“You sure you’re ready for this?”she asked as they headed for the door, enjoying the feel of his muscular arm beneath her hand.“We can go out somewhere for dinner instead, if you want.”
Part of her hoped he’d take her up on the invitation so she could spend some one-on-one time with him.This was their first date, after all.But then she immediately felt bad.They were here for her sister’s wedding.
As if reading her mind, Darwin smiled.“Nah.Let’s do this.I’m looking forward to meeting your family.Besides, I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting week.”
“You have no idea,” Katrina murmured as he opened the door and led her out of the room.
Chapter four
“Areallthesepeoplefriends and family of the bride and groom?”Darwin asked in surprise as they walked into the Sauvignon Ballroom.It was filled with at least four hundred guests.And from the expensive clothes they were wearing, every one of them looked like they had money and wanted everyone else to know it.
Katrina laughed, the sound feminine and musical to his ears.“Heavens, no!I doubt if more than a quarter of the people here could even pick Khloe or her fiancé out of a line-up.Unfortunately, this party isn’t as much about socializing with the bride and groom as it is about giving people a chance to rub elbows with my father and those who move in his circle.”
Darwin grimaced.“I can’t imagine your sister is thrilled about that.”
As he and Katrina slowly navigated their way through people gathered in small groups, he picked up tidbits of conversation here and there, realizing most of them were talking about money in some form or other––be it investments, crypto, or the current stock market trends––while a string quartet played music in the far corner of the room.
Yeah.To say this wasn’t his scene was an understatement.
“I’d like to tell you she isn’t, but Khloe has always been more willing to play the game than I am,” Katrina said.“On the upside, she and Asher can pick up a few more items from their registry list.”
That was one way to look at it, Darwin thought.He’d always liked the idea of a smaller wedding himself.
Beside him, Katrina shrugged in what looked like surrender.He’d never noticed until now, but she had very sexy shoulders.
“Sorry.I didn’t mean to sound so cynical,” she said.“I think I’m projecting my negative feelings about how my father does business onto my sister.The truth is, she’s more likely making do with this whole thing the best she can.Which means getting married while my father does whatever the heck he’s going to do, regardless of what she wants.”
“I’m guessing you and your family aren’t close.”
He’d meant it as an observation, not an insult.He only hoped she realized that.
“Not since I went rogue and became a nanny,” Katrina said with a sigh as she led him further into the ballroom, looking left and right as they went, like she was searching for someone.“I love them, but things haven’t been the same since I told them I wasn’t going to follow in the Weber family footsteps.”
Darwin could understand that.He had a lot of Teammates whose families weren’t happy they’d decided to become SEALs instead of a job less dangerous.He knew it wasn’t the same thing, but still.
“You must be close to your sister if she asked you to be a bridesmaid,” he said, taking two glasses of white wine off the tray a passing server offered them and handing one to Katrina.He was more of an ale guy himself, but when in Rome...
“Thanks,” she said with a smile.“Yeah, Khloe and I have always been close.I was so thrilled when she told me Asher proposed.”
Darwin sipped his wine.It was actually pretty good.“How did Khloe and Asher meet?”
“Asher is the eldest son of the Santa Monica Haynes family.”The way she said it made Darwin think he should recognize the name.“They made their money in venture capitalism and are best known for supporting tech startup companies.He and Khloe met at an investment accelerator party.”
“O-kay,” he said.“Let’s pretend I don’t know what an investment accelerator party is.”
She smiled.“Sorry.It’s where people who need money for new business ventures are matched up with people looking to invest in the next big thing.”
“Wow.That sounds like one exciting party.”Darwin snorted.“I’m having a hard time imagining a meet-cute over business plans and return on investment estimates.”
Katrina laughed.“Well, everyone can’t meet their very own action hero in the middle of an adrenaline-pumping life-and-death situation, you know.Most people meet at work, and that’s what Asher does for a living.”
“I get it.”Darwin held up a hand in surrender.“But it still sounds boring.”
“You know what?I agree.Just don’t tell my sister I said that.”Katrina grinned.“Oh, there she is!Come on.Let’s go say hello.”
Taking his hand, she steered him toward one corner of the room, where several people were gathered near a table laden with delicious-looking mini-pastries.
“Katrina!”A woman with the same long, blonde hair and blue eyes as Katrina hurried over from the group with a squeal to pull her into a hug.“I was starting to think you weren’t going to show.”
