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Teague declined a glass, but like me, Lincoln took one. We were the trained animals. Teague had more courage, though Lincoln most certainly wasn’t a coward. He simply had a different way of handling our father.
“To the future Mr. and Mrs. Hollingsworth.” Father lifted his glass and chuckled. “I meant Davenport. I suppose I’m having a harder time letting go of my darling girl than I thought.”
The Davenports joined him, the fake laughter tinkling through the room.
“It’s fabulous your family has the same values as ours. So close-knit.” Mrs. Davenport sipped her champagne. “This union is simply perfect.”
Lincoln didn’t touch his drink either. Teague appeared to be analyzing the entire situation. And Alex downed his glass in one swallow.
“Our families will do great things together,” Father said, raising his glass again.
Is stealing someone else’s company doing great things together?
I still hadn’t figured out how I was supposed to pull that off, not that I was going to. I didn’t much care for the Davenports, but I wouldn’t ever try to take away what someone else had built. Or inherited, as the case may have been.
“What is it about Beau that made you realize you can’t live without her?”
My lips parted. Lincoln’s question was tactical, but before Lexie I didn’t think he thought in terms of not being able to live without someone.
Alex would fail to answer adequately. And in a few seconds my brothers would know this whole thing was a sham. Well, their suspicions would be confirmed.
“Your sister is the most coveted woman in the city. Any man should be so lucky as to have her.” Father’s declaration was directed at Alex, a not-so-gentle reminder that as quickly as he gained the title of my fiancé, he could lose it.
“I couldn’t agree more. But I’d like to hear from Alex.”
“She’s a challenge.” Alex slithered his gaze to mine. “She’s unlike any person I’ve ever known, and she certainly keeps things interesting.”
On the surface, his answer actually wasn’t that bad. But I understood the underlying meaning. If we started a life together, what happened in front of his parents’ house was only a preview of the things to come.
He wanted to beat me into submission.
Even my father had never been that cruel.
I’d take mind games any day over bruises and near-broken bones.
Lincoln swung his attention to me. Discreetly, I shook my head, silently begging him not to ask the same question of me.
“Do you love him?”
I guessed I got what I asked for. A different question. One that was much worse.
My tongue tingled as I forced myself to keep my mouth shut. The automatic answer was easy and desperate to come out.
The lie . . . it was in my brain, but the one word refused to form.
“Where are Lexie and Pepper?” Father asked as if he were regretful they weren’t with us.
He couldn’t care less about their whereabouts. He’d asked for my benefit. A reminder if I didn’t answer properly what that meant for my brothers.
Lincoln’s brows dipped. Teague crossed his arms.
“Mr. Hollingsworth, the dining room is prepared,” Winston said formally.
“Shall we have dinner?” Father portrayed the ultimate host. He pretended other people had a choice in matters when it came to him. But no one did.
Whether it was dinner or marriage, what he said went.
He ushered the Davenports out of the parlor. I remained rooted in place.
