A second later, they were greeted by the very mother in question, and Audrey was forced to acknowledge that Clarke’s comparison of the lion wasn’t far off. Not that Linda West resembled a lion, exactly. In fact, she very much resembled Clarke. She was broad shouldered for a woman, or perhaps it just looked that way because she favored vintage Chanel suits with boxy shoulders. Linda’s eyes were the same gold brown as her son’s, and her hair was as dark as Clarke’s—though at sixty, she probably had some salon help with that, Audrey was betting.

Personality-wise, though, Linda definitely had lion vibes. She managed to seem both graceful and fierce, and she was definitely at the top of her food chain.

“Clarke. Audrey. So glad you could clear time in your busy social schedule to join us for dinner,” his mother said coolly as she greeted them both with an air-kiss.

“Thank you for having us,” Audrey said as Clarke stepped behind her to help her out of her coat.

“Of course.” Linda’s smile was brief, and vaguely sly. “After all, you’re going to be part of the family.”

Audrey hesitated, but Clarke’s palm pressed between her shoulder blades, reminding her of the game as he addressed his mother. “She absolutely is.”

Linda’s brown eyes flicked between them for a moment, then gave the slightest roll.

“Come on in. We’ll have some champagne to celebrate,” Clarke’s mom said, heading toward the living room.

“She knows,” Audrey said out of the corner of her mouth as Clarke ushered her forward. “She knows full well that we’re not actually engaged.”

“Of course she knows,” he answered quietly. “It’s her game. Hell, she’s probably delighted we decided to play.”

“Yes, but how does she possibly think she can win?”

Stepping into the formally stuffy living room a moment later, Audrey had her answer. Clarke’s mother was opening a bottle of Dom Pérignon, and his father was preoccupied with his cell phone.

And sitting on the couch was Clarke’s ex-girlfriend.

Audrey’s eyes widened in surprise as Elizabeth stood to greet them. “I hope this isn’t awkward,” Elizabeth said with a smile, coming to hug them both.

“Of course it isn’t awkward,” Linda said as she removed the champagne cork with a pop. “Audrey knows that Elizabeth’s an old friend of the family.”

Uh-huh. If Linda had it her way, Elizabeth would be a part of the family.

Audrey accepted the hug even as her mind reeled. Clarke’s mom was seriously ballsy. Elizabeth turned toward Clarke, and Audrey noticed Elizabeth’s hug was as lingering as Clarke’s was perfunctory.

“Liz,” he said, his voice gruff.