"What? Say it."
He closed his eyes briefly. "If...with my dad out of commission, leadership of his company falls to me. He's been wanting me to take over for years now, but I've always refused. I don't want to do it, never have. But...I can't refuse now."
I didn't understand what the big deal was. "So? You'll be a corporate CEO, then. I get it. If you don't want me with you...I mean, I know I'm not going to be much use in corporate boardroom, so if you're saying I can't really--"
He cut me off with a kiss. "No, Leo. That's not what I'm saying. The exact opposite, actually. If you come with me, you'd be basically part of the family." He had a pained look on his face. "Listen, I don't...I've never, ever brought a girl home. In my family, in this kind society, you don't bring a girl home to meet the family unless it's serious. There's casual girlfriends, and then there's the girl you bring home. If you come with me, we're declaring to my family and everyone else what we are."
"Which is?"
"Something more." He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly through his teeth. "I know it's fast, and unexpected, and a lot of pressure, but..."
I got up and paced away from him. What did I want?
I thought about getting on a plane back to the D, thought about begging for my old job back, sleeping in my parent's spare room where I'd grown up, seeing John to get my stuff...
No.
I turned back to Shane and threaded our fingers together. "I'll go with you. I don't claim to know what I'm getting myself into anymore than I did when I agreed to come with you to Africa, but...I'm game. If you really want me there, if you think I'll fit, then I'll come. I don't know shit from shellfish when it comes to high society, or whatever, but...I'll do my best."
Shane seemed relieved. His shoulders slumped down as if he'd been preparing for a blow that he realized wasn't coming.
"You're sure? I'd understand if you're not."
I tugged his hand, pulling him to where his brothers waited with shocked expressions on their faces. "I'm sure."
He kissed the top of my head. "That's my little lion."
We joined his brothers, who were staring at me in something like awe.
"You're bringing her...home?" Luke asked.
Shane just nodded.
"Did he explain to you what that meant, in our family?" Rob asked me.
"Sort of. It's a big deal, I gather."
Jon chuckled. "A big deal. Yeah, you might say that."
Luke shook his head, bemused. "You've known Shane how long?"
"Two weeks, maybe?" I was playing it cool, but inside I was on fire, even more terrified than when bullets were flying past my head in Khartoum.
Luke looked at Shane, bumped him with his shoulder. "Your girl's got balls, Shane. Great big brass ones."
Shane nodded. "Yeah, that's why I--yeah, I know."
Another slip. Everyone caught it, no one addressed it, least of all me.
We climbed into a limousine. This one wasn't a rental. I didn't recognize it, but there was a fancy-looking 'B' embroidered into the leather upholstery.
Inside the limo was an elegant older woman, silver-gray hair loose around her face, piercing green eyes hard as jade and pinning me to my seat. The brothers each gave her a hug and kiss on each cheek.
I stuck out my hand and shook hers. "Leona Larkin, ma'am."
She looked from me to Shane, to his hand on my thigh.
When she addressed me, her voice was cold and high. "Virginia Sorrenson." She turned to Shane and spoke to him, as if I wasn't there. "Are you sure this is the best time for this?"
Shane's voice was hard. "There's no other time for it, Mother. I know what's expected of me, and I'll do it. But I'll do it my way."
Virginia Sorrenson examined me from head to toe. "Well, she's pretty enough. Clearly has enough manners to introduce herself properly." She glanced at Shane again. "Are you sure about this, Shane?"
"She was with us in Sudan. She's amazing."
The knowledge that I was with him in Khartoum seemed to impress her, if the lessening of the tight, hard lines around her mouth was any indication.
"Then she's not faint of heart." She looked at me, and took my hand in hers, leaning forward. "There's still time to go home, child. You needn't feel rushed."
I shook my head. "I'll be fine."
Virginia rolled her shoulders in a shrug of acquiescence. "Very well then." She glanced from me to Shane. "When's the wedding?"
End of Part 2
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The Mile High Club Page 6