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Fuck, this complicates things.
I think about the implications of being with a woman that Asher used to date, and it doesn’t look good. Especially not after I saw the way he was looking at her. I’m pretty sure he still has feelings for her. I’m getting angry all over again because she willingly agreed to go on a date with him.
My mind whirls with all the possibilities and the chances of this happening. How did she date Asher so long ago, then end up in my house out of the blue?
“You realize how this looks right?”
Her eyes meet mine, annoyance swirling in their blue depths. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know Asher. Prior to the time he left for his travels, it seems.”
“Your point?”
“I’m not trying to accuse you of anything, Juliette,” I state, “but did you approach me intentionally? Because you knew Asher’s my stepson. Is that it? Is that what’s going on here?”
It sure as fuck feels like she doesn’t care about me as much as I do her. If she did, she would have let go of her grievances from earlier. She would have been here with me today. I needed her.
The second I catch sight of the hurt in her eyes, regret slams into me. I hate getting angry. Because when I get mad, I say stupid things. This is one of such times, as is clear by the look in her eyes. I didn’t mean that, so why did I say it? I know she would never do that.
“Juliette,” I say softly, stepping toward her.
She places her hand in front to stop me. “No, I really don’t want to talk to you right now,” she says sharply.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t you have a party to attend?” she asks, looking away from me.
“I didn’t mean what I said,” I say softly, taking a step closer.
She takes one back and suddenly, I’m caging her in my arms and trying to get her to look at me.
“Firefly,” I whisper, “don’t be mad. I can’t take you being mad at me right now.”
Juliette’s blue eyes look up to meet mine and there are unshed tears gleaming in them. It feels like a punch to my gut. I hate that I did that to her.
She nods jerkily. “I got it. Now, let me go. I’m tired and I want to go home.”
“You’re going to the mansion,” I tell her.
She shakes her head fervently. “I’ll sleep at the hotel.”
“Listen to me,” I say firmly, placing my hand on her chin and lifting her face gingerly so she’s looking at me. “You’re going to go home and you’re going to sleep, and as soon as I’m done here, I’ll come meet you. I’ll have the driver take you and the twins home. We’ll talk tomorrow morning, okay?”
She hesitates for a second before letting out a breath and nodding. “Alright, fine. You never take no for an answer,” she mutters.
I lean forward and kiss the top of her forehead. “That’s my girl.”
We both walk out of the closet and head to the front of the party. Juliette glances in uncomfortably, and I realize the auction is already underway. A lot of Kathy’s artist friends donated paintings for the auction tonight, some expensive artifacts I’ve collected over the years are also up for sale.
For the briefest moment, I considered displaying some of Kathy’s paintings and maybe auctioning them off. But they’re mine. Kathy never really showed off her paintings when she was alive. They were special to her and they’re special to me, too.
“Do you want to go in?” I ask her and she shakes her head.
“No, I’d rather go home.”
She waits while I enter the room to retrieve Mason and Madison. They’re with Asher and some of their cousins. Kathy’s sister, Melinda, has two kids of her own. Two teen girls. I’m not all that close to Melinda or the girls and neither are my kids. They live in Denmark and we don’t see each other often. I also get the sense that Melinda still harbors some enmity toward me. I feel bad that the twins only get to see the girls on a day like today, though.
“Mase, Mads, it’s time to go,” I announce when they walk over to me.
