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O-kay. So Shelby and Andrew had become a thing, and he hadn’t exaggerated when he’d welcomed her own husband to the family like he’d been part of it for generations. An acidy sensation spread through her stomach. Maybe if she’d been in touch with Shelby, she’d have pitched in too. But her mother refused her help, and she ended up buying a gift—the voucher for a nice weekend stay at a golfing resort in the hill country—for them.
None of it matters now. “Well, that’s great, Mom. I’m excited for you,” Kira said, injecting energy in her voice.
“Thank you, love,” her mother said, then reached for the potatoes.
“It’s good that Shelby is getting this experience with wedding stuff. Will come in handy when she marries Andrew in a few months,” Aunt Peggy said, then her mother and father immediately shot her a scolding look. Aunt Peggy clapped her hand to her mouth, a shade of red infusing her cheeks. “Oh, I’m sorry. Shouldn’t have had that second glass of wine.”
“Second? More like fourth,” Bill said in a low voice, until someone shushed him.
The little hairs on the back of Kira’s neck stood on end, and she could feel the gazes of her family members on hers. Even Luc’s, who reached for her hand under the table and squeezed it.
Anger stabbed at her. This was her trip to show her family she’d married—she, the loser daughter, the one who had to go and make a life far from them. But then, of course Shelby was one step ahead, already engaged. Her wedding plans would be the next subject for upcoming weeks.
“I’m sorry we didn’t say anything, honey,” Doris said in a soothing voice. “We didn’t want to take the focus off the anniversary party.”
“That’s true. Besides, it just happened last week,” Shelby added.
Kira cleared her throat. God, did she really need to be treated with kid gloves? That had always been Shelby. Kira always bottled things up and moved on. Why should now be different? “I fully understand,” she said. “Congratulations to both of you,” she offered, then forced on a smile in Shelby and Andrew’s direction, without fixing her attention on either of them.
Her mother sighed, then raised her glass. “A toast. To my beautiful daughters.”
Later, she helped her mom load the dishwasher when Shelby walked into the kitchen.
“Hey,” Shelby said. “Can we talk?”
“I’ll go check on everyone else. I know how Peggy loves her wine,” Doris said, then swiftly scurried out of sight.
Kira continued loading the dishes from the sink into the washer, one by one. She felt her sister’s presence at her side, then at last, closed the dishwasher and stood to her full height. She knew at some point they’d have to talk. “What’s up?” she asked Shelby.
“Listen, I’m so sorry. When Mom said you’d come home, I got excited because I wanted to apologize in person for happened between me and Andrew.”
Kira leaned against the counter, folding her arms, watching her sister fidget with her fingers.
“Andrew and I really fell for each other. It wasn’t just sex.”
“Good for you,” Kira said.
“Look, I’m glad you’re happy too. You found a man who loves you. You barely moved to a big city, you have this hot zillionaire who wanted you so much he’d asked you to marry him so soon.”
“Right,” Kira said, averting her gaze. She would rather drop dead than tell the truth to Shelby, even if she had that option. Truth was, as much as she and Luc were smitten with each other, they hadn’t shared a conversation about their future. She hadn’t come clean to him about his father asking questions about him, summoning her at first to keep tabs on him.
And they certainly never chatted about what would happen when their fake marriage came to an end. What would happen after the contract ended? Would they keep it going? He said he fell for her now, but would he still feel the same after learning she was hired to spy on him?
“How are Poppy and Billie doing?” Shelby asked.
“They’re good. Figuring things out.”
Shelby worried her lower lip, then stared at her. “Will things ever be the same between us?”
The same? Kira shook her head, more to herself than her sister. She didn’t want the same—that meant going back to her having to grin and bear things. The words she’d exchanged with Mr. Charles Montague rang in her ears. She’d kept things bottled up for too long. Her pulse skittered. “I don’t want them to be the same, Shelby. I don’t want to be taken for granted anymore. If you want a better relationship than before, I’m open, but it’ll take time, and a hell of a lot more than an apology,” she said, and she meant it.
Shelby withdrew, a flicker of surprise crossing her expression. She probably didn’t expect her sister to stand up for herself. “I… understand,” she said, and Kira wondered if she really did, or only said that to have something to say.
“I hope so,” Kira said.
“Oh my two girls, getting along again…” Doris said, sashaying into the kitchen, making Kira wonder if her mother had listened the entire time. She wouldn’t put it past her. A thread of annoyance worked its way down her spine. “What a great gift!” Doris walked up to them with her arms open, mimicking a group hug, but Kira stepped back, lifting her hand in denial.
“Mom, please, don’t do this,” Kira said. “I forgive Shelby for the whole Andrew thing, sure. But there were issues in our relationship that aren’t going to solve themselves overnight. And if you’re too blind to see it, then I don’t know how to move forward.”
