Page 36 of False Pretenses

Then she remembered. Of course, Cullen had mentioned being a chauffeur. Stupid. And he’d been dressed up because many of the rich families required their servants to wear a uniform. Why had he gotten out of the car and gone inside, though? Maybe he knew Aziz or Nathan’s chauffeur and wanted to shoot the breeze with them until time to drive his employer home. Of all the dumb luck, though, that he’d work for her.

“Alyssa?” Nathan stood above her. She hadn’t seen him move.

“I didn’t see. They were inside before I got out here.” That bought her a little more time to think this through. She’d told Cullen they couldn’t see each other, and she’d done nothing wrong. Not exactly. Yet, knowing it didn’t stop the guilt and nerves fighting each other in her belly.

When Nathan was dressed, they descended the stairs to the first floor together. He held her hand and drew her to his side when they reached the bottom. Voices from the living room led them in that direction, and Alyssa drew in a deep breath. Her balance off, Nathan had to tighten his hold a couple times, and she felt his gaze on her but refused to look up at him.

“Are you okay?” he whispered. “You’re not getting sick?”

“No, I’m fine.” Her heart hammered until she wondered if he heard it.

They entered the living room to find everyone present, including Cullen. The man’s blue gaze snapped to hers, but not a lick of recognition shone in their depths. The friendly smile did not waver.

“Oh, here is Nathan and his sweetheart now,” Lydia chirped.

The woman at Cullen’s side was indeed Piper’s lover, but as much as she smiled, Alyssa sensed her anger. Why should she be angry when they were finally admitting to the relationship? From Lydia’s open happiness and Leo’s calm acceptance, the two women should be relieved.

“Cullen, of course you know Nathan, but this is Alyssa,” Lydia went on. “Alyssa, this is Cullen, Piper’s boyfriend she’s been keeping a secret from the entire family.”

“No way,” Alyssa blurted.

“Hell no,” Nathan growled.

All conversation stopped, and the fake smiles from the younger people died away. Nathan glared at Cullen as if he was two seconds off rearranging his face. Piper clenched her hands at her sides, scowling back at her brother. The girlfriend—what was her name?—seemed just a bit in love with Nathan at that moment. Alyssa tried processing what she’d just heard around her own rising anger.

“You know each other?” she repeated.

“Of course.” This time Leo spoke from his seat near the window. “The James’s and the Cordes have known each other for years. Their vacation home is not far from here, and they have holdings out of New York.”

“Smaller holdings,” Nathan found need to add.

Cullen’s jaw twitched. She figured Nathan had made the dig on purpose. So there had to be history between them. Well, the lying bastard deserved that and more, making her think they were on the same level, trying to make it in the world.

Lydia came over and swatted Nathan’s arm. “Now, don’t you start, Nathan. I know you two had a little tiff years ago, but it’s all water under the bridge. I just wish your parents were in town, Cullen, so they could have come over. Oh, where are my manners? This young lady is Cullen’s sister, Emma. Everyone sit down. Let’s have drinks. Talia?”

They took their seats, Nathan all but pulling Alyssa onto his lap. He wound an arm around her shoulders and sealed her to his side. She shifted in her seat to get more comfortable, noting how Emma was just about to take the love seat with Piper but instead took an armchair. Cullen parked his stocky frame next to Piper, and neither seemed happy about it.

Alyssa welcomed the cosmopolitan she’d requested and took a huge drink to settle her nerves. Nathan claimed her free hand, lacing his fingers between hers. She frowned up at him. What was with the overaffection all of a sudden? Did Cullen threaten him with his presence? She needed to set the man straight. Cullen no longer interested her in the least.

“How long have you two been seeing each other?” Leo asked Cullen and Piper. His daughter paled and remained mute. Cullen opened his mouth to answer, but Nathan released Alyssa and leaned forward.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s not going to continue long.”

“I think I can decide who I date, Nathan,” Piper snapped.

“Really?” Ellen chimed in.

Alyssa grabbed Nathan’s arm and whispered in his ear, “Do you think now is the time to voice your disapproval of the relationship?” She flicked her gaze in Leo’s direction, and the fight left her lover in a heartbeat.

“You’re right. I apologize, Dad, Mom, for my rudeness.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes. He didn’t feel the need to excuse himself to Cullen or his sister. Piper’s red cheeks said she didn’t appreciate the slight, and Alyssa saw a flash of something in Cullen’s eyes. She was so over this dinner already, and they hadn’t yet sat down to eat.

“Dinner is served, Mrs. Corde,” Talia announced.

Lydia stood up. “Let’s go in, everybody.”

Aziz assisted Leo, and when Alyssa stood, she found Cullen at her elbow. His smile transformed his handsome face. “Can I take you in?”

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