He might not have lived likeone—he lived like a well-off young professional, but not a man with millions,maybebillionsin family money. Compared to the way he should have been,Miles was modest and humble and not at all like I imagined genuine rich people,real old money types, to be.
As soon as I pulled up tohis cousin’shouse, though, I could see the mistake I’d made.
Not only was the houseenormous—and beautiful, cream-rendered with burgundy details thathintedthey would have used gold, but gold was so last decade, and these werefashionable people—but Miles’ mid-range BMW looked cheap in comparison to abouthalf the cars parked out front.
Out front in what was, forall intents and purposes, aprivate parking lot.
An older woman walked behindthe car as I shut off the engine, carrying an evening bag that I suspected wasworth more than my year’s rent.
I was suddenly so gratefulfor this suit that I could have kissed Amanda, even if she made me feel like anasshole about it. My own trusty polyester blend one wouldn’t have cut it inthis crowd.
“You look like you’ve seen aghost,” Miles said as he got out of the car. “Which is whatI’msupposed to bedoing all night, so I’m a little concerned that you’re getting a head start.”
“The only thing I’m seeingis Scrooge McDuck over there,” I said, nodding to a man who was dressed up inwhat I could see fromherewas an even nicer suit than this one, andwearing gold-rimmed glasses that, from the side, reminded me of a monocle.
Miles snorted. “You forgot I wasa poor little rich boy?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Pretty much. You’renot like this.”
“That’s probably the nicestthing anyone’s ever said to me. I’d hate to think I was like most of thesepeople.”
Huh. That shouldn’t really havebeen a surprise, but I’d been so dazzled by all the lights and glitter herethat for a moment, I’d forgotten what Miles was actually like. How clear he’dmade it that this wasn’t his thing, that he didn’t really want to be here.
With that thought stillticking away in my head, I offered him my arm. His entire face lit up, and hegrabbed it eagerly, pressing himself against my side like a limpet on a boat.
Nervousness wasn’t something Iwas used to, but I got that he was always a little on the nervous side. Doublyso right now. I couldfeelhow tense he was.
I wanted to turn around andhold him until he relaxed, but I got the feeling he wouldn’t reallyappreciate that right now. That wasn’t something wedid, no matter howmuch he set off every protect-and-care-for instinct I had.
“Any last-minuteinstructions?” I asked as we approached the house, taking in the neatly-trimmedshrubbery and rose bushes as the gravel path crunched under our feet.
Miles took a breath torespond, but before he could say anything, a whirlwind in an emerald greendress came down on us with an excited squeal.
She hugged Miles tightly andkissed his cheek. The scent of lilac and… something I couldn’timmediately identify hit the back of my throat, but it wasn’t exactly anoffensive smell.
Itdidseem like theperfume of a woman twenty years older than the one wearing it, though. With ahead of long, dark curls and the same warm amber eyes Miles had, I could tellthis was a relative.
As soon as she backed off,she turned her attention to me instead, not even bothering to hide the way shelooked me up and down. A tiny smirk spread over her pretty features, oneperfectly-plucked eyebrow raised.
“You didn’t tell me you werebringing a date,” she said, turning to Miles.
I could almost feel the heatfrom blush from here.
“This is, umm. This is Gray.He’s, uh…”
“Hot,” the woman said,grinning broadly.
“My bodyguard,” Milescorrected, though his grip on my arm tightened a little. “This is Emily, mycousin. And our hostess.”
Emily’s eyes sparkled.“Does that mean he’s single? Because…”
“Gay,” I said. “Sorry.”
Emily sighed. “Of course youare. The hot onesalwaysare.”
I liked Emily. Not justbecause she’dcalled me hot twice now, either. She seemed like a fun person.
She reminded me of Miles.They were completely different on the surface, but it was obvious that neitherof them were interested in being the proper little heir or heiress to thefamily fortune.
