CJ England's FREE READ: The Watcher's Guild: Sweet Nephilim Ch. 11 Pt. 1

Hey all,

This is my last Sunday in Cordoba, Argentina. When I next post, I'll be sitting in my apartment in Buenos Aires!! WooHoo! There is so much to see and do in that city, I may not be online at all! LOL But I promise to keep posting the FREE READ. I know you want to find out what's going to happen with Eran and Amaris. So without any further ado, here's today's installment. Enjoy!!!!

The Watcher's Guild: Sweet Nephilim

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Chapter Eleven

A Shocking Question

The startled look on Eran’s face told Amaris she’d surprised him. Not only the statement she’d made, but the fact she’d hugged him. She swallowed, hoping he wouldn’t give her away. This was all she could come up with in the short time they’d had before her mother came out and prevented further conversation. It sort of popped out of her mouth before she could get his okay.

“Y-Your fiancé?” her mother stuttered, her gentle eyes shifting back and forth between her daughter and the man she’d brought with her. “I-I didn’t even know you were dating seriously.”

“I’m afraid that is my fault.” Eran stepped forward smoothly and took her mother’s hand in his. “I travel quite a bit and finding time for our relationship can be difficult.”

“Yes.” Amaris couldn’t help teasing. “He’s always flying off somewhere.”

Eran gave her a squeeze in warning. “But I knew as soon as I set eyes on Amaris, we were destined to be together.”

“Oh, Johnson…” The older woman sighed dramatically. “Isn’t that romantic?”

“Hmph.” Amaris’ father chewed on his pipe and stared at the couple. Amaris felt like she was a teenager again, caught crawling back through a bedroom window after a late night party.

“Come in, come in.” Mrs. Dover stepped back and motioned towards the door. “We don’t need to stand out here. We’ll have some coffee and get to know each other.”

Amaris glanced at Eran, who lifted an amused eyebrow at her. She had a feeling later she was going to pay big for this little white lie. “Thanks, Mom.”

They all went inside, and a few minutes later Amaris found herself seated with Eran on her parent’s well-worn couch. Eran’s big hands held the delicate china coffee cup carefully, and he sipped it without a word, even though she knew her mother’s coffee could be lethal.

“Eran,” Amaris said with an apologetic smile, “I guess I should formally introduce you. This is my mother, Janice, and my father, Bertram. Mom, Dad, this is Eran, my fiancé.”

“Bertram?” Eran glanced at her mother. “I thought you called him Johnson.”

“I did.” Janice blushed prettily. “It’s a nickname. He’s got this big ol—”

“Motor!” Amaris broke in desperately, terrified that Eran might be offended at the family’s time-honored naughty joke. “He’s got a boat, and the motor is way too big for it, so he got the nickname Johnson. That’s all.”

She went red when the other three looked at her in obvious amusement. She’d protested a bit too much. “Well, I…uhhh…”

Johnson Dover cleared his throat meaningfully, but there was a twinkle in his eye. “I suppose you should tell us just how you two met.”

Amaris opened her mouth to answer, but Eran beat her to it. “We met by chance. Amaris was on her way home after work, and she was attacked by two thugs. I rescued her.”

Cat’s out of the bag now, Amaris thought with an inward groan. Eran wouldn’t understand the fact that another little white lie would have been better here. She hadn’t wanted to scare her parents with the truth about the attempted rape.

“Amaris? Oh, my God!” Janice’s eyes narrowed with concern. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I didn’t want you to worry.” Rolling her eyes at Eran, Amaris took her mother’s hand. “I wasn’t hurt, and Eran got to me in time. We’ve been together ever since.”

“And what happen to the men who tried to rob you?” Her father’s gaze pinned hers. “Were they arrested?”

Amaris let the mistake about the robbery go and prayed Eran would do the same. No parent wanted to know their daughter came close to being raped. “They were dealt with. Suffice it to say they won’t be bothering any other waitresses on their way home.”

“I’ve told you a hundred times the streets aren’t safe.”

“I know, Dad. I know. I’m sorry. But like I said. Eran saved me, and I can’t regret the attack completely since it’s what brought us together.”

“Hmmm.” Her father chewed his pipe some more and stared at Eran. “Just what do you do for a living, Eran?”

“I’m in security.”

Amaris almost choked on her coffee at his response. He wasn’t lying, but he sure wasn’t telling all the truth, either.

“What kind of security?” Her dad’s curiosity was obviously aroused.

“Any number of things. Whatever I am called on to do. Usually, it is a protection detail, or more recently training a new recruit.”

“And you make good money doing this…security?”

“DAD!”

Eran chuckled at Amaris’ outraged gasp. She’d pulled him into this deception, now she had to deal with the consequences. For his part, he was actually enjoying himself, although he wasn’t sure Jehovah would appreciate the lie Amaris had come up with. An angel could deceive, but only for the greater good. He wasn’t sure if this really qualified, but it was too late to do anything about it now. He could only keep the damage to a minimum.

“It is alright, little angel,” he soothed her. “He is your father. He has the right to know you will be protected and cared for.” His amber gaze met Johnson’s suspicious one. “I have no money worries. I do quite well. Sir, Amaris is the most important thing in the world to me. I would cut off my right arm before I hurt her. She will be cared for in all ways. This I promise you.”

“But it all happened so soon. Do you really know each other?” Janice wrung her hands a bit. “I mean, you’re a very handsome man and built, and I’m sure the sex is great, but—”

“MOTHER!”

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I think I want to be that sort of mom-in-law. Keep 'em guessing, that's my motto. LOL Though I think Eran and Amaris are going to have to be on their toes to keep up this deception. I wonder what her parents will come up with next? Stop by next Sunday to find out!!!!

Have a great week!

Hugs,

CJ England