Page 142 of One Wealthy Wedding

“I think,” I say slowly, “that I’m in danger of making a very bad mistake.” I take an unsteady gulp of champagne.

Both women sit up straighter.

“Go on,” Lane says warily.

I look at both of them, so confident and strong in their relationships and in themselves. “I’m falling for him.” I look at Lane while I say this, my throat tight.

It’s Callie who sucks in a little breath. “You’re not happy about it?” she asks. “I mean, I don’t know you that well, but you don’t seem happy about it.”

“I can’t fall for him.” I sound desperate. I feel desperate.

“Because it’s fake?” Callie asks.

“Because you loved him before, and he broke your heart,” Lane says quietly.

“That.” I nod. “It was stupid. I was young, and so was he, but he walked away. And you guys know how he behaved in the interim. Years of seeing him all over the tabloids convinced me that we never would have worked, that I wasn’t good enough, and that he wasn’t loyal enough to make a relationship work anyway. And now—” I swallow. “I think I might have been wrong.”

“Shit,” Callie says.

That soft curse makes me smile. “Yeah, shit.”

“I don’t understand why that’s so bad,” Lane says.

“You’re a hopeless romantic,” Callie responds. “I was exactly where Cat is now just six months ago. Men don’t change, right?”

“People don’t change. Just look at my father. I’ve been waiting for him to change for years.” I bite my lip. “Except it seems, maybe, like Theo has. Or maybe I didn’t see him clearly. Either way, if I fall for him…I can’t fall for him.” Resolve strengthens my voice. “I can’t.”

“But what if you do?” Lane points out. “Would it be terrible?”

“I’d always be waiting for him to leave. This marriage has an end date. I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“You should talk to him,” Callie says. “You never know what a good conversation might reveal. I was scared too, you know.” She gives me a small smile. “I was convinced Jonah’s life would consume mine. It happened with my ex, and I wanted no part of that again. But he showed me that he was different and that he was willing to make sacrifices for me. He leaves work at five now so we can walk home together. He always lets me pick the restaurant and where we go on vacation, and when I tell him he’s being a jerk, he apologizes immediately. Sorry.” Her smile turns sheepish. “You didn’t need to hear all that.”

“I agree.” Lane sips her champagne thoughtfully. “Talk to him. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I suck in a breath. There are worse things than falling in love with Theo. Like being married to Theo forever and never earning the respect of the board members at Peterson International. Like newspapers assuming I’m just another pampered wife playing with a pet company. I need to make it on my own. And if Theo’s there in the shadows, my triumph will be diluted in everyone’s eyes. In my father’s eyes.

“I don’t think he’s as bad as he pretends,” Lane says. She shrugs. “For what it’s worth. Though I haven’t known him that long or that well.”

“He seems like a bit of an outsider, no?” Callie asks.

“I think he feels that way,” I confirm before I wince. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“What does that mean?” Lane asks. She’s frowning. “I won’t say anything, but I think Miles would be upset to hear that. Theo’s younger than him, and he sees him like a little brother.”

“He’s made some comments to me.” I settle deeper into the couch. “Comments that he thinks he’s only a pretty face. Or not smart enough to really be a full partner in the business.”

“That’s not true,” Callie says. “Jonah talks to me all the time about how glad he is that Theo is back. He’s really worried about the expansion, and he says there’s no one better to handle it.”

The words spark hope in my heart. For Theo, who deserves this more than anyone.

“You’re down bad,” Lane says.

Callie laughs. I cut Lane a look and sigh. “You might be right. Why do I even care so much about his stupid business?”

“Like I said.” Lane grins at me. “How was yachting?”

I blush and take a big gulp of champagne to cool myself.

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