Page 33 of The Rented Bride

He laughed. “True. I’m glad you like it. After all, it’s your home now.”

“My home?” she blurted.

He gave her a quizzical look as he guided her around a group of people and headed down the hall toward the dining room. “Of course. You’ll be living here.”

“It’s just that I have to get back to Miami for, uh, some upcoming parties we booked.”

A few people filled plates at the buffet. Servers stood behind sterling silver chafing dishes. Mr. Weston stopped at the end of the buffet line.

“I’m amazed my grandson kept you a secret for so long,” James said.

“Yes.” She could agree with that. “But he worries about you. You’re all the family he has.” She tried to remember every word Trent had spoken. She didn’t want to think about the chaos that would ensue—or Trent’s anger—should she mix up details.

“I know he worries,” James said. “And he is all the family I have.”

They reached the table and picked up plates, then filled them. He smiled at her as they settled at one of the many tables draped in fine white linen. “Until now.” He touched her cheek. “Young lass, such a pretty thing. You and Trent will make beautiful babies.”

She choked on a bite of fish. “Babies?”

“Oh, now I know you need time, just the two of you. We can have the ceremony here at Brettonwood. Have you thought of where you’ll go on your honeymoon? It would please me to send you home. A couple weeks in Inverness.”

Cassie nodded. “That would be lovely.”

“We should have the ceremony soon, while we still have snow on the ground.”

“Ceremony?” A woman with short curly black hair kissed Mr. Weston on the cheek. “If Trent sees you, he’s going to be pissed.”

“I’m not drinking, and he can hardly be upset that I’m spending time with my future granddaughter-in-law.”

The woman’s eyes lit with interest. She sat in the chair next to Cassie. “Celina Young. Friend of the family.”

“More like my daughter,” James said, his accent thickening. “Like you,” he said, covering Cassie’s hand.

This was becoming complicated.

Celina’s eyes sparkled. “Well, damn. I knew Trent was up to something.”

“Nothing is really planned,” Cassie murmured. “I mean, we haven’t set a date.”

“Nonsense,” James said. “We have all of our friends here tonight. It would make the perfect birthday wish for this old dying man.”

Celina’s expression sobered. “Don’t talk that way, James.” She looked at Cassie. “After all, you have to get to know your future granddaughter-in-law.” She surprised Cassie by hugging her. “Welcome to the family,” she whispered, then pulled back.

Panic sent Cassie’s heart into a wild rhythm. She had to get away. She wasn’t good at lying and she sure as hell had no experience playing happy girlfriend to a man like Trent Weston. Look how badly she’d botched things up already.

“Excuse me.” She pushed back from the table and shoved to her feet.

“Cassie—” James jumped to his feet, faltered, then stumbled back a pace.

Cassie seized his arm in an effort to steady him. For an instant, she thought they would tumble to the carpet together, but Celina leapt to his side, and Annie appeared beside Cassie. They lowered him into the chair.

Celina met her gaze and said, “Find Trent.”

Cassie nodded and rushed from the room. Sidling between a group of women dressed in evening gowns who were tipsy on fine wine and mixed cocktails, she burst from the hallway into the ballroom. With every man wearing a tux, she thought it would be difficult to see Trent in the crowd. However, she immediately spotted him near the fireplace and their gazes met. Cassie motioned with her hand for him to join her.

His brow furrowed in the instant before he said something to an older woman dressed in a sequined emerald gown, then headed toward Cassie with purposeful strides.

He reached her and said, “What is it?”