Faux confidence and false bravado.
Fake it 'til you make it.
It didn't matter how intimidating your opponent, a.k.a the perpetrator—or in this case, Eden's dad—was, if he saw your weakness, he'd pounce.
He met Oliver's gaze. "Nowhere near as much as you do, sir." He let his gaze wander around the opulent dining room for a moment before returning to the older man. "But I don't have near the expenses you do either."
"Of course, you don't. You still live with your parents." Oliver didn't even attempt to mask the disdain this time.
"Dad, stop it! You promised me you'd be nice." Eden's whole body tensed as though she intended to spring to her feet.
Rudy gave her leg a gentle squeeze. Was silk always this thin? It was all he could do to not caress the slender yet firm muscle of her thigh.
Focus!
A look of regret flashed across Oliver's face. His jaw clenched as he gave Rudy a tight smile. "Forgive me. Your living and financial situation are none of my business."
"On the contrary," Rudy said. "A father should be concerned about how the man his daughter marries intends to support her." Rudy held up a finger. "Although, for the record, Eden and I haven't discussed marriage yet." He locked gazes with Oliver again. "Honestly, sir, I have no hope of being able to support your daughter in the manner she was raised. But I guarantee you if I marry your daughter..." At Eden's sharp intake of breath, Rudy let the sentence hang for a moment. "If I marry Eden, I promise she will never go hungry or without a roof over her head."
Heat sparked in his chest. Speaking of Eden and marriage in the same sentence, triggered all kinds of fantasies in Rudy's head, and not just ones that took place behind closed doors. It was all too easy to picture a life with her as his wife.
Until he looked around at this extravagant house. Then all his insecurities came rushing back.
Despite the images racing through his head, Rudy continued to hold Oliver's gaze until the other man's right brow arched and his lips quirked.
Had he earned a measure of respect? Or was that look masked disapproval?
Rudy gave a curt nod before breaking eye contact and picking up his fork again. He speared a cucumber as if he wasn't sweating bullets under his blazer. "Besides there being a housing shortage in Providence, I've chosen to live with my parents this long because it has put me on track financially to build my own home next year."
Eden's brow shot up right along with her dad's. She turned to face him. "Really? You're building a house? Where?"
He grinned. "I'll give you one guess."
"The only new homes being built in Providence are in the development Austin and Debbie own." She grabbed his arm and gasped. "Are you building in the same subdivision as Scott and Kennedy?"
"Next door." He nodded.
She let out a little squeal. "That's so exciting! I can't believe you haven't mentioned it before."
"Well, we have to finish Scott's house first. My dad's injury will probably slow the whole process down."
"You're building your house yourself?" Oliver asked in a flat tone.
Rudy couldn't tell if the lack of inflection in his voice meant disgust, surprise, or respect—it was difficult to tell with the man—but he decided he didn't really care. Eden's excitement for him was all that mattered.
Helen brought out the main course, consisting of salmon and stuffed bell peppers, and again, she gave Oliver a look that Rudy couldn't interpret, but she definitely conveyed a message when she locked gazes with Eden's dad.
Rudy wasn't all that concerned about impressing Oliver anymore, but he figured this would be a good chance to pick the wealthy man's brain concerning the investing he'd done over the past few years.
"I could use your advice on something, sir," Rudy said with his fork hovering over his salmon.
Once again, Eden's brow rose right along with her dad's.
"I've been wondering if it's time to diversify my investments."
"You have investments?" Oliver coughed into his napkin.
"Nothing like you do, of course, but in addition to the low-risk investments I have through my broker, I've been considering dabbling in penny stocks.
