He shakes his head as if he hadn’t meant to share quite so much. “My point is, I knew your uncle. Respected him. I watched him raise you and I know the kind of man you are. That’s why the news of you dating my sister doesn’t upset me.”
I’m floored.
“I had no idea,” I manage. “About my uncle and all that.”
“Haven’t you ever wondered why you’re the only prospect who lives in the clubhouse?”
“Because of my uncle?”
“We all respected your uncle and owe him a debt or two, but you’ve done enough on your own to prove yourself a worthy protégé. You’re hardworking and mirror his principles.” He stands up, easing his weight onto his good foot. “You would have made a pledged member sooner if your uncle hadn’t insisted on the two years’ probation. He wanted you to finish college, get a degree and be a prospect for two years so you’d be certain this is what you want to do.”
“It is,” I say, smiling, bigger this time. My heart swells with emotions so overwhelming that I can barely make sense of them all. Heck, it’s so like Uncle Kyle to place so many hurdles on thepath to achieving my dreams, but that’s what made him special. “I want this.”
“Well then, congratulations on becoming a member of the club.”
“Does this mean I have your blessing to be with Vivienne?”
“I’m not sure,” he murmurs. “My sister hasn’t been feeling so good since she arrived. At first, I thought she was just tired, but then I realized it had something to do with you.” His voice drops, tone turning threatening. “If you don’t move your ass right now and fix things with my sister, I might change my mind about giving you my blessing. And maybe you’ll get that fight after all.”
“I’ll fix it,” I say quickly. I don’t care if I have to grovel; I’ll make things right with Vivienne. I’m about to leave to do just that when Knox tosses the jacket at me, nearly smacking me in the face. I grin, sliding it on, and Christ, it’s a perfect fit.
“Welcome to the club, Maverick,” Knox says, patting my shoulder.
“Thank you.”
“Now go and fix things with Vivienne. I need to head back to the party and find my own woman before she starts missing me.”
“Vivienne isn’t on the terrace?”
He chuckles. “I told you, you’re not the only one who’s ‘not feeling too good’ tonight and tried to get out of coming to the party.”
And with that, he’s gone.
Chapter Nine
Viv
“He loves me.” I pick the petal off the rose and drop it to the floor, staring at last one that remains on the flower. “He loves me not.”
I’ve been playing this game for what feels like hours, and I keep getting the same answer. Heck, the universe apparently just doesn’t want us to be together. Knox would be shocked if he knew what I’ve done with the bouquet of white roses he bought me.
I turn to the woman seated on the couch with me, pouting sorrowfully at her. This isn’t how I imagined getting to know my future sister-in-law.
On the long ride here, I sometimes thought about meeting Ruth. I figured it would go one of two ways. She would either hate the sight of me and make my reunion with Knox difficult…or she would adore me like a little sister and we would bond over clothes and makeup.
Not much bonding has been happening in the day I’ve known her.
Poor girl has had to deal with my roller coaster of emotions, trying to comfort me even when she has no idea what’s been causing my mess of moods. It’s not a great first impression. Still, I can’t help myself.
I want Kyle. I miss him.
Does that make me pathetic? That I’ve allowed myself to care so deeply for someone that I see no one else but them?
Christ, where is he? Why the hell won’t he come to me? It would probably hurt less if he broke things off with me to my face instead of just…dismissing me.
That handsome jerk. He has no right to do this to me!
“You should go back to the party,” I suggest, tossing the rose stem on the table. “I don’t want to ruin the night for you.”
