Page 57 of Puck and Prejudice

Mom looks at me as if my question offends her. “Lorena’s son. Surely you remember my best friend from Seville.”

“Oh, I remember her. I don’t remember her son, though.”

“Well, I was hoping you’d show him around the ranch, Izzie. He loves horses, and he’s thinking about buying a ranch nearby.”

My stomach coils tightly. Now that Jane is off the market, I’m not surprised Mom has turned her matchmaking focus on me.

“Isn’t Colombo a lawyer in Seville?” Jane asks. “He’s not moving to Miami, is he?”

Mom shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe if he had a reason to stay...”

I give her a droll look. “He’s a lawyer, Mom. He can’t simply start practicing in another country.”

She waves a hand dismissively. “As I was saying, I can’t uninvite him.”

“Colombo is pretty much family. He can join us at Chad’s party,” Dad replies.

Family? How can he be family if I don’t even know what he looks like? I glance at Jane to see her reaction. She looks at me, clearly panicked.

“Oh, that’s an excellent idea, cariño.” Mom beams.

“Mom, you can’t be serious,” I argue.

“I’m very serious. What’s the big deal? The more the merrier.”

“I’m invited to the party too, right?” Lydia chimes in.

“Of course.” Jane reaches for the coffee creamer.

“Sweet! Who else besides Chad’s relatives will be there?”

“Only Jackson,” I reply.

“See? It’s not only family going to the party,” Mom pipes up with an air of triumph.

Lydia’s smiles wilts, and her shoulders slump. “Really? No other hockey players?”

I narrow my eyes. “Why do you care if other hockey players are going? They’re all too old for you.”

She frowns. “Not the Kaminski twins.”

“They both have girlfriends,” Jane replies.

Lydia arches a brow. “So?”

I shake my head. “Even if they were single, they wouldn’t go anywhere near you. You’re only sixteen.”

She crosses her arms. “Whatever.”

I’m glad that this get-together is for family only, with the exception of a few strays like Jackson and now Colombo. Lydia is boy crazy, and being jailbait won’t stop her from flirting with the players she finds attractive. I have to keep an eye on her.

Mom stands up. “I need to get ready.”

Dad’s brows arch. “It’s only nine, dear. You have plenty of time.”

“No, I don’t.” She walks away in a hurry, and Dad lets out a resigned sigh.

“What should I wear?” Lydia asks. “And does Chad have a pool? Should I bring my bathing suit?”

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