by C. J. Thomas
“Stay strong.”
By the time I ended my call, Mom was still standing in her white summer dress and matching pearl necklace. The look she was giving me was enough to cause my stomach to roil.
Tossing my belongings into my purse, I stepped out beneath the sun with nervous anxiety rolling over my flesh in thick, heavy waves.
Something felt off about Mom wanting to meet here instead of at the country club like we’d originally planned. I wondered if she knew that I was about to turn Dad’s political image on its head.
I walked closer to her with my head spinning.
Things were moving much too fast. I needed them to slow down.
As I stepped up to Mom, she was slow to greet. “Where is your dress?”
Looking down at my empty hands, my dress the last thing on my mind. “It’s in the car. I’m planning to meet up with the girls and get ready with them.”
Mom looked at her small gold wristwatch. “You can do all this in an hour?”
“Mom.” I sighed.
She raised her brows and snaked her arm around my waist. “I know. You have accomplished more in less time.” She kissed my cheek. “Thanks for stopping by first.”
I smiled at her. “About yesterday—”
“—not now, honey.”
My eyebrows drew together with building frustration. Now was the only time left to talk about how I couldn’t go through with this. How could she keep pushing this aside like it didn’t matter?
I took a deep breath and shut my mouth before I made things worse. Without realizing it, my feet brought me closer to the door and she turned and walked inside, me following.
My heart stopped. Sitting in the kitchen, like nothing was amiss, were Gary and my dad sharing a drink.
“What is he doing here?” I mumbled close to Mom’s ear.
“You can ask your father.” She nudged me further into the house. “Gary called him.”
Suddenly, I felt dizzy. The house started spinning and I worried I might fall. No wonder the girls hadn’t seen the bastard on their stakeout. He wasn’t home or with his groomsmen. He was here. But was he here because of me or because of Trevor’s threat?
My father stared above his khakis and polo shirt.
Glancing to the living room, my grandparents were in their own worlds, golf on the TV. Pulling her hand away, Mom stepped to the side, leaving me to be drawn in by Dad’s inquisitive brow.
My adrenaline spiked when I caught Trevor’s scent.
Gary lowered his brow and smirked like he knew what was about to hit.
“What is everyone doing here?” I glanced to the clock on the stove.
Gary shared a knowing look with my father before moving over to me. He kissed my cheek and said how great it was to see me before joining Mom in the living room. It was clear what my role was going to be.
“Have a seat.” Dad took a sip from his tumbler before setting it down on the counter.
I recognized his tone. Knew it well. The look he was giving me, too. It was the same face he wore the night he ensured me the wedding would go on no matter what.
When my hands started to shake, I could hear the girls telling me to stay strong.
Lowering myself onto the barstool, I was scared to know what this was about. And not just because of the way Mom was acting, but because Gary seemed overly confident. I could feel his eyes on the back of my head the whole time.
“Where have you been?” My father’s tone was even but deep.
I glanced over my shoulder to Mom, feeling betrayed. She’d known I would come if she asked.
I swallowed hard, knowing the truth was going to be difficult to hear. Thinking about what he might already know—knowing my parents were capable of learning everyone’s secrets—I said, “Getting ready for tonight.”
He narrowed his eyes.
My palms began to sweat.
The beating of my heart kicked up another notch and soon it was all I could hear in my ears.
“Are you purposely trying to throw away your marriage that hasn’t even started?”
The pounding in my chest increased, nearly hard enough to knock me off my stool. Stay strong. My eyes widened. Despite my eagerness to hide my emotions quickly racing out of control, I refused to take the bait.
Dad flicked his gaze to Gary.
I turned to glance at him, too. What had he said? Our secret could come out at any time. I could tell them all that he beat me after confronting him about secretly seeing his ex behind my back and kiss this honeymoon goodbye.
Rolling my neck back to Dad, I said, “What are you talking about?”
He opened a drawer and tossed down a pile of photographs. “This.”
Leaning over the counter, I let my eyes land on mine and Trevor’s faces. Panic drained my face of blood before I laughed. “Dad, were eating burgers.”
“His father is a donor to my campaign.”
“Dad, you should have invited Trevor to the wedding.”
“We invited all the Fosters.” He latched onto the counter ledge and put his weight on one leg. “Since when were you friends with Trevor Foster?”
“He was at Cooper’s kickoff party. Don’t you remember?” I smirked. “What is it you don’t like about him?”
He lowered his voice and looked at me from beneath his brow. “What bothers me most is that you’re out on the town being seen with another man just hours before you’re set to marry someone else.”
“Dad, I told you the other night—”
He held up his hand, shaking his head. “Sienna, please. We’ve already had this discussion.” He jabbed the photo of Trevor and me. “This reflects poorly on all of us. Do you have any idea what people will assume?”
“Where did you get these photos? And why were you spying on me?”
Dad sighed as he flicked his gaze in Gary’s direction.
“He put you up to this?” I pointed my finger at Gary.
Dad and Gary stared at each other. I could almost feel the conspiracy brewing between them. I twisted in my seat with fury spreading over my chest. Then I turned to Gary and growled, “I think we need to talk.”
