Page 19 of Falling for the Bad Boy
He nodded.
“Graduated valedictorian of his high school. Went on to Harvard where he met my sister-in-law, then Harvard med. Now he’s got his own practice, and they live in a McMansion just like this in a suburb of Chicago.”
“Are those his kids?” Oliver nudged his chin toward my niece and nephew.
“Yep. Twins. They’re in second, maybe third grade now. Both of them are fluent in Mandarin.”
“Shit.” He took another sip of his drink.
“Right? Victoria spends all of her time volunteering at the twins’ school or her other charity projects. Perfect family, perfect house, perfect life.”
“What about the rest of your siblings?”
“You sure you want to know?” Running through the long list of their accomplishments always made me feel like a failure.
He set his empty glass down on the bar. “Only if you want to tell me.”
I shrugged. “Or we can play guess the success story. I can name one of their major achievements, and you can guess which one of my siblings is responsible.”
He let out a slight laugh. “That sounds like the kind of game we’d need to play when we have a lot more time and a lot more gin.”
“See?” I smiled up at him. “I knew you’d fit right in.”
“So, Oliver, is it?” James stepped up next to him.
“That’s right.” Oliver shook his hand.
James wasn’t so bad. Although, as the attorney in the family, he sometimes let his work get in the way. I nodded toward his empty glass. “What are you drinking?”
“Scotch, neat.” He slid his glass toward me. “What brings you back to town, sis? I haven’t heard from you in so long I figured you must have gotten swept away by a monsoon or shacked up with a beach bum down in Jamaica.”
“Very funny.” I poured two fingers of scotch into his glass and slid it back to him. “I’ve been busy.”
“My sister has a major case of wanderlust.” James tipped his drink toward Oliver. “Don’t get too attached. She doesn’t stick with anything or anyone for too long.”
Oliver’s cheeks flushed a slight shade of pink. What the hell was wrong with my brother? That right there was why I didn’t subject myself to family gatherings.
“Good to know.” Oliver lifted his glass toward James.
“I’m actually planning on sticking around for a while.” I glared at James, not that he’d be able to feel the heat of my gaze through the self-centered air of importance he always carried around.
“Really?” he asked. “Finally decided how to spend that nest egg Grandma Ryan left you?”
I dropped my voice low. “That’s none of your business.” I’d share my plans when I was damn well ready.
“Rumor has it someone bought a decrepit building over in downtown Newbridge. You wouldn’t know anything about that now, would you?” James took a casual sip of his drink, keeping his gaze trained on me the whole time.
I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. “How interesting.”
“It is, isn’t it?” he asked. “I did a little digging. That building looks like it’s going to be a money pit. I’m talking epic proportions.”
“Oliver, did you want to try the pâté? It’s an old family recipe my grandmother used to make.” I linked my arm through his and gave a slight tug.
“Wouldn’t miss it.” He grinned at James. “Nice to meet you.”
James shook his head. “Be careful, Trin.”
I propelled Oliver to the linen-draped table holding some of my family’s favorite appetizers. “He can be such a prick.”
