“You think? I’m dressed like a pauper compared to these people.”
She giggles. “My mom is a fan of good-looking men. While your attire might not include a jacket and overpriced shoes, you’re hot.”
“I’m hot,” I say, mimicking her. “I’ll take that.”
We walk down a long hallway with arches opening to the party until we reach an elevator. Audrey squeezes my hand as she and her mother banter about her social club and her being nominated as co-chair for a function. I can feel Audrey cringe, but she maintains her composure, and Jessica doesn’t seem to notice.
“Here we are,” Jessica says, leading us into a penthouse-style suite. “Your father wanted a private space to meet with a few clients as the night went on, so the club let us use this room.” She rolls her eyes. “As they should.”
Audrey tries hard not to laugh, and watching her struggle is adorable.
“Look who I found,” Jessica says. “Your baby girl.”
A large man turns from a floor-to-ceiling window with views all the way to the harbor and sets his sights on his daughter. His face lights up as she makes her way to him.Wow. No wonder she loves her parents.There’s only adoration and love in their eyes as they see her. That’s what parental love looks like.
And I’ve seen it all my life in my mom’s eyes.I’m a lucky bastard. My mom has looked at me and loved me…with no regrets.Fuck. I’ve had that all along.And if I’m even luckier, this woman beside me might look at me the same way one day.
“Hey, Aud,” he says, pulling her into a hug. “How are you, sweetheart? Mom said you had a delay this evening. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, Dad, I’m sorry. I didn’t think Brooks would be able to join me this evening, but his meetings were cancelled. So, hehopped on a plane and surprised me just before I walked out the door.” Audrey returns to my side, peering up at me. “Dad, this is my boyfriend, Brooks Dempsey. Brooks, this is my father, Robert Van.”
“Brooks Dempsey?” He walks to me with an extended hand. “I knew your face was familiar.”
Not sure how to take that, but I shake his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” I say, nodding.
“Boyfriend, huh?” He grins at Audrey. “It’s about fucking time you started dating real men and stopped listening to your mother.”
“Hey!” Jessica says, laughing.
I cover my mouth, trying not to laugh, too.
“I was sure you were gonna bring that little rat Cranton home with you.” Robert shakes his head in disgust. “That kid isn’t worth the gum on the bottom of your fucking shoe.”
“That boy is a turd,” Jessica says, shaking her head. “Cute, but a turd.”
Well, I may hate her brother, but I’m loving her parents.
“How’d you two meet?” he asks, taking a glass of champagne from Jessica. “Through Drew?”
Annnnnd there goes the oxygen from the room.
“No, actually,” Audrey says, clearly not having thought this through before now. “We met through Astrid. Her boyfriend, Gray Adler, grew up with Brooks.”
“No shit? What a small world,” he says, looking at me. “Are you from Tennessee?”
“Yes. I grew up in Sugar Creek with Gray.”
He laughs before sipping his drink. “One small town and two extraordinary athletes. What do they put in the water down there?”
“You’d be surprised,” I say, grinning.
Robert chuckles and starts to say something, but the elevator dings and footsteps fall behind us. I look over my shoulder, my gut tightening as if it senses war. Sure enough, Andrew appears.
I’ve never noticed how much he looks like Audrey, with the same blond hair and bright blue eyes. He has his mother’s bone structure, which is probably why he’s susceptible to being knocked out, and his father’s ability to own a room.
“Hey, Dad,” he says, not seeing me. “Do you remember Mike Lombarto?”
