Voices drifted faintly from somewhere deeper in the house and I followed those, hoping I wouldn’t get lost again. On the other hand, maybe getting lost would buy me some time to get my head wrapped around what I’d just learned about my brother’s bride.
I sighed out loud, halfway down the hall when someone stepped out from a side doorway. “Mr. Westwood.”
Michael appeared from the shadows, holding a thin folder out toward me. “I’m glad I caught you. I have the finalized contract for you to review. All the points Elizabeth requested have been added.”
After today, it was almost jarring to hear someone refer to her by her given name without theLadyin front of it. Yet she’d been introduced to me back in the day as Eliza, and to me, at least, that was what she would always be.
I took the folder and flipped it open right there, scanning the first page. At first glance, everything looked exactly the same as the draft I’d reviewed earlier and I glanced up at him, annoyance surging through me.
“Did you include the updated funds I asked for?”
His jaw hardened for a beat before he nodded curtly. “Yes, Mr. Westwood. The revised amount has been added to the agreement.”
Good. The rising annoyance subsided instantly.This is why they pay these guys the big bucks. They sure know how to get the job done.
“Thanks, Mike.”
He gestured lightly toward a console table nearby. “If you’d like to review it, I’ve got my laptop on hand in case we need to make any changes before you sign.”
Taking his advice, I went over to the table and sat down, reading through the document clause by clause to ensure that all Eliza’s protections were there. Although Jesse would have toagree to all this too, I’d made sure that she maintained control of the estate and I looked over the investment structure too, the restoration allocations, as well as the additional amount I’d had them add this afternoon.
Michael waited patiently until I finished, and when I finally closed the folder, he took a few steps closer. I nodded, not making him wait for my approval. “This is fine.”
“Very well,” he said, then hesitated for a beat. “Are you sure about?—”
“Yes,” I cut him off, narrowing my eyes just enough to let him know this wasn’t up for discussion. “It’s done.”
Now all we had to do was sign.
With that thought in mind, I turned and finally made my way to James’s office. Eliza was already there when I walked in, standing near the desk in a navy blue silk dress that caught the light when she moved. When I saw her, I swore I forgot how to walk for a second.
The dress wasn’t flashy, no glitter or heavy embellishments, but the clean lines draped perfectly over her shoulders and accentuated every curve. It was dangerous for being exactly what it was, simple and elegant, suiting her so well that it should’ve been a crime.
“Good evening.” I dipped my head slightly in greeting, mostly so no one would see me bite my lip like an idiot, but the movement gave me an excuse to steal another glance at her through my lashes.
Naturally, she noticed, but her father stepped forward before I could see her reaction. “Jesse, it’s good of you to join us.”
Michael had followed me in, nodding at James before he went to stand next to the desk. Eliza was holding the contract in her hands, reading it over while James launched into an explanation of their family traditions.
“…a long history of alliances,” he was saying to Michael. “These things used to be arranged all the time among families of similar standing?—”
The lawyer nodded politely, but I tuned in and out, mostly just watching Eliza carefully look over every page of the contract. I was trying my best not to stare but failed miserably.
God, she’s beautiful.
All that golden hair had been pinned back from her face this evening, falling in loose waves behind her back. Her brow furrowed slightly as she turned another page. Then she reached the financial section and her lips parted, her reaction small but unmistakable.
She looked up immediately, her gaze flying to her father first, but he was still talking about tradition like he was delivering a lecture, so she turned to me. As soon as our eyes met, I had a feeling that she knew, but I gave my head a small shake and nodded toward the contract.
“It’s fine,” I mouthed. “Sign.”
For a moment, she just kept looking at me, but then her shoulders lowered on a quiet breath and she reached for the pen. Her hand trembled slightly as she picked it up, flipping through the rest of the pages until she found where we needed her name.
James finally wound down his explanation as he looked at her, his voice bright and happy. “Well then, if everything is in order?”
Eliza nodded, her name flowing across the paper in elegant script as she signed and passed the pen to me. Our fingertips brushed when I took it from her, and the contact felt like an electrical pulse against my skin, brief but shocking.
My brain short-circuited, my entire being overwhelmed by just that one, simple touch, but I swallowed hard and forced myself to focus. All I had to do was sign. It just took everything Ihad to break eye contact, make my body bend over, and scribble my name on the empty line.
