How isn’t this real?
Everyone was done with the meal and sitting back now, patting their bellies.
“I guess Cash will be along sooner or later,” her mom said.
“Bella called while you were getting dessert out of the oven,” her dad said, nodding. “She said they’ll be by as soon as they can.”
“Dessert?” her nephew Nick asked, his eyes shining behind his glasses.
“Let’s let our supper settle for a few more minutes,” Zane told him with an indulgent smile.
“I’ll start some coffee,” Dad offered.
Tripp got up too.
“Allie,” he whispered on his way past. “Come on.”
He’d been trying to pull her aside all night, so she excused herself and hopped up to follow.
Tripp was the only one who knew her secret, and her stomach twisted as she trailed down the hallway after her brother’s enormous form.
But she reminded herself that he most likely just wanted to talk about someone’s Christmas present. The Lawrence family was growing by leaps and bounds these days, so family members would usually work together to plan special gifts for the kids instead of trying to do everything individually. As the holidays approached, Sunday dinners could start to feel like spy conventions with everyone dragging each other off to whisper and smile as they concocted their festive surprises.
“I’ve been trying to get you alone all night,” Tripp grumbled when they reached the living room.
“Sorry,” she said. “Everyone kept coming in and I didn’t want to leave Ash to make his own introductions.”
“Has he introduced himself toyouyet?” Tripp asked, moving all the way into the room to the fireplace, where they were as far as possible from the kitchen and any prying ears.
“What do you mean?” Allie asked.
“He’s not who he says he is, Allie,” Tripp said. “He’ssome super-rich bozo. He owns the beverage company that makes that soda Dad loves.”
“I know,” Allie sighed. “He told me this morning. And in fairness, he never lied about what he does for a living, he just never volunteered it, and I never asked.”
“That’s kind of the same thing,” Tripp said.
“He wants to make his own reputation here,” Allie said. “He probably doesn’t love the idea of people thinking of him as some rich bozo, as you so eloquently put it. And he’s not just some corporate suit. He’s had a lot of success, but it’s based on his grandfather’s old recipes.”
“Oh, and did his grandfather have an old family recipe for energy drinks?” Tripp asked, arching a brow.
That was a fair question.
“Yeah, I read about that too,” Allie admitted. “He seemed kind of uncomfortable when I brought it up.”
“He should be,” Tripp retorted. “Kids drink that junk and get sick.”
Allie nodded. She couldn’t argue about that part. Tripp was right.
“You know I’m not actually marrying him,” she said after a moment. “So I doubt I can change his mind about his business, but I’ll talk to him.”
“Allie, that’s not what I’m trying to say,” Tripp growled.
He cast his gaze at the fire for a moment, as if he were gathering his thoughts, then turned back to her.
“I’m saying that he’s been intentionally dishonest with you and everyone else about his money situation,” he said. “And now he wants to lie aboutsomething else, and he wantsyouto lie about it with him. I don’t like it.”
Tripp was the wild card of the Lawrence family. He was impulsive and unpredictable in ways Allie had never dared to be. So seeing him slow down on a wild plan and express caution really meant something.
