Page 96 of Most Likely to Deny Love

Jack’s entire demeanor changed. The tension in his shoulders eased, and a genuine smile, the first I’d seen since we’d boarded the plane, spread across his face.

“Nan.” He strode forward, enveloping her in a gentle hug.

“Let me look at you.” She cupped his face with one hand, her eyes searching his. “Working too hard, as usual.”

“I’m fine, Nan.”

“Of course you are.” She patted his cheek before turning her bright blue gaze on me. “And this is Mia.”

I stepped forward, suddenly nervous. This woman clearly meant everything to Jack and I was desperate to make a good impression.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Sullivan.”

“Eleanor to most, Nan to you.” She clasped my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. “Well, aren’t you a breath of fresh air? No wonder Jack’s been keeping you to himself.”

Her eyes, sharp and missing nothing, studied me with open appreciation. “Finally, someone with some actual curves in this family. Victoria, isn’t she gorgeous?”

I felt my cheeks flush as Victoria’s smile tightened imperceptibly. “She’s lovely.”

“Nan,” Jack warned, but there was fondness in his voice.

“What? I’m eighty-seven, I can say what I like.” She winked at me. “Come inside, dear. The vultures are circling, but stick close to me and you’ll be fine.”

As Nan led the way, Victoria and Angus exchanged a look I couldn’t quite interpret.

Jack’s hand found mine, our fingers intertwining. “Sorry about that,” he murmured.

“Are you kidding? I adore her already.”

And I meant it. In a family where something felt subtly wrong beneath the polished surface, Nan seemed like the only genuine article.

JACK

The great room hummed with conversation, firelight dancing across the exposed wooden beams and casting long shadows over the plush furniture. I couldn’t decide if having Mia here was a blessing or a curse. On the one hand, she seemed to have a handy knack of easing some of the ever present anxiety I felt when I came home. On the other hand, Nan hadn’t been wrong about the vultures circling. Maybe that wasn’t quite fair. My aunts, uncles and cousins were just interested, and who could blame them? The engagement announcement had come completely out of the blue for everyone and now here she was, looking like she belonged here.

The issue was that the biggest vulture of all was yet to arrive. My brother always did like to make a grand entrance.

I nursed my whiskey, the smoky liquid warming my throat as I watched Mia and Nan from across the room. They’d found a quiet corner by the floor-to-ceiling windows, silhouetted against the darkening mountains and looked like they were settled in for a good long chat.

“She’s lovely, Jack,” Aunt Diane materialized beside me, her voice low enough that only I could hear. “Very genuine.”

“She is,” I replied, unable to tear my eyes away from Mia. She had changed into a simple navy dress for dinner, nothing extravagant but somehow perfect on her. The way it hugged her curves made my mouth go dry every time I looked at her.

“Your mother’s in quite a state,” Diane continued, amusement threading through her voice. “I believe her exact words were ‘not what I expected at all.’”

“I’m sure they were,” I muttered, taking another sip of whiskey.

Mia laughed at something Nan said, the sound carrying across the room like music. Her head tipped back, revealing the elegant line of her throat, and I found myself remembering how it felt to press my lips against that exact spot, to feel her pulse quicken beneath my touch.

“You look happy,” Diane observed. “It suits you.”

Before I could respond, the distinctive sound of the front door opening echoed through the house, followed by voices in the entrance hall. One loud and commanding, the other high and brittle with forced laughter.

Every muscle in my body tensed. Nan stopped mid sentence, her eyes finding mine across the room with a look of weary resignation. Mia followed her gaze, her brow furrowing slightly when she saw my expression. Without hesitation, she excused herself from Nan and crossed the room to my side, her hand finding mine with a reassuring squeeze.

“Darling, we’re not that late!” Miranda’s voice carried from the hallway, overly bright and theatrical. “Besides, don’t you want to make an entrance?”

The room fell into an expectant hush. My mother straightened imperceptibly, an almost genuine smile blossoming on her face as she moved toward the doorway. My father’s expression shifted from neutral to pleased anticipation as he set his drink down and followed my mother’s lead.

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