Page 143 of Grand Love

“Mr Hemmings.” She nods to Rupert politely.

“I heard you had a kid. But nobody told me his mother was such a fine beauty. A dance later, Miss Anderson?” His eyes rake down her body, pausing on her chest for a second too long.

“Mason, can I have a minute with you?” Nina asks with a smile. “In private.”

In my head, my fist is already on the side of Hemming’s jaw, but as Nina squeezes my hand and pulls me to the bar, I begin to relax a little.

“You know it would be extremely rude to beat your own guests,” she tells me.

“They aren’t my guests,” I grit out, my anger subsiding as I look down at Ellis. “Hey, mate.” I lean in and kiss his head.

“He’s super tired. I’ll take him to bed in a little while,” Nina says, rubbing his back.

“I thought Vinny was doing it?” I signal for the barman then bring my eyes to Nina. My throat catches as I take her in fully. “You look fucking beautiful, Angel.”

She tries to hide her blush from me, dropping her head then lifting it and saying, “I said I would do it so Vinny can enjoy himself. He deserves a night off and I don’t mind.”

“And I said you look fucking beautiful, Angel.”

Her lips twist up into the sweetest smile, and my heart somersaults in my chest because I put it there. “Thank you.”

“Do you want a drink?”

She nods.

“Who invited Cooper cunting Hemmings?” Elliot tsks, sliding up to the bar along with Lance, George, and Charlie.

“Elliot!” Nina scolds.

“Shit, I forgot about Baby Ell.” He lifts Ellis from my arms and sits him on the bar top. “I think he looks more like you today, Lowell.”

“He looks exactly like Mason,” Nina corrects.

“Nah, he has your lighter, brown eyes. It’s that frown he does with his brows that’s Lowell to a T.”

We all chuckle as Ellis frowns harder. Exactly like me.

“That’s fucking funny.”

I lean in, taking Ellis and shaking my head at Elliot. “Watch your mouth,” I warn.

“Here she is!” Elliot grins, pulling Scarlet into a tight hug as she nears with Megan in tow. “The brains and beauty of the family.”

“I need a drink!” Scarlet huffs. “I feel like if I stop I’m going to fall asleep at this point.”

“Everything is perfect, Scarlet,” Charlie tells her, leaning in and kissing her cheek.

Lance hands her a drink and then throws her a wink.

Then she turns to me, and I worry it will be awkward but it’s Scarlet and she doesn’t allow it, pushing her arms through mine and around my back she pulls me in for a hug.

“They would have loved this tonight,” I whisper into her ear.

“Yeah?” she asks.

“Yeah. Mum was all about this kind of thing, and Dad lived to entertain.”

“Thank you for coming, Mason.”

---