AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Whatever everyone is having," I answer.
"I want some kind of fizzy drink," Tara says.
I settle on the couch between Tara and Dani. Helen sits in a chair by the fireplace, lazily pushing the wood around with a poker. A few minutes later Parker brings each of us a gin and tonic.
"So, Jess," Helen says, “Dani tells me you are best of friends with the famous Serena, the woman who finally bagged James. I must admit, no one saw that coming. We all thought he'd be an eternal bachelor. Unless I bagged him, of course," she says joki
ngly.
I frown. "Aren't you James's cousin?"
Helen laughs softly. "Nope. Parker and James are related on their mother's side, and Parker and I are related on his father's side."
Parker seems to freeze for a fraction of a second. Then he turns around flashing a wide grin. "That's right. Helen and I have a truly enviable pedigree. Two-hundred-fifty-sixth in line for the British throne."
"I think you just became two-hundred-fifty-seventh," Helen corrects him. "Aunt Audrey had a baby."
"Damn," Parker says, shaking his head with mock disappointment.
"So how is Serena?" Helen asks me.
"She's working like a slave. I rarely get the chance to talk to her. Investment banking."
"Oh dear," Tara mutters.
"This is wonderful. I was dying to meet someone who actually knows Serena well. So, tell me, Jess, do you share Serena's talent to catch . . . uncatchable men? Please share the secret. I seem incapable of catching anything aside from fish," Helen says.
Everyone bursts out laughing, and Parker gets up, texting on his phone, subtly withdrawing himself from the discussion.
"That's not true," Tara says. "I'm sure you will find someone."
"Easy for you to say," Helen replies. "You're engaged. So, Jess, any secrets to share?"
"Afraid not. For what it's worth, I can't even catch fish."
This brings another round of laughter from the girls. I'm surprised how easy it is to talk to them. After seeing their pictures with Parker—they looked like they were about to attend an Oscar ceremony—I expected them to be at least a bit arrogant.
"Do you live here, Helen?" I ask.
"God no. I'd get bored here. Tara and I both live in London. My parents live here, but they're in the south of France right now."
Tara's phone beeps. "Oh, the duck is ready," she says, hurrying to the kitchen.
The rest of us head to the table. Behind me, I hear Helen say to Parker, "I'm so glad you returned from California. I didn't expect you to be gone for so long."
"How come you were in the US for almost half a year?" I ask Parker when we're seated at the table.
"What do you mean?"
"You have a gazillion things you are in charge of here. Multiple companies. How could you just take off?"
"I didn't take over Blakesley Enterprises until recently," he says.
"But you still had other companies here."
"I don't, for a fact, own any companies," Parker says patiently. "I am an investor in them, just like I am in James's company. I attend board meetings and act as an advisor, but rarely get involved in day-to-day executive operations."
"Ah, you don't like to be the front man, I see."
