One Night Only

Part 20

Lindsey hadn't had such a good night's sleep in a long time. He drifted off as soon as his head hit the pillow and woke up, when his alarm went off. Lauren asked him if he wanted to stay with her, when they came home the night before, but Lindsey needed some time alone. 

Unfortunately, Lindsey couldn't enjoy himself for too long. Lauren had told her parents, they'd come over for dinner, when her mother called, and she only told him during the last hour at work. It wasn't entirely inconvenient. Lindsey had a chance to spend some time around Lauren's father, but that too made him tense, remembering the pictures he'd received. 

"You don't have to be so nervous, Lindsey." Lauren gave him a smile, when he parked his car in her parents' driveway. "You've already met them."

"Yeah, but you know, I can't help but want to impress them." He shrugged, taking the key out of the ignition.

Walking around the front, Lindsey slid his arm around Lauren's back and they walked up to the front door together. Lauren's mother pulled the door open with a bright smile on her face, before either of them could ring the doorbell. 

"I'm so glad you could make it!" Sharon Lynwood kissed her daughter on the cheek and held her in a hug for a moment, she then turned to Lindsey, who gave her a one arm awkward hug back. 

"Thanks for having us." Lindsey replied and allowed Lauren to step over the threshold first. "You have a beautiful home."

"You haven't seen anything yet! I'm sure, George will be happy to give you tour." Sharon waved it off and looked to her right, when Mr. Lynwood approached them and wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders.

"It's nice to see you again." Lindsey held his hand out to Lauren's father.

Mr. Lynwood squeezed Lindsey's hand unnecessarily strongly. "Welcome to our home."

"Lauren, darling, could you help me out in the kitchen? I lost track of time and-"

Knowing her mother's tendency to ramble, Lauren nodded her head and interrupted. "Of course. You'll be okay?" She asked Lindsey, who said, he would be, then gave him a peck on the lips, leaving him alone with her father.

Lindsey felt uncomfortable. He didn't know what to say, what to do or where to look. Mr. Lynwood cleared his throat. "Why don't I show you around?"

"I'd love that." Lindsey forced a smile, following the man to wherever they were about to go first. 

The heavy mahogany door opened, revealing what Lindsey guessed was George Lynwood's home office. It looked expensive. He was given a moment to look around, while Mr. Lynwood went to take a seat at the desk and showed Lindsey to sit down in front of him.

"Impressive."

"Thank you." The man said, his eyes focused on Lindsey. "How is Lauren's friend doing?"

"I'm not sure, what you mean, sir." Lindsey clasped his hands together, his heart rate increasing.

"You two sure looked cozy together." Mr. Lynwood sat back in his chair, a small smirk on his face. "I mean, I can't blame a guy. She's a fine woman."

"She- she received some bad news." Lindsey stuttered. "I was just consoling her."

"By slipping your tongue in her mouth?" Mr. Lynwood raised his eyebrow, he could tell that Lindsey was squirming in his seat.

"I didn't-"

"Cut the crap." He interrupted and Lindsey shut his mouth. "I don't know, what you're looking for, Lindsey, but know that I've got dirt on you as well. I'd hate to break my daughter's heart, but if it comes to it..." Mr. Lynwood trailed off and shrugged his shoulders. 

"Nothing is going on between Stevie and I, sir." Lindsey gulped. "Those pictures weren't of the best quality."

"Well, we can always ask Lauren, what she thinks about them." Biting the inside of his cheek, Lindsey maintained the intense eye contact. "Back off and she'll never see them. I have more, by the way. But if that doesn't bother you, I could always pay Stevie a visit." 

"Don't you dare go anywhere near her." Lindsey warned. "Leave her out of this."

"I thought, nothing's going on?"

"None of this is Stevie's fault." Lindsey said angrily. 

"I see." Lindsey wasn't too sure, what that meant. "I hit a nerve, huh."

"I swear-"

Quickly changing the subject, Mr. Lynwood rose to his feet, cutting Lindsey off mid-sentence. "I think, it's time we head back, don't you? The women might start wondering."

Lindsey tried to shake it off. He walked out first, with Lauren's father close behind him. They had just taken a couple of steps, when Lauren appeared.

"I was just coming to get you." She said. "You weren't too hard on Lindsey, were you, dad?"

"Oh, no." Mr. Lynwood grinned, patting Lindsey on the back. "We just had a little talk."