“I wouldn’t spend almost a decade with someone and live with him if the ultimate goal wasn’t to spend the rest of my life with him. And I certainly wouldn’t give Dad’s ring to just anyone.”
“You surprised me with that. I was certain you’d want to talk to me about it first.”
“Are you serious?” He burst out laughing. “I’m hardly the age to be asking my mommy for permission to do things.”
“Hardly permission, but certainly courtesy. Especially since it was your father’s ring.”
“Dad told me he wanted Chess to have it.” His heart squeezed. “At my last visit, he told me he thought Chess was perfect for me, and that he’d hoped, if he couldn’t be there in person, Chess wearing his ring would be the next best thing.”
Despite his mother’s attempt at a hard outer shell, André heard her sniffling. “What about a prenup? Has he agreed to sign one?”
Then again, business was always first and foremost in her mind. “We haven’t talked about it. I don’t see why you’re getting into my personal life. I’ll do what I think is right.”
“Don’t be foolish. You didn’t build this company for some nobody to come and take it from you.”
“Nobody?” The level of disdain directed toward Chess, who’d never been anything less than his sweet, kind self to his mother, confused him. It was giving him whiplash. “Mother, what’s going on? Why all this animosity toward Chess all of a sudden?”
“It’s not animosity. I’m looking out for you and the business. I know your head is in the clouds right now, but we’re talking about a multimillion-dollar business that isn’t only about you. Your brother and sister depend on you as well, so don’t jeopardize their legacy.”
Angry now, he struggled to bank his response, which would’ve been less than kind. “Legacy? What is this, the monarchy? You’re being ridiculous. I have to go, Mother. I’ll talk to you later.”
He cut the connection, and phone in hand, exited the house and joined Chess and Spencer. Putting the whole upsetting and disappointing conversation out of his mind, he kissed the top of Chess’s head. “What trouble are you two planning? Spencer, I could see the wheels turning from across the deck.”
Slurping noisily at the dregs of his drink, Spencer set the glass on the table and gave him a winning smile. “Me? I’m innocent.” He cast a glance at the sky. “God, don’t strike me, please.”
Chess shifted over to make room for him, and he sat. “Who in their right mind would ever believe that statement coming from you? Lucky for you, Wolf wasn’t around to hear that.”
Spencer sniffed. “Oh, please. That man needs me to lighten him up. He loves it when I needle him.”
“So do you, I’m thinking.” André had long suspected that Spencer had ulterior motives for poking at Wolf.
“Well, yeah. He needs to let go. All that hot, bossy anger has to go somewhere, and it certainly isn’t sex.”
“Not that I like talking about one of our best friends behind his back, but do you really think he’s celibate? And if he is, it’s his choice and not for us to pry into his reasons.”
At Chess’s words, Spencer seemed stumped. “How would I know? I’m the last person he’d talk to about it. Over the years he’s grown more and more reclusive and hyperfocused on work and nothing else. And that can’t be healthy.”
“It’s not. I can tell you from personal experience.” André understood what it was like to have nothing in your life but your job. You used the monotony as a panacea for your true problems; it was easier to hide them than to ask for help. “Do you think we should invite him out here for a break, even if it’s only for a day?”
Chess gave him a quick hug. “That’s a wonderful suggestion, but I doubt he’d come.”
“Why don’t you throw an impromptu engagement party? Just us close friends, so we can guilt him into coming.”
Chess frowned. “I don’t want to do that. He shouldn’t be forced into doing things he doesn’t want.”
“That man hasn’t a fucking clue what he wants. He only knows how to say no. Leave it to me. I’ll put it all together, and you two lovebirds won’t have to do a thing except show up and be nauseatingly cute as ever.”
Rolling his eyes, Chess tossed an ice cube from his drink at Spencer. “Gee, thanks.”
“On a serious note…” André leaned forward, directing his full attention to Spencer. “How well did you know Kyle? Was it a one-time thing? I’m asking for a reason.” Mainly to see if Kyle had told him the truth.
“Which is?” Chess shifted away from him. “What does it matter?”
“It’s no big deal, Chess. I don’t mind.” Squinting at the pool, Spencer rolled his bottom lip between his teeth. “It wasn’t a one-time, wham-bam, if that’s what you’re asking. Kyle’s firm was representing a big design company in Italy, and we met at an after-party. Let’s just say the after-party continued once we got to my suite. Every time I’d come to Europe for a show, we’d get together, until one time we made plans, but he showed up at the event with someone else and ignored me.” His blue eyes narrowed. “As you know, I dislike being ignored, which I told him the next day when I saw him at one of the shows.”
“Ouch.” Chess winced. “That couldn’t have been pleasant. But did you ever care for him?”
“Certainly not,” Spencer huffed. “The man can screw anything that walks. I don’t care. But I don’t like being made a fool of, and me showing up expecting to stay with him only to be dismissed like an escort…no way was he getting away with that. No one fucks me and forgets me.” His eyes clouded briefly. “No one.”
