“That you’d chooseme!” She’s so breathless, she sounds like she’s been running the Boston Marathon. “I mean, Iamthe only suitable girl in the family.”
She reaches out again, and I put a hand on her forehead to keep her away. “Suitable for someone who likes boiled vegetables for brains.”
Emma blinks, then presses her lips together.
Patricia laughs. “Not all Webbers are equal. Some are winners and some aren’t.” Her eyes bounce from her son toMick. Must be referring to the big case Alaric won in the face of excellent legal arguments deployed by the opposing counsel. Mick just lost one with a murderer due to a botched cross-examination of a key prosecutorial witness. Now a killer is walking free on a technicality. Both were all over the news in the last two days. “At least the loss won’t affect the firm.”
Alaric calmly takes a sip of wine, while Mick glares like he wants to snap her neck. I’d pay good money to see him try. Start the evening with a bang before Grace arrives.
“Let’s not make a spectacle until it’s time.” I hand Vivienne off to Mick, then cross the dining room to air-kiss the hostess. “Hello, Grandma.”
Her dark eyes glitter with pleasure. I haven’t been this affectionate with her in years. “Hello, my dear. You look exceptionally sharp tonight.”
I give her my most innocent, beatific smile, which never fails to charm her. “I’m looking forward to a fabulous evening.” Then I hug Emma. “Good to see you! I thought you’d be in Mexico. What happened? Emmett didn’t get you a resort to yourself?”
She flushes. “He did, but I needed some legal advice.”
“And she came to the best.” My mother grins, then turns to me. “If you were a lawyer, she could’ve come to you.”
“I already have the best lawyer, and wouldn’t want to deprive the world of the best mind in advertising,” Emma says. “You must be so proud of Huxley for what he’s been able to accomplish. Did you see the new Sebastian Peery collaboration ad campaign he did? It’sbrilliant! I always told myself I didn’t need a man to drop to one knee and offer me a ring, but that ad made me want to change my mind.”
Her smile warms my heart. “Thank you.”
Mom’s expression doesn’t falter. “So you’ve decided?” She picks up a glass of Merlot and peers at me, too sharp to let down her guard completely.
“Yes.” I take my seat. “And I’m glad everyone is here so I won’t have to repeat myself.” I look at the people assembled.
Vivienne inhales audibly with anticipation, too stupid and self-centered to realize that she and I simply aren’t happening. Karie shifts in her seat, looking down as though to hide a triumphant smile tinged with nervousness. She’s smart enough to realize I have no feelings for her daughter, at least not anything positive. Nelson’s smirk has turned smug. He’s probably relieved to unload his defective goods on somebody else. Meanwhile, Mick looks annoyed—which isn’t surprising, because he never liked me. Says I’m a stuck-up son of a bitch. Most likely it still pisses him off that I have the kind of legal pedigree he’d kill for but didn’t get. It enrages him that I disdain it.
“I have found,” I say slowly, letting the anticipation build, “the love of my life.”
“Yes!” Vivienne jumps to her feet, her hand in the air like a kid volunteering in class.
“It’s not you,” I say before she can humiliate herself further.
“What?” she screeches, but stops when Karie put a hand on her wrist.
“Congratulations. I’m happy for you,” Emma says.
“Thank you,” I say, at the same time Mom lets out a quiet snort.
“Really, Huxley? The love of your life?” She couldn’t sound more skeptical.
Time to put on the right mask. I mentally flip through my brothers’ expressions when they’re in love…then settle on Noah’s face when he thinks of croissants from Bobbi’s Sweet Things, minus the goofiness. “Yes. She’s everything to me.”
“Duty comes before love,” Grandmother says.
“I knowamorisn’t part of the family motto. But trust me, this will be the perfect union of duty and love.”
“How so?” Andreas’s eyes are keen as he studies me. He’s never taken me lightly, and he respects that I have plans not involving my family’s legal business.
“She’s pregnant with my child.”
Emma gasps, then beams at me. She’s probably the only one here who buys everything out of my mouth at face value. Guilt pokes at me for lying to her, but there’s nothing to be done about it. I can’t deviate from the script when Grace is going to be here any minute.
“Howcouldyou?” Vivienne yells, her face red and eyes redder with unshed tears. From the way she’s reacting, you’d think she was a scorned wife. Once again, Karie lays a hand on her arm.
I turn to Grandma. “Your first great-grandchild.”
