Page 84 of The Charmer

I decided to leave Georgie be and check up on my mom instead. On the way, I instructed my assistant to pick up the masks from the hotel next week. Mom’s gallery wasn’t far, and she was working today because she was receiving a big shipment from New York. I was certain she could use my muscles. She was always extra careful when it came to loading and unloading paintings because of her back issues. She usually called to ask if I had time to spare, and I wondered why she hadn't this time. She’d probably figured I'd be sleeping the whole day away after the party.

I bought her a coffee on the way, but not from Maria's. I couldn’t dodge the woman's questions if I was alone.

There was a lot of commotion inside Mom’s gallery when I arrived. A truck was in front with her delivery, and I whistled when I saw its contents. That was a lot of paintings they were unloading. I knew the layout of her gallery by heart, and I instantly knew she didn't have space to show all of them.

"Morning," I said, stopping next to her. She was on the sidewalk, coordinating the crew unloading the paintings.

"Oh my goodness! Julian, I didn't see you."

"I figured. Coffee?"

Mom immediately took the cup from me. "Thank you. I worked myself into such a frenzy this morning, I forgot to have one."

"I know. You always do when you have a delivery. Want me to jump in and help?"

"Actually, I'd prefer you here on the ground with me, keeping an eye on things.”

"I'm at your service."

She looked at me intently, smiling even though she was clearly still anxious over all the commotion. "I thought you'd be sleeping in today."

"I had an early start. It surprised me too."

"That start took you by Maria's coffee shop?"

I jerked my head. "How would you know that? You said you didn’t have coffee."

"No, but Chad went there to get coffee for himself and Scarlett. Maria told him you showed up with someone who looked a lot like Georgie."

"Chad told you that?"

"No, that was Isabeau. She also passed by the coffee shop."

I was laughing in earnest now. "I'm glad I didn't run into anyone while I was there with Georgie. That would've made things awkward."

Mom beamed. "Oh, honey. You know, none of us bought your story when Beckett told us."

"What do you mean?"

"About you and Georgie faking things."

"It wasn't a story. Our plan was—”

"I'm not questioning if that was your intention. But the way you spoke about her at brunch indicated that you already cared about her.” I said nothing, and Mom nudged me. "I'm happy about it. Everyone is."

"Everyone?"

"Your brothers sort of probably know more than they let on. And your grandmothers gave Georgie a perfume with lilac, so clearly they’re thrilled."

I sighed. "Aren't we all getting a bit too old to still believe that story?"

Mom gave me a full-on grin. "You say that, but it did work, didn't it?"

"It wasn't the... Ah, I give up." When Mom or the grandmothers started with the lilac, there was no stopping them. They believed it worked. Who was I to argue with them? Besides, this was New Orleans. Believing lilac had powers was the least of it.

She hesitated before adding in a lowered voice, "You've always been a bit of a loner. You're like me that way. And you have a mind of your own."

"Well, as you said, I take after you."

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