Page 31 of Whiskey Promises
"Oh, I saw plenty," Bastian drawls, lifting his coffee mug to his lips.
I kick him under the table. At least, I mean to kick him.
"Son of a…" Dad growls, glowering at me. "Why the fuck did you kick me?"
"My foot slipped," I lie.
He narrows his eyes on me like he isn't buying my bullshit. And then he just shakes his head, cracking a smile. "What girl were you following all over the vineyard this morning?"
"Jesus Christ," I groan, rubbing my temples. "I wasn't following a girl. We were just heading in the same direction at roughly the same time."
"Oh! Is she one of the bridesmaids?" Ma asks, bouncing on his lap. "They're all so beautiful. Which one is she, Jareth? I want to meet her. Maybe your aunts and I can…"
I shoot a pleading look at Dad when Bastian chortles into his coffee, the bastard. This is all his fault.
Dad takes pity on me, wrapping an arm around Ma's waist to haul her back down onto his lap before she can leap to her feetto go call my aunts and get them involved. "Let it be, sweetness. If there is a girl, we don't want to scare her off before she and Jareth can give you that grandbaby you want, do we?"
"Oh." She bites her lip. "I didn't think of that. Maybe I shouldn't involve your aunts yet."
Thank God for that. I love them dearly, but the women in this family are a handful on a good day. Every other day, it takes a miracle and two sacrifices to rein them in. I do not need them sending Zoya running for the hills.
I shoot a sly glance at my brother. "Did you know that Bastian just hired a new girl to help with marketing?"
"What?" Ma gasps, turning to look at him. "When? Why didn't you tell me? Do you like her? I want to meet her!"
Bastian sloshes coffee across his hand, scowling daggers at me. I chuckle, popping another piece of bacon in my mouth. So that is why he's been extra moody. Interesting.
I fill my plate while Ma badgers him with questions and Dad just smirks at me like he knows exactly what the fuck I just did. I meet his gaze and shrug. Serves Bastian right if she's hounding him instead of me.
Eventually, she runs out of steam when Bastian keeps deflecting and dodging her questions, and turns to pout at my dad. "Your sons are no fun, Carter. They never tell me anything."
"That's not true," I protest. "We tell you plenty."
"You didn't tell me about the girl staying with you."
"We ran out of cabins," I lie. How the fuck did she find out that Zoya is staying with me?
Ma doesn't buy my shit. She just smiles, shaking her head. "Fine. Keep your secrets, but you better be good to her if she's the one, Jareth Caspian Grayson."
"She has a boyfriend, Ma."
"You know, your dad thought the same thing about me once." She giggles, looking at Carter. "He was wrong. Maybe you are, too."
"Yeah, maybe." I'm more convinced than ever that Zoya and Connor's relationship is total bullshit. But how the fuck do I get her to admit it? That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?
Chapter Seven
Zoya
"Oh, Nadia," Mom whispers,dabbing at her eyes as Nadia steps out of the dressing room in her wedding gown. "Look at you!"
"Mom!" Nadia cries, fanning her face. "Don't make me cry."
"Oh my gosh. Neither of you should be crying. Weddings are supposed to be happy things," Innessa says, shaking her head at both of them before she breaks into a big smile. "But you do look beautiful, Nadia."
"Yeah, you do," I whisper. The A-line style wedding dress features off-the-shoulder sleeves and a lace sheath that peeks through the leg slit. It hides her little bump beautifully, not that I think she cares who sees it. She and Teo are thrilled about the baby. "Like a princess."
Nadia spins in front of the mirror, looking at herself. "I feel like a princess," she admits softly.
