It did. His mother didn’t understand.
“I don’t want you to be lonely.”
“I’m not.” He had lots of friends. Plenty of people to hang out with. A never-ending stream of drinking buddies, and he never lacked for female companionship. “I’m never alone.”
“There’s a difference between being alone and not being surrounded by people.”
His hands were shaking, a slight tremor. He would chalk that up to a hangover, not fear. Men who looked like him were never scared.
He tightened his fingers around Anne’s bracelet, the cool gold absorbing his heat. “I’m fine.”
You’re not, though. Why do you think you’ve been drinking so much?
Because... because...
He closed his eyes. He didn’t know.
His mother didn’t speak for a beat, and when she did, her tone was soft and soothing. “Okay, love. Go on, go have fun with your little friends. I will see you on Friday.”
He exhaled, grateful his mother was dropping the issue. “Yes, ma’am.”
“If Tani gets there before me... if she says anything to you, tell me.”
He gave a rueful smile, imagining his mother and Livvy’s mother scrapping. Sonya and Tani had always had an odd, guarded relationship. His mother took her duty to protect her children pretty intensely.
But Tani had never been anything but distant and polite to him. He’d crossed paths with her multiple times since Robert Kane had died, and each time, they’d sidestepped around each other so carefully they’d barely brushed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you more, Ma.”
“If you talk to Rhi, tell her I’m bringing a nice dress for her for the wedding.”
Gabe winced. He definitely would not be telling his sister that. Rhi and their mother had battled more than once over clothes growing up, but since she’d become rich, Rhi had solidified her reputation for never dressing up any fancier than a fitted hoodie. If she owned a dress, he’d eat Anne’s bracelet. “Uh, sure. Bye.” He hung up and tucked his phone and the jewelry into his pocket.
He got out of his car and retrieved his suitcase and garment bag from his trunk before walking up the ramp to the massive double doors. He rang the bell, then glanced around, taking in the eight tall pillars that framed the front of the house.
The door opened quickly, and Gabe found himself face-to-face with a butler who looked like he’d stepped out of the pages of central casting. The older man looked down at him—how, Gabe wasn’t sure, because he was taller than the guy. “Mr. Hunter, I presume? We’ve been expecting you. My name is Alistair.”
“Ah, yeah. Hi.” He walked inside, wheeling his suitcase, a little nonplussed when the butler plucked his tux and the suitcase out of his hands. “I can get—”
“Not a problem, sir.” The butler turned away and thrust Gabe’s things at a young man who appeared seemingly out of nowhere. “Take this to Mr. Hunter’s room. Come, sir, let me show you around.”
He knew better than to tell the man to call him by his first name. His mother hadn’t run the Kane household like this, but he knew this level of formality wasn’t uncommon amongst the super-rich. “Is anyone else here yet?”
“No, sir. I understand the bride and groom have been delayed a few days. However, Ms. Chandler called ahead and said she’d be here late tonight.”
Eve. He couldn’t think about her when he was already so discomfited. “And Jackson and Sadia?”
“Mr. Kane and Ms. Ahmed have been delayed a few days as well.”
So it was just him and Eve for a fewdays?
Oh no.
He halted, and Alistair stopped with him. “Is something wrong, sir?”
Yes. Yes, everything was wrong. He was wildly attracted to a young woman he couldn’t have and he was a lie and a fraud and...
