Page 55 of Accidental Fiancé

There was no one around, so I didn’t know who he was pitching this to. But we had talked about it beforehand, and unless we were behind closed doors, we were going to play our roles as best we could.

“I suppose not.” I walked in as he held the door for me.

The bedroom was bigger than my old apartment. A sitting area and bookshelves made up one side while the bed and an enormous fireplace filled the other. Our luggage sat near the books. I glanced outside the window and spotted lemon trees lined up with lush greenery in between. They smelled wonderful.

I faced him. “Was your mom trying to get you laid by giving you this bedroom?”

“I doubt it. This has been my room since I was a boy. I don’t think she had that in mind when she decided this would be my space.”

“I know you call this place home, but Julian, this isn’t a home. It’s a hotel.”

He laughed and shrugged. “Home is where the heart is, right?”

“That’s what they say.”

“We should probably catch up to the others in the lounge and see what terror Piper has wreaked on her cousins.”

“She’s the troublemaker out of the kids?”

“At times.” My body tightened as he came closer. “Before we go, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate you being here, appreciate you doing this for me. I know I’m paying you for your time, but thank you, Maggie, really.”

It felt like the perfect kissing moment, but since we weren’t doing that, I chucked his shoulder instead. “Anytime, pal. Ready to catch up with your family?”

“Sure.”

The lounge was on the first floor in the other wing. As it turned out, the house had three—east, west, and north. The remaining area consisted of the pool. At first glance it did not appear to be anything out of the ordinary. But upon closer inspection, it was enormous. His grandfather had insisted on an Olympic-sized regulation pool for his home, so the house wasbuilt around that feature. In addition, there were two jacuzzis, a water slide, and a lazy river. Similar to what Julian had in his home but on a much larger scale.

I was caught up in the grandeur of my surroundings as we walked into the high-ceilinged lounge when a distinct voice cut through the din of people chatting over cocktails. “Oh my God, Maggie, how are you?”

No, no, no.

Talons gripped my shoulder and turned me around. There, smiling like evil incarnate, was Chloe Foster.

My brain shorted out, and I stammered, “Wha-what are you doing here, Chloe?”

“You’re such a kidder,” she said, hugging me. “I’m sure Artemis is thrilled to have such a funny future daughter-in-law. Oops, did I let the cat out of the bag?”

“Chloe,” Julian said sharply. “Why are you here?”

“Don’t you ever talk to your cousins? I’m dating Marcus.” She lowered her voice, “It’s gotten serious, so he invited me.”

I muttered to myself, “What fresh hell is this?”

She laughed. “Come, I’ll introduce you.”

“No, Chloe, that’s my job,” Julian said firmly. “Thanks, but no thanks. See you around.” He whisked me away to a corner by the bar. “Cocktails, then we figure out a game plan, okay? Don’t quit on me now.”

But I wasn’t quitting. There was a difference between quitting and understanding you were outmaneuvered. “She’ll tell. She must know something.”

He leaned in close to my ear. “She doesn’t know shit other than we pawed each other at the reunion. If anything, this sells the story. Can you handle her, or do we need to create a dying relative of yours as an exit excuse?”

From across the room, Chloe’s laughter shot through me. Instantly, I assumed it was about me though chances wereprobable it wasn’t. That was the trouble with bullies, they made it impossible to stop thinking about the next time they’d attack.

I had decided at the reunion that I had ceded enough territory to Chloe over the years and that was over. I wasn’t going back.

I drew a quick breath. “I’m good. Get me a cocktail, and I’ll be golden.”

He smiled slyly. “On it.”

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