it came to sharing the backseat of a small cab with his wife and two
medium-sized carry-on bags. The door’s arm-rest was digging into his ribs,
Elena’s elbow was getting dangerously close to his crotch and every time he
shifted his head bumped the ceiling.
    “How long until we get to your parent’s?” he asked.
    Elena adjusted her seat, earning a quiet but pained grunt from
Jared as her elbow moved. “Get comfortable baby, the main road’s down and
there’s a bit of traffic. Normally it would take us forty minutes to get there
but Bruno says it will take us at least an hour and a half.
    “Who’s Bruno?” Jared asked.
    The cabbie waved a hand at the mention of his name, smiling at
Jared through the rearview mirror.
    “When you say the main roads are closed…” Jared began, hoping
the answer wasn’t what he expected.
    “It means that we will be on back roads, dirt roads and
cobblestone on the regular.” Elena shrugged, making Jared hiss in pain.
    Jared groaned, already feeling the pain in his back. He settled
back, ignoring the slight ringing in his ears as he bumped his head on the roof
for the fourth time and shut his eyes; it was going to be a long ride.
    -x-x-x-
    It was dark when the driver pulled up in front of a large
yellow-painted house. The home was old but refurnished. The yard was
maintained, but wildflowers still sprung up sporadically, giving it a charmed
look. There were toys on the edge of the lawn from the neighbors’ kids that
Elena’s parents occasionally watched.
    Bruno helped them with their bags to the front door, and after
Elena paid him in currency she had been smart enough to get in exchange at the
airport, he returned to the cab and took off.
    While Bruno had seemed like a nice guy, Jared was glad to see
him go, happy to be rid of the reminder of the long and painful car ride.
    It was dark out but the porch lights were on and Elena bounced
with anticipation as they waited for the response to the doorbell.
    After a minute the door was thrust open and before Jared could
comprehend what was happening his wife was swept up in a hug from two pairs of
arms and she was lost to the exclamations of ‘how skinny you’re getting, you
need to eat more’ and ‘you’re as stunning as ever my beauty!’.
    “Mama, Papa! I missed you both!” Elena said, breaking free of
their hug and stepping back. “And no I haven’t gotten any skinnier Mom, in
fact, I’ve probably gained a few pounds since you saw me last at our wedding.”
    Elena’s mother Rosa took a step back as well, grabbing Elena’s
shoulders and looking at her scrutinizingly. “Oh my God” she drew out slowly,
“you’re pregnant!”
    “Mama!” Elena said in astonishment, laughing it off, “Of course
not, it’s not even been six months.”
    “Well, it could have just happened!” Rosa said defensively.
    “Mama, we’ve decided to wait at least until we’ve moved out of
our flat and got a house with a picket fence in a nice neighborhood with a good
school, just like you said we should. So don’t worry, you’ll be the first to
know.”
    “Second” Jared muttered.
    “So you haven’t got my daughter a proper home yet I see” Elena’s
father said gruffly.
    Jared offered a small smile, rubbing his neck sheepishly, “I’m
working on it sir.”
    “We’re family now” Rosa said, waving her hands dismissively,
“you can call him Geo.”
    “No, thank you honey but sir and Mr. Lucciani will do just
fine.”
    “Giovanni” Rosa admonished, “go easy on the boy.”
    Giovanni opened his mouth to speak but Elena cut her father off,
“Why don’t we go inside, it’s getting a bit chilly out.”  
    “Of course, of course” Rosa
chuckled, wrapping one