Lydia turned to her with an arched brow. “So, you’re acquainted?”
“We had dinner together last night,” Eve supplied, her slight frown morphing into a forced, polite smile as her parents drew near. “Mother. Father. This venue is incredible.”
Aspen had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at the way Lydia rolled her eyes when Elizabeth preened, “It really is. Everyone has raved about the view. I’ve already spoken to the manager about hosting an event here next season.”
“That’s wonderful,” Eve responded woodenly.
Aspen squeezed her hand. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Morrison.”
“Killian and Elizabeth, please,” Eve’s father insisted with a polished smile. Still, his tone was pleasant enough, and Aspen didn’t miss the surprised look Lydia shot her in response.
“Of course, sir,” Aspen replied politely. Eve’s parents might not like that Eve was queer, but they liked prestige, and Aspen hadn’t missed the way Killian had perked up when she’d mentioned attending the Academy. So, if she needed to throw in a few half-assed sirs and ma’ams to remind them of the potential she provided, so be it.
Pleased by her response, Killian turned his attention to Lydia. “Ms. Alexander. We’re so glad you could make it.”
“My family, as always, appreciates the invitation,” Lydia replied with a patently fake smile.
Though neither Killian nor Elizabeth looked particularly pleased to see Lydia with Eve, they were both placated by Lydia’s mention of her family. Aspen wanted to roll her eyes at the way they so clearly only cared about gathering as much power in one place. Stuff like this was why she’d gladly abdicated her role as the heir to West Enterprises to her sister. Sure, shecouldplay the game, but Alder actuallyenjoyedit.
Lydia seemed to enjoy it, too. Mischief tugged at her smile as she gestured across the room toward a stunning womanwith wavy, shoulder-length blonde hair. The woman radiated power and sophistication in her tailored cranberry red dress that hugged her curves to perfection and black Louboutin heels accentuated her long, shapely legs. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I need to touch base with Felicity Bancroft about something.”
Aspen didn’t miss the way Eve’s parents’ smiles tightened at Lydia’s suggestion someone else was more important, but Elizabeth replied smoothly, “Of course.”
Grabbing onto the out Lydia presented, and knowing the Morrisons wouldn’t do anything to cause a scene, Aspen lied, “Oh, I haven’t seen Felicity in years.” She ignored the interest that piqued the Morrisons’ expressions as she asked Lydia, “Do you mind if we join you, just to say a quick hello?”
Lydia winked at her conspiratorially. “The more the merrier.”
Aspen squeezed Eve’s hand as she turned to her. “Is that okay?”
Eve nodded. “Sure.”
“Excellent.” Aspen inclined her head toward Killian and Elizabeth. “If you’ll excuse us as well?”
Killian nodded. “Absolutely. Go. Network. We’ll touch base again soon.”
I’m sure you will, Aspen thought even as she steered Eve away from her parents. Once they’d put half the room behind them, she lifted Eve’s hand to her lips to kiss her knuckles. “You okay?”
Eve just squeezed her hand and nodded.
“God, I need a drink if I’m gonna get through this,” Lydia muttered as she stopped a passing server and retrieved a glass of red wine for each of them. “How do you know Felicity?” she asked Aspen after she’d sent him on his way.
Aspen smirked around the rim of her wine glass. “I don’t. But they were clearly annoyed that you thought she was more important, and I knew they wouldn’t make a scene, so I figured I’d pile on.”
Lydia cackled. “Oh, I like you.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not,” Eve quipped dryly.
Aspen smirked and lifted her glass toward Lydia in a little toast. “I do. And the feeling is mutual.”
“They welcomed you much more warmly than I expected,” Lydia probed delicately.
“She wowed them at dinner last night,” Eve supplied.
Aspen shrugged and pulled Eve closer. “They like that I’d attended the Air Force Academy.”
“Ah. Yeah, I can see how that’d do it. That’d go over well with some of their contacts in DC. I thought it was a business thing.”
“Oh, there’s that, too,” Aspen shared with a wry chuckle. “I just don’t think they’ve realized it yet.”
