Page 59 of Sold to Her Enemy

“Mom, let me take you to greet my guest.” I loop my arm through my mother’s.

“I’m so glad we’re here. I didn’t want to miss this party. Ava has said it wasn’t a big deal, and they’d throw another party at home, but I wanted to be here to thank Oliver’s parents. They are good people.”

I grit my teeth because my mind isn’t made up on that, but I don’t care.

“Mckenna.” My mom breathes out the words, and the next thing I know, she’s hugging Mckenna to her and blinking back tears.

“Jackie,” Mckenna says. “It’s good to see you.”

“Oh, honey, you have no idea how worried I’ve been. How’s your mother?”

Mckenna looks like she’s going to cry as my mom squeezes her shoulder.

A weird sense of irritation climbs up my spine, and I don’t know why. The McIntyres and the Morans were more than just partners, so of course, my mom asking about Liz makes sense. I don’t know why it bothers me. Maybe it’s the concerned tone in her voice? I try to shake it off.

“She’s okay,” Mckenna says.

“What are you doing here?”

“We’re dating,” I say smoothly.

My mother raises an eyebrow. “Oh? I’ve missed a lot. Mckenna, tell me what’s been going on with you.”

She slides into an empty seat while my father claps me on the shoulder and leans in close. “You brought Mckenna Moran? I thought you two hated each other.”

“Change of heart.”

“Good,” my father slaps me on the back. “If she knows Davis’s formulas, that will help launch Colossus Corp in a way that nothing else ever could. Do you think she does?”

“I’m working on it,” I tell Dad.

He nods, his eyes darting across to the side of the room where the press is gathered. “Make sure you give a statement to that reporter.”

“Don’t worry, I will. You’re good with this?” I gesture to the room, the people. He knows I mean Ava’s engagement and being back from vacation.

“It was time to step into the spotlight again. But I won’t obliterate you.”

“I’m not worried about that,” I grin.

My Dad laughs. “Oliver’s mother is going to have a heart attack, jumping up and down like that. I guess we better go and see what it’s about. Come on, Jackie.” My father raises an eyebrow, and like she has for nearly four decades, my mother steps behind him and follows.

I sit, slice a piece of my beef, and hold the fork for Mckenna. “Eat.”

She opens her mouth, the stunned look on her face still in place.

“Your mother doesn’t hate me,” her voice is so sorrowful, I can’t help it. I need to touch her, to soothe her. We’re supposed to be dating and in love.

I drag my chair back and then pull her onto my lap, so her back is to my front.

“Adrian!”

“Come here, hellion.” I nuzzle her neck, loving the feel of her skin against my lips.

“I can’t eat like this!” Mckenna protests as I feed her another bite.

“Of course you can. Remember, you could be under the table.” She blushes and squirms on my lap. “Of course my parents don’t hate you, Mckenna. My mother has always considered you the daughter she wishes she had.”

She leans back against me as if she doesn’t have the strength to hold herself up.

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