Page 40 of Just One Look

Liz did her best to muffle a laugh. If she could ignore their money, these people were just like everyone else, and Lila Baron could have been any mother or grandmother on the planet.

“I’m sorry.” Claire, another of Devlin’s sisters, plopped into an overstuffed easy chair. “But when I spotted her limping out of the ballroom, I had to bite my cheeks not to yell out a cheer.”

“Claire.” Lila Baron frowned at her granddaughter.

“Sorry, Grams, but it’s true.” Claire smiled impishly at the family matriarch.

“I can do y’all one better.” Cooper smiled from where he was seated. “It seems the bara…uh…Courtney is slinking away with her tail between her legs. Donna Klein overheard her exclaim that she’d decided to accept an invitation to visit some Contessa in Spain. Something about being better suited to real royalty, not just a name.”

“Brother.” Craig put his glass on the table. “That woman can’t resist getting in one more dig, can she?”

“Well. However you look at it,” the Governor finally spoke up, “at least she’s out of everyone’s hair.”

“For now,” Emily added. “I have a terrible feeling all of Europe is going to want to send her back sooner than later. No refunds, no exchanges.”

The whole room broke into laughter and Liz couldn’t help but think her sister was probably right. It might take a few years, but that woman would find a way to come home in triumph, probably showing off a prince or duke for a spouse. At least, Liz had one thing Courtney the barracuda would never have… Devlin.

The entire fundraising afternoon had been a whirlwind. When Courtney went after Liz, Devlin understood the true meaning of the old expression seeing red. He honestly thought he could rip the woman limb from limb no matter how his parents and grandparents had raised him. After that it took all his self-control not to follow Liz around like white on rice. All he could think of was keeping her safe.

Learning Courtney of the many last names had decided to leave the country hadn’t been the only good news Devlin had received today. A short while ago, Stuart informed Devlin that the restaurant owner was no longer under suspicion for burning down his own business. The investigation had tracked down the real culprit. A former employee, who’d been fired for dipping into the till, wanted to get even with Stuart for giving him a poor reference, or two. The idiot was lucky no one was seriously injured or worse. At least now the guy would be guaranteed a roof over his head, three square meals a day, and wouldn’t be needing references for a very long time.

So distracted by all the unexpected events as well as the rousing success of the auction, Devlin had almost forgotten his surprise.

“So, what’s the bottom line?” The Governor looked to his bride of decades.

Comfortably seated in her favorite chair with Honey the dog, as usual, by her side, Grams reached for a stack of papers. “The initial numbers are pretty darn good. Of course, we occasionally have people who couldn’t come send funds later, or even folks who were here and didn’t win anything decide to spend anyhow, but for now, are you ready?”

Heads nodded.

“Two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, give or take a few.”

Smiles and cheers erupted.

“Does Stuart know?” Devlin had invited the restaurant owner and family friend to attend and help schmooze his patrons as well as attendees who had never dined at the Steer’s Den. Stuart had been his charming self, but once the bidding started, his nerves kicked in and he opted to go put some elbow grease into the new space while waiting for the news.

Grams nodded. “I phoned him myself with the numbers. He was so excited, he couldn’t stop thanking us.”

“Who knows.” Devlin shrugged. “Maybe, if he likes it enough, the temporary move can be permanent.”

Cooper glanced his way. “I never did find out where it is. Is it a viable spot?”

“Very. The penthouse restaurant that had been there went belly up two years ago. Great location, lousy management. With all the new development we’ve been doing in the old design district, it would be an even better spot for him than the building he’d been in.”

“Sounds like a win win to me.” Coop nodded.

Seated next to him on the sofa, Liz leaned heavily into his shoulder and smiled up at him. “Do you always fix everyone’s problems?”

“All I can do is try. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.” He chuckled. “Once in a blue moon it all blows up in our faces, but those are stories for another day. Today is a day to celebrate. Stuart has the funds to get everyone back on their feet, the arson squad can investigate for as long as they want, but we know Stuart didn’t do it for the insurance money. Courtney is probably already packed for a trip across the pond.”

“Lord, if she does land a titled husband, she’s going to be impossible when she returns.”

“Ifshe returns.” He certainly wouldn’t mind if Courtney fell in love with a duke or earl and settled happily into the aristocratic life, leaving all the eligible bachelors in Texas alone. Including his cousins.

The chatter in the room grew an octave as the family rehashed for the umpteenth time how much fun they all had watching Liz take down Courtney.

“Come with me a minute.” Devlin took hold of her hand and pushed to his feet.

Outside on the same spot they’d stood earlier, Devlin pulled a key out of his pocket.

---