Page 95 of One Wealthy Wedding

“Don’t take it the wrong way.” She laughs. “He was obsessed with you too. He’d wait for you to appear and try to pretend like he just so happened to be repairing something around the yard with his shirt off. Boys. They’re so transparent.”

I have to laugh, even as shame tangles inside me. We’re fooling her now, just like back then. Theo was never obsessed with me. And he’s not now either. I’m going to be sick. I set my coffee cup down abruptly on the table.

“So, Cat, how about a girls’ day out today?” Theo’s mom asks.

“Excellent idea.” Theo strolls into the living room. He’s wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants that ride low on his hips. I look away before I can think too much about what’s under those sweatpants and how it was pressed up against me.

He kisses his mom on the head and drops onto the couch. “I’m glad you’re spending some quality time together.” His pleasant expression doesn’t meet his eyes, and I’m reminded once again of how Theo hates that his mother likes me.

“I thought we might go to the spa,” Brenda Archer says. “I could use a massage.”

Theo’s face softens when he looks at his mom, but I freeze. I don’t have money for that. Theo sees my panicked look and says, “My treat, of course.”

A wife wouldn’t argue. A wife would happily take the black card Theo is holding out and enjoy herself. Shit. This feels like I’ll owe him, just like I did with the lingerie, but I take the card.

“Thank you, darling. So thoughtful.” My eyes tell a different story. I’ll kill you for this. Hours of uninterrupted time for his mother to interrogate me.

His mouth curves up at the side. Not while my mom is here, you won’t.

I turn to Mrs. Archer. Brenda. “How about family dinner later? We can invite Cole. Theo can cook.” I highly doubt Theo knows how to cook beyond making breakfast.

“Excellent idea.” He grins and jumps up off the couch. “I’ll have Daniel bring the car around. He’ll take you to the spa.”

His mom gets up to gather her things, and I make a neck slicing gesture.

“Oh, baby, you promise?” Theo winks at me.

“I hate you.” I throw up my hands and turn to go.

“You say the sweetest things, princess,” he calls after me.

I might not survive this.

The spa is located in one of Midtown’s poshest hotels, and I love it. The hot tub is deliciously warm, and it’s peaceful and quiet, at least until Mrs. Archer says, “So, Cat, how did you and Theo decide to rekindle things?”

Luckily, there’s a cold compress over my eyes, so I can lie to her without looking. The best lies have some truth to them. I sigh. Hopefully, she thinks it’s a sigh of longing.

“It was inevitable, I think.”

She makes a hum of approval.

“I was in love with him for years.” Truth. My stomach twists. I don’t think I’ve ever admitted this out loud.

“And I…when I got away from my parents, it seemed like the right time to start again.” Not all lies.

“So you and your father…”

“It’s done.”

She makes a disappointed sound. I lift the edge of my cold compress to see her frowning at me. Her lined face is tan from the time she spends gardening, and her normally smiling mouth is pressed in a flat line.

“I wish it weren’t, Cat. You know…he’s not an easy man, but there’s a kernel of goodness deep within. If anyone can unlock it, it’s you.”

She’s been waiting for my dad to change, just like I have been.

I let the compress drop. “I don’t think so. Sometimes it’s better to just let things go.”

“I guess I can’t disagree with that. Did something happen?”

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