Page 77 of Guarding My Love

“Then let’s go,” she said, laughing.

“Don’t be nervous,” he said. “It will be fine.”

“I think I’m more nervous that you’re going to be ready to leave right after we get there. Or that you are doing this because you think I want it.”

“First,” he said, stopping her, “I want you to meet my family. It worked out well that we could come to the City together, and since it was a Friday night, West decided to stay in town. Normally he and Abby go to the Hamptons for the weekends. She’s not fond of city life. Lily and Braylon are always here. Jamie and Laken split their time between her condo and his home in New Jersey.”

“What about Lily?” he asked. “What’s she like?”

“I should tell you they are both younger than you,” he said. “My brothers like the younger women. Me, I know going older is better.”

She gave him a playful shove. “Not funny.”

“I thought it was,” he said. “But Lily and Abby aren’t silly or immature by any means.”

“I will admit I looked at the engagement picture that was in the magazine and saw what your family looked like.”

“I expected that you would have,” he said. “Are we ready to leave?”

“Yes,” she said.

When they were in the taxi, Foster turned to her. “My family is very down to earth. Lily and Abby’s backgrounds are very similar to ours growing up.”

Which meant they didn’t have a lot. “Not like mine then,” she said.

“Abby had the right things. Lily’s life was a bit different. I’ll let her tell you if she chooses to.”

Charlotte didn’t know what that meant and wouldn’t pry.

They got to the pub at six, Foster nodded his head to the hostess who knew who he was and they went to a back room past a lot of people.

“This is more your type of setup, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “It’s why I didn’t have a problem doing this. It’s easier for us to come here than for everyone else to come to my place or West’s. I know that.”

“That means you can be accommodating,” she said.

“I think I’ve proven that to you already, haven’t I?” he asked.

“You have. More than anyone else.”

She turned her head when the door opened and in walked West Carlisle, self-made billionaire.

He wasn’t dressed any differently than Foster was, with the exception he had pants on rather than jeans. Abby had a light blue summer dress on that was fitted to her body but in a fashionable professional way. She knew Abby and Lily both worked for Laken, so maybe they all just came straight from work.

“We finally get to meet the woman that Foster called home about. You do know you’re the first, right?” West asked.

Charlotte stood up to move closer to West and Abby, Foster, giving his brother a shove.

It was that move that relaxed her more than anything.

26

MIRACLE WORKER

Leave it to West to start shit right away.

Guess they wanted to see his reaction to everything and if he kept his cool or gave them all crap.

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