31
Trevor
I wasn’t going to just let her walk away from me.
Deep in my heart I knew she was The One. I’d fight to have her. Do whatever it took. Even if it cost me—cost us all—our hard-won reputations. This was about love, but, more importantly, this was about doing the right thing.
Hooking my helmet over the back seat, I swung my leg over the bike saddle and let my eyes fall to my Mustang. I brushed past it, not caring about whether or not Evan was treating it with the same respect I would. If anything, it only reminded me of what I was fighting for.
My thoughts drifted away from me back to the little time I’d shared with Sienna sitting in the passenger seat—her light hair flipping in the wind. It was a natural feeling when we were together and I wanted to experience more of that. The only tension between us was Gary. And, soon, he’d be gone.
I continued to walk toward my parents’ house with my brows pinched and my head down.
I was still in a daze, coming to terms with my conversation with Sienna when Noah started walking toward me. He picked up his pace, still dressed in his suit from the office, only having shed his jacket, loosened his tie, and rolled up his sleeves.
Tipping my head back, I slowed to a near stop and watched him glance over his shoulder. His eyes fixed on me, laser focused. “Trevor, I want you to know that I’m with you on this—”
“—but you’re afraid of a scandal.”
He nodded and hid his hands inside his pockets. “There is no turning back once we start this.”
“I know.” My gaze drifted over his shoulder toward the house. “But it needs to get done.”
He looked me in the eye and nodded. “Did you meet with Sienna?”
“This is real.” My heart began to race. “She doesn’t love him.”
Noah lowered his voice. �
�And because you slept with her once you think you’re in love?”
I turned my gaze toward the garden. “I don’t know what this is.” I looked my brother in the eye. “But I can tell you what I do know, and that is I have never felt this,” I lifted my right hand and held it over my heart, “before.”
Noah’s eyes flicked between my eyes and my hand.
“And it’s not because I slept with her.”
His forehead wrinkled.
“It’s because we have a connection that can’t be broken.” I felt the corners of my eyes crinkle. Lifting my hand, I hooked my fingers around Noah’s neck and let my forehead fall to his. “She listens. She understands the man I am. She’s intelligent and makes me want to stop living in a reclusive bubble.” Noah kept his gaze locked on mine. “And she’s going to call this whole thing off.”
“She told you that?”
My lips curved upward.
Noah broke free from my grip, angled his body sideways, and shoved a hand through his hair. Glaring at me out of the corner of his eye, he said, “You need to tell Cooper everything.”
“No one can know about us sleeping together.”
“Fine. That remains our secret. But everything else.”
I agreed.
“He’s on his way over now.”
My chest was light. I felt good. The future was looking bright for the first time in a long time. “The dawn of a new day is upon me, brother.”
“I certainly hope so.” Noah’s neck was still tight. I knew he didn’t have as much faith as I did about this all working. “For what it’s worth, I suggest you ease into this.”
Despite the glimmer of hope still flickering inside my eyes, my muscles strained for a fight to make Sienna mine. I was determined to walk away from this without hurting anyone other than Gary.
“There is something else you need to know before going inside.”
My eyes narrowed into tiny slits, focusing on the curveball that looked to be coming my way.
“Senator Day just spoke with Dad on the phone.”
I pulled my head back into my neck. “About what?”
“Your sudden friendship with Sienna.”
I almost wanted to laugh. “It’s not a friendship, it’s way more than that.”
“And that’s the reason for everyone’s concern.”
“Are you concerned?”
“You know I am.” His lips tightened.
“Do you think I would risk everything if I wasn’t all-in with this woman?”
He planted his hands on his hips. “I think you’re taking a huge gamble thinking you can stop something that is out of your control and set to take place—” he flicked his wrist and checked the time, “—in less than twenty-four hours.”
With the sudden reminder of the clock ticking down, a rush of adrenaline zipped through me. “Then there’s no time to waste.” I raised my brows, slapped my brother on the shoulder, and bounced up the stairs into the house.
Music filled the air from the surround sound speaker system and I found Mom cooking in the kitchen. Dad was chatting with Evan as Evan manned the grill on the back patio.
Mom spun on a heel and her eyes bulged in surprise when she saw me standing there. “Trevor, honey, come help me in the kitchen.”
I went to join her. “Hey, Mom.”
She stood on her toes, kissing my cheek as she hugged me. “Hey, sweetie.” Not a second after her heels feel back to the floor, she put me to work. “Finish skewering those vegetables. There going on the grill. I have sweet potatoes in the oven already.”
“It smells delicious,” I said, moving to the sink to wash my hands.
“With Evan in town, we needed to get as many of us together as possible.” She stopped what she was doing and turned to look at me. “It’s so good to have him here, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, Mom. It’s been great.” I moved down the counter and began sliding sliced vegetables onto skewers.
Stepping out from the back, Nolan worked his cufflinks free while he talked. “Have you ever seen this guy spend so much time away from his garage?”
Mom flicked her twinkling eyes to me and smiled. “I just love it when you boys are home.”
