Page 61 of And Then There Was Us
“Yes, but sometimes it’s not what you say. It’s how you say it.” Her mother hugged her again.
It’s not what you say. It’s how you say it. Shoot.She’d spent the afternoon in a tizzy of worry over nothing. Every word Hugh said over the phone, every text he sent, was laden with love. She had been too worried to see them for what they were. He didn’t need to hammer home the idea that he wanted to marry her with those very words. He’d already done it in a hundred different ways. Everything was happening crazy fast, and even if he wanted to slow things down, that wouldn’t mean that he felt any differently about her.
“I know, Mom.”
“Okay, well, you didn’t tell me how romantic he was.” Jean brushed Brianna’s hair from her face.
“I know. I still can hardly believe it.”
“Well, I fed Layla, and I hope tonight is wonderful for all of you.”
Brianna wondered where they were going that evening. Hugh had texted earlier and said to dress up and to feed Layla a little something before he picked them up.
“It sounds like this is serious. How do you feel about him?” Her mother searched her eyes, and as her mother’s hand flew to her mouth, Brianna knew she’d seen the answer written all over her face. “Brianna, you love him,” she said from behind her hand.
Heat spread up her neck and cheeks. She held her mother’s gaze and nodded.
“Oh, Bree!” She wrapped her arms around Brianna and whispered, “Do I ever get to meet him?”
“Maybe Thursday. At Layla’s party, if that’s okay?”
Layla walked into the kitchen. “What’s happening at my party?”
Brianna and her mother exchanged a smile. Brianna crouched down to speak to Layla. “Would you mind if Prince Hugh came to your birthday party?”
“I would like that.” She spun in a circle with her arms out to the sides. “Are you going to kiss him?”
Jean covered her mouth and said quietly, “I forgot to tell you that she’s been very focused on you kissing yourspecial friend.”
“I’ll try not to, Layla.”But I’m not making any promises.
Chapter Thirty-One
FRESHLY SHOWERED AND dressed in a tuxedo, Hugh stood in the expansive walkout basement of his house. His legs were planted hip distance apart, his arms crossed, muscles flexed. The room was perfectly appointed with rich furniture and a seventy-two-inch television, complete with surround sound and two smaller televisions on either side of the larger one so he could watch multiple shows at once. It was a media setup that most guys would love. Hugh never watched television. He read sports updates on his phone and couldn’t stand to sit and stare at a television. Before Brianna, books had held his attention. Now even his reading time was minimal—and that was just fine with him.
The carpet still looked model-home new, and the walls were a pristine color that hovered between latte and cream. A fully stocked mahogany bar graced the corner of the room, and beyond that, the entrance to the gym stood ajar. The nine-foot ceilings and wall of French doors overlooking the perfectly manicured lawn and gardens gave the room an airy, open feel, and still, it felt flat. Lifeless. Stale.
He imagined a large coffee table, five feet wide and close to the floor. Something Layla could kneel beside and play her games or color, or whatever put a sweet smile on her lips. He had been roaming the house for the last hour mentally redecorating. Fitting Brianna and Layla into his life. He walked upstairs and into the office that he never used. It was far too big for an office and would be better suited as two rooms, a library and a darkroom for Brianna’s photography, which he hoped she’d one day have time to enjoy. She was too good at it to let her talents go to waste.
Hugh pulled out his cell phone and called his father as he crossed the living room.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hugh. How’s my boy?” Hal Braden’s deep voice never failed to bring a smile to Hugh’s lips and fill his mind with warm memories.
“Good, Dad. I miss you. How are you doing?” Hugh had been thinking about his father, remembering the way his father used to chide him for riding the horses hard and fast.If I were that horse, I’d buck your butt right off.
“I’m good. The ranch is going along well. Construction is done on Treat and Max’s house. It’s gorgeous, of course. Leave it to Treat to create a spectacular living space, and Max has put some real nice finishing touches on it. Rex and Jade’s place is equally as beautiful. You’ll see them when you come out next weekend for Savannah’s engagement party. You are coming, aren’t you?”
His brothers had both bought property in Weston, and now, as Hugh thought about his family, he wondered why he owned seven houses and not a single one in Weston. He thought about logistics, mulling over the distance to the airport, race locations, and, of course, Brianna and Layla. Would they want to move away? Their friends were in Richmond, and Brianna’s mother lived there, too. He pushed the thoughts away for now and returned his attention to his father.
“Yeah. I’m coming. Is it okay if I bring someone? Two people, actually?” He settled into the couch.
“You can bring anyone you want; you know that. It’s always been your choice. Why would this be any different?”
He knew perfectly well that his father had already put two and two together. But just as his father would never tell him what to do with his life, he would walk with the same cautiousness around matters of Hugh’s heart. “I don’t know. I guess because it’s Savannah’s engagement party. Maybe I should call her and ask if she’d mind.” He ran his hand through his hair.
“Probably a good idea, though I can’t imagine she’d give a hoot.”
