Before I’d even begun to remember how to move, he was already backing toward the door, leaving me with my lips tingling and my heart slamming against my ribs. That was not supposed to have happened—and I definitely wasn’t supposed to have liked it as much as I did.
CHAPTER 19
HARRISON
Ipulled up the drive to my parents’ place. My tires crunched over the gravel that had been imported from some estate in France back when my great-great-grandfather struck it rich in the gold rush. The Westwood mansion, affectionately known as the Big House, appeared from around the final bend in the road. Ivy wound around the statuesque columns. Garvey, the butler who had been with my parents since before I’d been born, waited for me at the wide, double front doors.
Home.
No matter how old I got, arriving here would always feel like coming home. I smiled as I parked right at the base of the stairs, ignoring Garvey’s scowl over the fact that my mother hated it when we stopped here.
“Master Harrison,” he said, his tone clipped as I breezed past him. “You know your m?—”
I tossed him my keys along with a grin over my shoulder. “You’re welcome to move it if you want, Garv. No one else is coming today, though. It’ll be fine.”
A loud sigh rattled out of him, but he didn’t try to stop me as I strode into the cavernous foyer, in a great mood despite the fact I was here to help my mother with the Christmas decorations.Less than twelve hours ago, I’d kissed Aurelia, and even though I’d surprised the shit out of even myself when I’d done it, she hadn’t pulled away.
Another grin tried tugging at my lips, but I knew my mom would see right through me if I let it out, so I fought it, finding her and my dad waiting in the living room. They were standing around a gigantic, bare tree, plastic bins of decorations at their feet and a drink in each of their hands even though it was barely past noon.
Mom turned when she heard my footsteps on the marble, smiling when she saw me. “There he is, my handsome baby boy. How are you, honey?”
“I’m good, you?” I walked straight into her embrace, inhaling her scent of Chanel and Mom and giving her a tight hug. “You guys got a head start, huh?”
Dad clapped me on the back when Mom released me, his grin easy and warm. “We were trying to decide on our color scheme for this year. Mom wants white and gold. I think we should stick to the traditional red, green, and gold. What do you think?”
“I think we should use them all,” I joked, eyeing the half dozen bins I knew contained only the decorations for the tree.
Staff raced up and down the halls outside the room, busily stringing up lights, garland, mistletoe, and wreaths. By the end of the day, Westwood Manor would be more festive than Santa’s Workshop itself.
The scent of the fifteen-foot pine filled the air. Some gold-leaf baubles and antique glass ornaments had already been neatly laid out on velvet ottomans, and Bing Crosby’s greatest Christmas hits flowed softly from the built-in sound system.
I grinned and went over to the drinks cart to pour myself a whiskey, since it was tradition to do some day-drinking with the decorating. For me, anyway. And for Mom and Dad this year too, by the looks of things.
“I spoke to Renee Vanwood earlier,” Mom said as she opened the box closest to her and started rummaging through it. “She told me Justin and some of your other old friends have gone to Italy until Christmas Eve. You didn’t want to join them?”
I groaned. Justin Vanwood. High school friend and extremely lovable asshole, but one who would never grow up.
“How am I supposed to join them?” I asked, picking my drink up between my fingertips and letting it dangle there for a second as I glanced at her. “They’re in Italy for a month and then they’re heading to Prague for New Year’s Eve. I can’t stay away from work for that long.”
Mom shot me an indulgent smile. “Oh, darling. Of course, you could. I know you’re having fun with your brother, but Sterling has been managing that department without you for years. He’d be fine.”
“Sure, except that I’m not just having fun with my brother. I’mworkingat W&S now, Mom. That means not just jetting off with the boys whenever they decide to go snowboarding.”
“I think what your mother is trying to say is that you shouldn’t feel like you’re chained to your desk,” Dad said, sipping his scotch as he sat down on his favorite armchair and leaned back. “Sterling has people who can cover for you if you’d like to go. They’ll handle your clients and hand them back over to you when you get home.”
I frowned, that familiar weight settling in my chest. “Are you guys serious right now?”
“Don’t look at us like that, darling,” Mom cooed, adjusting a bauble she’d just hung before stepping back to admire it. “All we’re saying is that you’re young. Your brother will understand if you take a bit of a break.”
Dad chuckled. “I wish someone would’ve told me that when I was your age. You’ve got time, Harry. Take it.”
“Don’t step into thatyouth iswasted on the youngtrap,” Mom said sagely, but her gaze was on her bauble, her eyes narrowing. She tried to decide if it was where she wanted it. “There’s nothing keeping you here.”
“Uh, work?” I suggested dryly, then took a huge gulp of my whiskey, grateful that I’d already poured it. “I know you guys don’t think I’m actually adding value at the company, but I closed a billion-dollar deal just a couple weeks ago. That has to count for something.”
“Exactly,” Dad said. “It does. You deserve a break. The future will come. For now, you should take it slow. Enjoy your life instead of forcing your nose to the grindstone.”
“Let me get this straight,” I said, inhaling deeply in an attempt to remain calm. “You bullied all three of my brothers into getting married this year, but you want me to keep traveling? Even though I’ve already done that. I’ve gone to college, I’ve graduated and moved out. I’m taking my job seriously. I’m trying to make something of myself and somehow that’s a problem?”
