Page 10 of Scandalous Park Avenue Prince

“You pretending we didn’t kiss? Or that you didn’t enjoy it?”

I gritted my teeth and sucked in a breath, pinching the bridge of my nose in an effort to calm myself. “I’m not talking to you about this.”

“Why not? I’m the one that was there.”

“I know.” The two words came out much harsher than I’d anticipated, but what did he expect? I was doing my level best to get through this meeting and get him the hell out of my office. But he kept pushing and pushing.

“Then why can’t we talk about it?”

“Because you’re my daughter’sboyfriend,” I snapped, letting out a sigh as I ran a hand through my hair. The weight of what I’d just said, the guilt of that one confession, twisted in my gut like a knife.

“Am I?”

My head jerked up, and I glared at the gorgeous face watching me with laser focus. “What does that mean?”

Preston’s lips curved into a smile I didn’t quite understand as he scooped up the papers on my desk and then turned for his bag. As he slung the strap over his shoulder, he slipped the papers inside and turned back to where I still stood, frozen in place, waiting for…

Fuck if I knew.

“What does that mean, Preston?”

“It means that before you start delegating me to others, you should talk to your daughter. Because if that’s all that’s stopping you from taking what you clearly want—and yeah, I know whena man wants me—then maybe Serena should come clean about what’s really going on between us.”

What was he talking about? Him and Serena had been a couple for years. None of this made any sense. How would he know if amanwanted him? ThatIwanted him?

I was confused, irritated, and undeniably turned on as he patted his bag.

“I’ll get to work on this list and see you on Monday to talk figures,Mr. Carrington.”

TWO

preston

“HAVE YOU GIVEN any more thought to coming down to D.C. next term?” my father asked the next evening as he signed the check at the ultra-exclusive Fin.

I repressed a sigh as I reached for my wine glass and drained the rest of the final pairing we’d gotten with our chef’s menu dinner. My father, Senator Fredrick Abernathy, had been asking the same question for all three years I’d been at Astor, and other than a few quick weekend trips, I’d managed to avoid going down there. It wasn’t exactly all fun and games in the political world, and spending summers in Europe or on a beach with my friends was far more entertaining.

I’d be following in his footsteps soon enough. I didn’t need to spend the rest of my college years commuting to network with his colleagues.

Serena’s hand found mine on the table, giving me a reassuring squeeze. Thank God I had someone in my life who actually knew me well enough to know D.C. was the last place I wanted to be right now.

I set my glass back on the table and cleared my throat. “I’m not sure. I haven’t received my final course schedule yet, and I’vepromised Mr. Carrington I’d head up a committee for the winter and spring events at Elysium.”

My mother looked up, a pleased smile on her elegant face. “That’s wonderful, dear.”

She wouldn’t think so if she knew what I really wanted to do with Mr. Carrington.

“He can do both,” my father said gruffly, getting to his feet, which meant the rest of us could finally do the same. “An Abernathy man has to be able to juggle. Elysium is important, but running the country is incomparable.”

Buttoning my suit jacket, I nodded and kept my mouth shut. It was better that way, and it would have my father thinking I silently agreed with him.

“Thank you so much for the wonderful evening,” Serena said as I helped her into her peacoat. When my mother came around the table, Serena gently took hold of her arms to kiss both her cheeks, and then she let go to shake my father’s hand.

Pride beamed from both of my parents as they smiled at the two of us. Serena was so perfect at this role, the embodiment of an ideal partner.

“You’re more than welcome.” My father brought her left hand up to plant a kiss there, and then looked pointedly at me. “Perhaps this Christmas will bring you something large and sparkling for this hand, hmm?”

My heart began to pound at the thought of an engagement, but Serena only gave a coy chuckle and pulled her hand away from my father to grab mine.

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