Page 19 of Out of Bounds
“I wasn’t.”
“Good. What I do want you to think about is your girl back home. Maybe now’s the time to change things up. I’m signing the papers tomorrow. Diane and I plan to fly out to Italy in three weeks. It would be real good to meet Miranda before we go, even better to see you tie the knot son.”
Just fucking fantastic.
To get his billion-dollar business, I don’t just need to find a girlfriend and name her Miranda, I also need a wife.
Chapter7
Bree
Eyes cast my way as Quinn and I walk into the function hall of the Great Beyond, a manor home Lucille’s prince hired for tonight’s event.
There are over two hundred guests here. The people looking are family—my cousins who are married with kids and love a bit of gossip.
The moment Cindy-Lou clocks on to us and dips her head to Daisy’s ear and they both look toward us I know tonight’s going to be fun, fun, fun. Not.
They know Quinn, and they knew I was dating Liev. His absence will not go unnoticed. I can just imagine what they’re saying, and I’ve barely arrived.
Deciding to ignore the wave of gossip that’s about to spread I smile and wave to them. They wave back but start talking again as soon as I walk by.
“Take no notice Bree,” Quinn says. “People used to gossip about me for a long time then they stopped. Thank God, you don’t have the type of stories I had to follow you.”
I do thank God. All I’ve been hit with is a breakup and no one knows the details. I could still lie and tell people Liev was sick or something like that so he couldn’t make it.
But Quinn used to be Quinn Cambray, daughter of one of our former states attorneys and Governor of California. When Quinn was eighteen he and the whole family left Wilmington never to return. Then two years ago the scandal hit that he’s been stealing public money and doing all sorts of shit. He also killed himself because he didn’t want to face his crimes and all hell broke loose after.
That’s what she’s talking about, and it’s taken her all this time to live it all down.
“I guess I made a wise choice in bringing you tonight.” I try to laugh and look like I’m fine, but I just want to go home.
“You did. We both look fabulous and this place is beautiful.” She looks around and does a little twirl like she’s dancing.
“It is beautiful,” I agree.
Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling and the marble floors add even more class to the décor. There are yellow roses—Lucille’s favorite everywhere.
They’re in neat little arrangements on the tables, on the columns and in loops around the other ornaments in the room. I feel like I’m in a palace.
I’d say this place is more suited to a wedding than a simple engagement party, but this is not a simple engagement. There’s never been anything simple about Lucille.
And there she is.
Lucille is in the center of the room dressed in a long flowing blue gown. Her long blond hair is styled in loose waves and because it’s so long it looks even prettier.
She looks absolutely stunning. Just like her mother, Aunt Denise, who is next to her.
Mama has three sisters. Denise and Shelby are the divas, but Shelby isn’t a snob. She’s also the youngest sister, Mama is the second youngest and the do-gooder, while Evangeline is the eldest. She’s like an old school marm. Cindy-Lou and Daisy are her daughters.
Mama isn’t that far from Lucille. Next to her are my other aunts.
Shelby sees me first and waves which causes the others to look my way.
Lucille smiles at me with that gloating smile she uses when she knows she has one over on me.
But when a tall man who could be James Bond approaches her, she focuses on him. When he leans in to kiss her, I guess he must the prince. He certainly looks like one. Well done Lucille.
Quinn glances at me and I know exactly what she’s thinking.
