Page 247 of The Rebel Billionaire

“Hi Alex, Enzo, I’m Kat. We spoke on the phone. Why don’t you come in and join us?”

“Pleased to meet you, Kat. Congratulations again on your wedding,” I say. “Harper was devastated when she couldn’t attend.”

Another man steps forward and holds out his hand. “I’m Jaxson, Kat’s husband.”

I shake it as Kat turns to face her brothers, ignoring their scowls. “This is Elijah, his fiancée Pen, and their daughter Amelia,” she says. “Lottie is around somewhere with my mother’s puppy.”

She turns slightly. “This is Gabriel and Leah, and over there are Caleb and April.”

It was Caleb I spoke to earlier.

The twins are identical. Even their scowls match, making me wonder how their wives tell them apart.

“Pleased to meet you all,” I say, forcing my shoulders back and slowing my breathing.

“Why are you here?” Caleb says. “Does he know?”

April elbows him in the side, and I wonder what he was about to say.

“Ow,” he says. “He might⁠—”

She shoots him a look that has him closing his mouth.

The door behind us opens and there is no missing the audible gasp.

“Alex? Enzo? What are you doing here?” Brooke says, with a slight quiver.

I spin on the spot, taking in the woman before me. My chest expands as I drink her in. She’s the same, yet different. Gone is much of the makeup she always wore. She was beautiful before, but now she is breathtaking.

I take a step towards her, a knot suddenly forming in my stomach.

“Where else would I be?”

Her hand flies to her mouth as she lets out a half-sob, before throwing herself at me. I catch her and bury my head in her neck, loving the feel of her in my arms as she grips me tightly.

There are numerous growls behind us, but I ignore them.

“Is he—” a male voice says.

“I think it’s time we all went for a walk,” Kat says. “Everybody out. Harper and Alex clearly need to talk…without an audience.”

There are grumbles, but I sense movement around us and open my eyes to see Kat and Penelope Dawson herding Harper’s brothers out of the room with their respective wives.

“We’ll be just outside, if you need us,” Gabriel says, looking at Harper before shooting me a look that tells me if I hurt his sister, he’s likely to string me up.

“Harper?”

Kat comes to stand next to her sister, whose head is still buried against me.

Harper turns her head, resting her cheek against my chest and smiling.

“We’ll be fine,” she says.

Kat pats her arm before following the rest of them out of the room.

“I think it’s time we had some tea,” Francesca’s voice cuts in. “Enzo, why don’t you come with me. Betsy has just finished baking scones.”

“My favourite,” Enzo says, squeezing my shoulder as he leaves.