Page 3 of Duncan

Nicole’s heart sank. Maxwell only referred to her brother as “that boy” when he was very angry with him. The last big fight they’d had, back when her father had forced Hudson to break off his engagement, had created a rift between them that seemed to be getting worse.

“We’re family, Daddy.” She knew he liked it when she called him that. “Hud may not be like you, but he tries to make you happy. He also knows more about the business.”

Maxwell started to say something, and then shook his head. “We’ll deal with all this tomorrow. When it’s time to move the party over to the ballroom I only want to dance with you. Sherona’s girls stomp all over my toes.”

Nicole winced. “They mean well, too.”

“They mean to put me in a wheelchair.” He put an arm around her. “Now, let’s go back inside, and make sure your cousins aren’t trying to stab each other with their salad forks.”

AFTER THE LAVISH meal Nicole grew sleepy. The chat with her father had ruined her appetite, and then she’d made the mistake of sipping most of a cocktail on a nearly-empty stomach. During a lull in conversation at her table, she left the banquet room to get some air. The moonlight on the ocean looked like someone had spilled an endless stream of chrome paint across the world, but the cool, salty breeze helped her wake up. Music and laughter from the ball room at the other end of the yacht where everyone was gravitating made most of her tension melt away. The relatives would work off what they’d drunk with the meal by dancing. In a few hours they would reach the docks and close the reunion with one last family portrait on the top deck.

Someday I’ll be in charge of all this.

Nicole would never tell her father, but that thought deeply depressed her. Why did she have to continue this useless tradition? The only reason the family came was because they feared offending Maxwell.

The sound of heavy footsteps pulled her out of her self-pity party, and she turned to see her brother Hudson walking toward her. He’d shed his dinner jacket, rolled up his shirt sleeves and unbuttoned his collar. Judging by the rigid set of his jaw something had upset him.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” she asked.

“Cameron just told Sherona she’d screw a snake if someone would hold its head for her. Brittany is probably still giggling.” He joined her at the railing and leaned over to stare at the water. “What are you doing out here? I thought you were glued to Maxwell.”

Hudson usually referred to their father as “Dad” so that sounded odd.

“He unglued himself to talk to Uncle Charlie about the merger with CP Enterprises and Ruellco.” She glanced at him. “Everything okay with you two?”

“It will be soon.” He turned toward her, his big body stiff, his pale brown eyes as aloof as always. “I need to talk to you before we go back in.”

Nicole sensed he was about to tell her something unpleasant. It couldn’t be about Cameron; Nicole knew Hudson wouldn’t go against their father to get involved with her again. That left whatever Hudson and Maxwell had been arguing about earlier. Maxwell never liked going to the doctor, and as he’d gotten older had become more secretive about his health. She wondered if her father was sicker than he’d mentioned, and had been hiding his condition from both of them. That would explain why her brother was so upset.

“If it’s Dad–” she said, at the same time her brother said, “I’m in love with you.”

They both went still and silent as they stared at each other, and Nicole heard Cameron sneering again: I guess you know exactly what Huddie wants, too, huh?

“That’s not a great joke.” Of course he was kidding, Nicole thought, he was her brother. Her problem with men had never affected him. “Let’s go and help Dad, okay? He’ll want to do the family portrait soon.”

“Don’t run away from me, Nicole.” He put his big hands on her shoulders, which seemed colder and clammier than usual, and moved his thumbs back and forth against her skin. “I’m tired of watching other men fawn over you. I want you to be mine. Marry me.”

Her heart sank as she stepped out of reach. “You’re drunk. Come inside, and I’ll get some coffee for you.”

“I fell in love with you when we were just kids. I’ve loved you and only you all my life.” He turned his head for a moment to rub his mouth on his sleeve. “I’ll make you very happy, I swear it.”

Every word he’d said sounded forced. He didn’t love her or want to marry her, she knew that much. Hudson had never been interested in anyone but himself and Maxwell. He’d barely noticed her when they were children—and why was he sweating so much?

“Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on, Brother?” she asked, deliberately reminding him of their relationship.

He took hold of her shoulders. “Nothing but this. I want you to start planning the wedding as soon as we get back. We’ll go to Tiffany’s tomorrow and pick out an engagement ring. I went to look and they’ve got some real beauties.”

So Cam had been right and wrong. “Did you mention this proposal to Dad? Because he won’t approve.”

“Maxwell can’t stop us if we elope.” He dragged her up against him. “I’ll take good care of you, Nicky.”

This close she could smell the Scotch on his breath, and saw again the coldness in his eyes. Either he really was drunk, or he was scheming to use her out of anger. Regardless, the only way to put an end to this was quickly and directly, in case he was being sincere.

“I’m not marrying you, Hudson,” Nicole told him. “If I ever did anything to make you think I wanted to, I’m sorry. I can’t think of you in a romantic sense.”

His hands fell away. “You’re never going to give us a chance, are you?”

“There is no us.” She glanced at the door to the banquet room, and the hallway just past it. “Not in the way you’re thinking. I love you as my brother.”