He wondered briefly if the world had tilted slightly off its axis. Never had he felt so off balance.
CHAPTERSEVEN
“Problem, Deville?” a voice from Zach’s right said.
“Just working out a particularly difficult computation, James,” Zach said to the Duke of Raven as he passed.
“Excellent, keep up the good work then. After all, a noisy ballroom filled with your peers is the perfect place for concentration.”
Zach nodded and kept walking.
He was tall enough to see over heads, so he moved to a wall and rose to his toes, scanning the room. There was no sign of Mary from this position.
“What are you looking for?” Gabe appeared before him.
That was the problem with three brothers and a cousin—they were everywhere he didn’t want them to be.
“No one, go away.”
“So, you always stand on your toes searching the room, do you?”
“Go away, Gabe.”
“Why are you salty?”
“I’m not salty.”
“You’re not smiling or flirting or eating, all things you love.”
“Surely I am not that shallow they are the only pastimes I enjoy?”
Zach knew what people thought of him. He was the youngest Deville, the brother women loved. Not a great deal of substance but charming.
Gabe frowned. “Who said you are shallow?”
“It’s a widely known fact.”
“Is it? I must have missed that discussion. I think, like Nathan, Michael, and Forrest, you’re one of the most intelligent, articulate men I know.”
“Ha,” Zach said because suddenly his throat felt tight. Gabe’s words shocked him.
“Ha?” The crease down his brother’s forehead deepened.
“Look, Gabe. We all have our places in the family. I understand mine,” Zach said. His necktie suddenly felt like it was strangling him, and he wished he’d kept quiet.
Gabe leaned in. It was his way when he wanted to intimidate someone into telling him what he wanted to know. In fact, it was a family trait.
“And where is your place in our family, Zachariel?”
The use of his full first name was another intimidation tool.
“Why, I’m the youngest, Gabriel. Most handsome and humorous. The one every woman loves.” The words had meant to be flippant and instead came out gruff.
“You have a great deal more than that to offer, little brother. It’s my hope we’ve made you realize that.”
“I’m fine, Gabe. Excuse me, I see someone I need to speak with,” Zach said, uncomfortable with the conversation because perhaps he’d revealed too much of what was inside him. The part that he kept locked away with the other doubts he carried. The doubts that he could never quite match up to what his brothers were.
“Who?”
