Page 53 of The Contract Marriage

The rest of the day is filled with meetings on finance, designs, and manufacturing specs. Two of the meetings were rescheduled from last week. During my lunch break, I pick up the items I’d had prepared for the Kingswood elders as soon as Liam signed the marriage contract to smooth things over with his family. Technically, his grandmother and the other elders are irrelevant. I only need Liam for the trust-triggering events. But he shouldn’t have to sacrifice his relationship with the elders for me.

At five, I call a car service for the ride to his grandparents’ home. Although Simon volunteered for the drive, I’m not taking him when I’m there to face Liam’s disapproving elders. Who knows what his mother Elita might do to a man as attractive as Simon? Her reputation as a man-killer is justly deserved. She was supposedly wild when she was younger, and marrying Auric failed to settle her. She and her husband are engaged in an open marriage that somehow works without any of the drama you might expect, despite all the illegitimate children they managed to spawn.

The traffic’s horrific—the price of living in L.A. Still, I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I love the bustling energy, and the calm I get when I’m home away from it all.

–Liam: Just about done here. I’ll pick you up.

–Me: Already on my way.

–Liam: Is Simon driving you?

–Me: No. A car service. Very safe, very comfortable. I’m good, I promise.

Three dots appear and disappear for a while. Finally, a text arrives.

–Liam: Okay. See you soon.

Half an hour later, the black Escalade stops in front of a two-story Malibu mansion. I raise an eyebrow. The woman must like the ocean, too. But this stretch is far from Liam’s—I’m pretty certain he made sure of this before buying his property.

Her garden is immaculate, full of orchids. Lady’s slipper orchids in particular are splendid in their green, yellow, pink, and burgundy blooms. Either his grandmother is an excellent gardener or she employs one. Mom tried to grow them and gave up after four years. She said she didn’t want to become a serial flower killer.

I smile wistfully. If Mom were alive, her eyes would light up and she’d pester everyone to learn the secret.

Liam climbs out of his Spectre. “You should’ve called me.”

I blink at his slightly petulant tone. He’s obviously trying to hide it, but the disappointment ripples underneath. “I didn’t want you to go out of your way just to pick me up, not in this traffic anyway.”

I reach over and grab his hand, and the shadow drains from his eyes. I sigh inwardly. He’s so open and easygoing. Either this is his real personality, or he’s only like this with me. The former makes me want to kiss him, and the latter makes me want to cry. In the end I just hug him.

“What’s this about?” Suspicion edges his voice even as he hugs me back.

“I just want to hug my husband. Is that so wrong?”

“No. I missed you, too.”

I melt into his warmth. All the stress and irritation of the day disappear. Just what kind of magic does this man possess?

“Nothing happened, right? No weirdos or anything?”

I shake my head. “Nothing. Don’t worry. Hugh is a greedy coward. He’s scared of hurting me and losing the money from the trust.”

Holding hands, we enter the house. It has a beautiful view of the ocean, although not as magnificent as Liam’s. The interior is airy, with tall ceilings, a skylight over the great room, and a layout that divides into the dining and living rooms.

If I hoped this would be a laid-back dinner, it’s shattered the moment I notice Sorcha in a calf-length chiffon dress with her hand tucked into the crook of Cedric’s arm. The man’s in a navy suit and walks like a guard escorting a fairy princess. The woman just needs to place a tiara on her head to complete her look.

Sorcha’s pale blue eyes remind me of a Siberian husky’s as she scrutinizes me from head to toe. Not happy with what she sees because the corners of her mouth stay flat. But then I never expected her to approve. Her nose wrinkles as if she smells something fishy about me. Not surprising—I’m not being straightforward with everyone.

Well, she can glare disdainfully all she wants. The only person I owe anything to is Liam.

Elita and Auric are easy to spot at the table, both of them sipping water. Elita is a beautiful woman who looks a decade younger than her actual age. But then she must get all the nice things from the Platcher Cosmetics empire. She wears a bright red Versace with a plunging neckline, the kind that makes a statement: Look at me, I’m hot.

Auric is pretty well preserved for his age as well. Maybe with his wife’s help, or maybe he stays young by banging every hot thing in sight. His scandals are legendary, unlike those of his wife, who is somewhat more circumspect.

Sorcha and Cedric take their seats at the head of the table. Liam escorts me further inside, and we take our spots—the only two remaining. At least the chairs aren’t made of thorns.

“Everyone, please welcome my wife, Olivia Kingswood, to the family,” Liam begins in an uncharacteristically neutral tone tinged with caution. “Olivia, my grandmother, grandfather, father and mother.”

“Hello,” I murmur.