Page 38 of Ireland

In under five minutes, she was out the door with her black Birkin slung over one forearm and a muted gold overnight bag gripped in her other hand. She ordered a rideshare pickup on the way down in the elevator. After her parents divorced, her mother moved from their former Dutchess County estate to a condo in Gramercy Park. Her father moved to the Upper West Side near Christopher and his family. Aside from her mother, who’d secured the purchase of a magnificent brownstone as part of the divorce, they all lived in buildings owned by Cross Industries.

It took just over thirty minutes to travel the five miles in morning traffic, giving Ireland time to review her to-do list and weekly reminders.

“Crap,” she muttered under her breath, remembering that she’d meant to call Christopher to talk about Vidal and whatever moves her father might be making to secure more of the company’s privately held shares.

This time, she actually put the reminder on her phone, setting it for later in the afternoon between lunch and dinner. But she’d see about talking to him in the office if he was around when she finally got there. While most of the staff were in the offices all day, she and Christopher often ran all over town.

Once she reached her mother’s place, she was greeted with a warm, strong hug at the door.

“I was beginning to wonder if you forgot,” Elizabeth said over her shoulder, still squeezing her. “Oh, it’s good to see you!”

Ireland grinned and hugged her back just as hard. Because she was in heels and Elizabeth wore ballet flats, she was slightly taller in the embrace, but they were nearly identical in appearance, from the color of their eyes to the sleek length of their hair. Her mother had initially resisted graying, but the fight against silver when your hair was pitch black was too time-consuming. Now, she sported bright white streaks around her hairline and a scattering of tinsel throughout, a natural pattern that looked salon-worthy.

“You act like you don’t see me every other week,” Ireland teased.

“It’s never enough.” Pulling back, Elizabeth studied her, brushing her hair behind her ears. “You must have a big day ahead by the look of you.”

“A bigdate,” she corrected, admiring the off-the-shoulder sweater her mother had pulled on over silk slacks in the same deep amethyst hue.

“Really?”

The surprise on Elizabeth’s face was so pronounced Ireland laughed. “I do spend time with men, you know. I’m not a twenty-nine-year-old virgin.”

“Of course I didn’t think that.” Shutting and locking the door behind them, Elizabeth followed her daughter into the living room, noting the small duffel bag Ireland was carrying. “Is it a destination date?”

“Huh? Oh, no.”

Elizabeth waited for more information, and when none was forthcoming, her interest sharpened. “Aren’t you going to tell me about him?”

“Not yet.” Ireland dropped her bags onto one of the taupe armchairs and passed through to the kitchen. Her mother had decorated the home in Parisian shades of cream, gold, and robin’s egg blue—a palette that flattered her and was soothing to guests. The air was fragranced with notes of citrus and peonies, with the faintest note of coffee that made her mouth water.

Grabbing a mug out of the cabinet, Ireland put it beneath the spout of the coffee machine and selected a mocha latte. “Want something?” she asked, as sounds of building steam and grinding beans filled the air.

“I’m well-caffeinated at this point.” Elizabeth settled onto one of the barstools at the island. “Why be so secretive about your date? Is it someone I know?”

“No. It’s just that tonight is our first overnight together. Things might look different in the morning, and then talking about him would be moot.”

Her mother’s brows raised. “Are you worried he might disappoint you in bed? If so, don’t even take him for a trial run.”

“No. God, no, that’s not a worry whatsoever. My sex drive redlines the minute I lay eyes on him. And his smile is so wicked it’s nearly orgasmic.” Ireland shrugged sheepishly. “I’ve neverbeen so hot for someone, and maybe that kind of heat burns out fast.”

“Hmm…”

“Maybe we’ll wake up agreeing that we’ve scratched that itch into oblivion. Then we’ll just be acquaintances who tangoed together once.”

And there was part of her that hoped for that resolution. A wild, incendiary night followed by a good-bye as smooth and warm as his drawl. No more pining or hoping or worrying.

“But he might be my date on Friday,” Ireland admitted cautiously, refusing to feel optimistic about that possibility. “If so, you’ll get to meet him.”

“Well, I’ll be dying of curiosity until then.”

But Elizabeth was more than curious. Gideon also hadn’t brought any romantic interests around the family aside from the two women he’d been engaged to, one of whom he married. Elizabeth loved Corinne, but the temperature of her relationship with Eva was frostier. She prayed that Ireland would follow Christopher’s example instead and make sure her partner fit in with the family before committing to anything permanent. Or semipermanent, as the case may be.

Ireland kicked off her heels and leaned forward to rest her elbows on the island. “So… what are you thinking about for your big day?”

“Oh, no. We’re not digging into wedding planning yet. Your brother has to negotiate the prenup first.” Elizabeth waved a careless hand. “Can’t have Daniel thinking of me as afait accomplibefore Gideon gets that finalized.”?

Blinking in surprise, Ireland straightened slowly. “Mom, if you’ve got any concerns, you shouldn’t?—”

---