Aftera quick hello withJimin the entryway of the house,Maggiehad whisked us straight upstairs to showConnorand me to our rooms.Ourbedrooms.Ouradjacent bedrooms.Andmy, what a roomIhave.Highceilings, antique fireplace, and a beautiful shower in the attached bathroom.
Andnow, there’s this yard that’s big enough to house a subdivision.Stepslead from the patio down to a formal garden, beyond which the lawn slopes away to a less manicured area with trees and a lake.
Alake, for goodness’ sake.
“Redwould be great, please,”ItellJim.
“Beforethat, let’s grab a couple of photos,”Maxsays. “That’swhat we’re here for, after all.”Hepulls out his phone. “Everyone, gather aroundDad.Dad, hold up the wine bottles.Connor, look adoringly atRose.”
Asthe whole family moves toward a beamingJim,Connorputs his arm around my waist and pulls me to his side, exactly as he did in the bedroom during the photo shoot.It’sjust as good and warm as it was then.Andwe still fit together perfectly.
Imeet his gaze as he looks down at me and smiles likeI’mthe love of his life.Oh, what a lucky woman it will be who sees that look in his eye for real.
“Gota couple of good ones,”Maxsays, checking his phone as everyone retakes their places. “I’llsend them to you,Con.”
“Wesaved you a seat here,Rose,”Maggiesays.Shetaps the chair between her andConnorthat he has his arm draped over.
Heleaves it there asIslide into the seat.
“It’sso nice to meet you,Rose,” says the blonde woman standing next toMax, who’s seated at the head of the table.
“ThisisPolly, my fiancée,”Maxsays.
Afterthe way he’d breezed intoConnor’shouse whenIanswered the door the other day and swaggered around in what was obviously an incredibly expensive suit,I’dimaginedMaxwould go for a real businessy kind of woman, someone in power heels and red lipstick who busts balls and threatens lawsuits.ButPollyis fresh-faced and wearing a casual summer dress and flat shoes.
I’dbeen worried my floral skirt andV-neckT-shirt might not be dressy enough, but thankfully everyone looks relaxed.
“You’revery brave to take on all this stuff,”Pollyadds as she heads toward the kitchen. “Itcan’t be easy being exposed to the media like that.”
“Butdon’t they make the cutest couple?”Maggieasks, casting her eyes at everyone around the table.
Oh, hell.Theheat of embarrassment rushes to my armpits and cheeks.Howawkward.
“Thankyou,”Itell her. “Butit is only, you know, pretend, so—”
ThankfullyJiminterrupts to hand me a glass of wine. “Thereyou go.”
“Thankyou.”Heflashes me a smile that quirks up a bit at one side, just likeConnor’s, and turns away to tend to the fanciest grillI’veever seen.
“Right,”Maggiesays. “Sonow you’ve metPolly.Andyou already knowMaxandWalker.”Walkerdoesn’t lift his face from his phone where his thumbs are flying. “Thatjust leaves myMostStudiousSon.”
Shepoints at the fine-featured, dark-haired man in glasses directly across from me.Hehalf stands and reaches across to shake my hand.
“Hi,I’mElliot.”Thetablet on the table in front of him springs to life and starts ringing. “Andthat’ll beTom.”
“Walker’sbrother,”Maggiesays, leaning toward me. “Helives inLondon.”
Elliotanswers the call and sets it in the middle of the table.
“Hello, darling.”Maggiewaves at the shaggy-haired, unshaven man on the screen who’s wearing a faded bandT-shirt. “Youlook tired.Areyou okay?”
Hewaves back with a hand bearing three chunky silver rings and a wrist wrapped in a leather cuff.
“Well, it is midnight here,”Tomsays with a hint of aBritishaccent.
Connortold me on the way here thatTomhas a huge music company.Andthat he discoveredFourThousandMedicines.Amazing.Imean,I’mnot that into music and evenIrecognized them in the photo onConnor’sstairs.
“Christ,Tom.”Connorleans toward the screen. “Sincewhen are you tired at midnight?”