I glanced at Nolan from beneath my brow. His cologne overpowered the fresh smell of summer’s harvest. I knew that he was on his way to Sienna’s rehearsal dinner.
“You look handsome.” Mom couldn’t stop staring at Nolan. “Bring Sophia back here afterward, okay?”
Nolan rolled his eyes at me. “Ma, she’s part of the wedding party. The girls have plans tonight.”
“But if they don’t.”
Nolan smiled and shook his head. Fixing his gaze on me, he said, “Rehearsal dinner.”
Mom’s oven beeped and she scurried across the kitchen saying something about Charlotte arriving soon. Before she could stop us, I jutted my chin to the other side of the house and silently requested to speak to him alone.
Nolan followed me into the living room. The two of us stood on the other side of the large sectional sofa tucked into the back corner when he asked, “What’s up?”
I stroked my chin and eyed my brother. “There is something that might come up at the rehearsal.”
He gave me a questioning look.
I held his stare. “There’s no easy way for me to say this.”
He inched closer and lowered his voice to a whisper. “You know you can trust me with whatever you have to say.”
Inhaling a deep breath of air, I nodded. “The bride—”
“—Sienna.”
I paused and felt my pulse throb in my neck. Sweat dripped down my spine and I knew that I couldn’t keep my secret to myself any longer. “We’ve kind of been seeing each other these last couple of days.”
He flashed me a knowing look. “Now I understand the phone call Dad received.”
My brows drew together. “You know about it?”
“Dad couldn’t stop talking about it.”
I turned my head and peered through the windows. Dad and Evan were in the middle of an animated conversation, big smiles on both of their faces.
Nolan’s hand landed on my shoulder. “You’re just friends, right?”
My head spun back to meet his curious brow. “What do you know about her fiancé?”
“Shit. Trevor.” His gaze hardened with concern. “Please tell me that you and Sienna are only friends.”
I wanted to tell him the truth right then and there, but I couldn’t. A hard rock formed in my gut. I was rendered speechless. “What do you know about her fiancé?”
“Fuck.” Nolan turned his head away. A second later he began talking. “Not much. This is more Sophia’s gig then my own.” His eyes flicked to mine. “But don’t tell Dad. To him, this is all about networking. Why, do you know him?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know him.”
“You don’t sound happy about that.”
I clenched my jaw and stared at Dad.
“Wait, is this why you’re not going to the wedding?”
I turned to look my brother in the eye. “Has Sophia said anything about him?”
Nolan squinted his eyes and bent forward at the waist. “Why are you asking? Did he do something I should know about?”
Every muscle in my body quivered. I was irritated thinking about Sienna confronting that asshole now while I stood miles away, unable to protect her if he decided to do something he shouldn’t.
Crossing one arm, he stroked his chin with the other. Nolan was deep in thought and after a minute of silence, a knowing glimmer flashed over his eyes. “Does this have anything to do with the cut on her lip?”
“You saw it?”
“I saw it.” He nodded.
“Her fiancé was the one to give it to her.”
Nolan’s face reddened and his nostrils flared.
“I wanted to tell you sooner, but …”
He held up a hand. “What can I do to help?”
“Keep this between us.” He gave
me a look that said that would be impossible. “At least until I can get a grasp on it.”
“What if Sophia mentions it?”
“I’m sure she wants to tell you but is respecting Sienna’s wishes to keep it quiet.”
Nolan let out a heavy sigh.
“Sienna didn’t want it to get out.” My fingers squeezed his shoulder harder. “She thinks it’s her fault,” I whispered in his ear.
“Fuck,” Nolan barked. “We have to do something about this.”
“Go. See what you can find out.” Together, we strode back to Mom’s kitchen in tiny steps of uncertainty. “And, while you do that, I need to warn Cooper that he might want to distance himself from Senator Day before things get really ugly.”
Nolan stopped and arched a brow. “What are you not telling me?”
The patio door slid open and Dad stepped inside. “Trevor.”
“We’ll talk more about this later,” I muttered as Nolan said his goodbyes to the family.
Dad walked over to me and we shook hands before he pulled me into a hug. “Good to see you, son.”
“You too, Dad.” I pulled back. “Did you have a good trip?”
“A great trip.” He laughed. “Your cousin Ricky is a genius and has convinced me to join his group as an investor.”
“That’s great.”
His eyes drifted down my tie. “I was thinking about sending you to New York.”
My heart stopped and I felt my face go pale.
Dad slapped my shoulder and tossed his head back with a booming laugh. “I’m kidding, son. I wouldn’t dare steal the spirit of the west from you.” Noah entered the room and Dad turned his head to him. “I’ll send Noah, instead.”
“You can send me to New York anytime, Pops.” Noah snapped his fingers and pointed at Dad before disappearing into the kitchen to help Mom.
Dad took me by the shoulders and said, “I like the new look on you.” He straightened my tie. “Everything going all right?”
There was that knowing glimmer of concern in his eyes that let me know he wasn’t asking about the new job. His concern was my well-being, and rightfully so. But since Sienna had come into my life, things really did seem like they would eventually come together—like I would come out of this a new man. “I’m doing well, Dad.”