Page 169 of Chandelier Enthralled
“Willa!”
I jumped, startled to remember I was standing in my brother’s foyer.
“Where were you just then?” asked Cameron.
I had so many things to be thankful for, I mused, particularly his mind-reading. I blinked at my brother, realizing I had turned back the clock to the steamy events of yesterday.
It made this moment rather boring—a standoff in Cameron’s foyer. We couldn’t agree to disagree.
“Want me to deal with him?” he repeated.
“He’s come all this way.” I couldn’t exactly refuse to see Hugo after he’d flown from New York.
“You don’t have to do this,” Cameron said, his tone serious.
Despite the turmoil, my brother remained steadfast, and I drew strength from him.
He was right though; I didn’t need to face my fear of seeing my ex again. I could let Cameron handle it, handlehim.
For a change, Cameron had dressed casually, wearing a wool single-breasted coat over a black sweater and jeans. The only hint of his wealth was his Omega watch.
We kind of matched, only I wore a baggy sweater with a vintage pair of faded jeans, my hair up in a messy bun.
I’d borrowed his office to work from home this Saturday morning, using my iPad to secretly investigate Jewel and her family, delving deep into the hidden layers of her past, back to her childhood years spent in Connecticut.
Now Hugo was outside waiting for me. Cameron had reluctantly let him through the gate.
I tried to reassure my brother I was ready for this reunion. “I’ll be fine.”
“It’s obvious why he’s here.”
I caressed my stomach, hating the way it flipped with excitement and nervousness.
Cameron caught my reaction. “Don’t let him talk you into anything.”
“I won’t.”
“He’s always had this magical hold on you, Willa.”
“Don’t go all psychological warfare on me,” I said. “This is just a breakup.”
“It’s never just a breakup. Not when it involves my sister.”
My brother had been willing to fly to New York to deal with him. Hugo had done him the favor of delivering himself like a lamb to the slaughter. Seriously, did he recall nothing of the times I’d warned him my brother was a dangerous genius?
Cameron relented and opened the front door.
I walked outside and descended the few steps to reach Hugo.
He turned to face me.
That same uneasy sensation in my chest was migrating to my throat in a well of emotions, none of them good, none of them evoking empathy.
His expression softened, his eyes lighting up at the sight of me, as though he hoped to stir my compassion. Though honestly, a lot was riding on this visit—he’d likely burned through all his air miles to get here. It was a strange thought, but I found myself scrambling to think of another reason why he’d come.
Hugo was dressed in his best gray suit—the same one I had bought for him. His hair looked a bit longer now, falling over his eyes in that melancholy, romantic poet-like way that I used to find endearing. He towered over me, his expression changing to sadness, as if I were the one who’d hurt him.
I noticed the bouquet of red roses. He’d rarely bought me flowers before and had only done so now when the last parts of us were fading.
