"I knew I should've called..." the woman in the doorway replied, noting the sudden change in her daughter's body language, "You have company, don't you? I'm sorry, sweetheart... I can come back later..."
"No! I mean yes, I do have company, but come in," Beth stammered, a smile spreading across her face as she let the door fall open.
"It's just that I hadn't been able to make it to Josh's funeral, and I felt awful about it, and I thought you might need some cheering up or someone to talk to," her mother explained as she breezed past her into the apartment, but the sight of her daughter's guest stopped her dead in her tracks.
She looked like she'd seen a ghost, an understandable reaction to seeing a man who hadn't changed in over two decades.
"Hi, I'm Mick St. John," he jumped in, forcing a smile and trying to act as natural as he could, "I believe you knew my father..."
Hey, it worked before.
Her eyes softened a bit, and he could see the shock in them fading a little. She let out a small laugh and her hand flew to her heart.
"Meredith Turner," she replied after a moment, shaking his outstretched hand.
The room went quiet as both Mick and Beth let out a silent sigh of relief, and Meredith's eyes darted curiously between the pair.
"Oh, sorry!" Beth piped in, realizing that she hadn't said a word or moved an inch since her mother walked in.
She turned to close the door before crossing the few steps that seperated her from the others who were standing near the bar of the kitchen.
"Sit, make yourself at home," Beth spoke up again, motioning toward the nearby couch.
"Well, actually I thought we might could go out to dinner, if you'd like... My treat," she offered hopefully, "And I'd love for you to join us, Mick."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude..." he began, but the sudden look of disappointment on Beth's face was enough to change his mind, "I'd love to."
"Great! I'll let you two get ready and meet you at Blair's around nine."
And with that, she was out the door.
"Nicely played, St. John."
"Yeah, I don't remember her being that intimidating the first time around," he remarked with a grin before taking her by the hand and pulling her close to him, "Now where were we?"
"Oh no you don't," she laughed in response, pushing away just enough to look him in the eyes, "Blair's is really nice, and I still have to shower and change..."
Mick's disappointment didn't go unnoticed so when she reached the door to her room, she turned back, and with a playful grin, she held up her finger and motioned for him to follow which he did with great pleasure.
Once they arrived at the restaurant, Mick stepped out and made his way around to the other side of his Mercedes to open the passenger door. Beth smiled up at him sweetly, and he held out his hand to help her out. She looked stunning, wearing a deep red dress that hugged her body perfectly. She was trying to drive him crazy, and it worked.
As soon as she was out of the car, Mick pulled her against him and kissed her deeply before pulling back so that his lips lingered not even an inch away.
"What was that for?"
"You look beautiful," he whispered softly.
And he wanted the guys who were staring at her like wolves on the hunt to know she was his, but he decided it best not to mention that part to Beth.
"I still don't get why my mom chose this place... It's not really her style," Beth admitted as they made their way toward the entrance, "She's never really been one for the lavish..."
"Maybe she's just trying to make it up to you for missing Josh's funeral, like she said..."
"Yeah... Maybe..." Beth replied as they walked in through the building's double doors, but she still didn't sound very convinced.
"Hi, reservation for Meredith Turner," Mick told the hostess, and they were quickly showed to their seats.
The dinner started off on a good note with the three of them ordering their favorite drinks, and the conversation seemed to flow much better than it had before. Mick noticed a lot of similarities between Beth and her mother. They had the same wit, the same smile, but he could sense that Beth was much more independent than her mother which was one of his favorite things about her.
"So how do you two know each other?" Meredith finally asked the question they both knew was coming.
"I met Mick at one of the crime scenes I was reporting on... He's a P.I.-" "Family profession," Mick added.
Beth smiled at him and reached beneath the table to take his hand in hers.
"We've been working together ever since."
"Why if it isn't the happy couple," they heard a familiar voice speak up from behind them, and Mick didn't even have to look to know who it was.