Page 64 of The Rented Bride

Once they’d ordered and the wine was poured, Trent said, “Tell me about your family.”

She sipped her wine then set the glass aside. “Typical family, I suppose. Well, if you’re Catholic. I have two sisters and four brothers—and never mind the cousins and nieces and nephews.” She laughed. “Mom and Dad have been married thirty-five years.” She took another drink of wine and Trent’s gaze snagged on her lips.

“What about you?” she asked.

“Nothing like your family,” he said. “A few distant relatives. Aside from Granddad, no one I’m close to.”

“No one?” she asked.

“I’m close with Tomas and I’ve known Celina since seventh grade.”

Their salads arrived and he waited until the waiter left and they’d begun eating their salads before asking, “So where do you fall into the family mix?” He wanted her to continue talking so he could watch her lips shape the words.

“In the middle. My oldest brother Danny is a veterinarian. He’s married, has kids. Well, technically I’m the only one who doesn’t have kids.” She chuckled. “My youngest brother, Bobby, Robert actually, married a woman a few years older. He doesn’t have any children of his own, but he’s raising her twin girls. They are adorable. Almost four, blond hair, and they chatter incessantly. When it’s Auntie Cassie’s turn to baby-sit, I make sure to have plenty to keep them busy.” She talked about all her siblings, growing animated as she mimicked her sisters.

Trent took another bite of salad. “Your house must be crazy during holidays.”

She nodded while she chewed. “Crazy in a good way. I can’t imagine not having a big family.”

“You’re lucky,” he said.

Jaxon removed their salad plates and their entrees arrived seconds later. The waiter placed the salmon fillet and steamed fresh vegetables in front of Cassie and served Trent the Beef Wellington and savory garlic potatoes.

“I am lucky,” she said, and finished her wine. Trent refilled her glass as she continued. “But my family is far from well-off. We knew if we wanted to go to college, scholarships and student loans were the only way that was going to happen. I guess that’s why I work so hard for Daley Enterprises. I want something of my own.” She took a bite of salmon. “Oh my, this is amazing. You should try it.”

Trent paused while cutting his meat and looked at her. She smiled, innocent, sweet and without reservation. He set down his knife, extended his fork across the small, intimate table and stabbed a flakey morsel of salmon.

She watched while he ate the fish, then said, “Isn’t it fantastic?”

“Delicious,” he agreed. Trent sliced his beef, stabbed a portion, and lifted it toward her mouth, inviting her to take the sample from his fork.

She curled her fingers around his hand and guided the fork to her mouth. Her lips closed over the morsel and he pulled the fork from her mouth. Heat surged through his groin and his heartbeat spiked as he hungered for more than a good meal.

“Oh my God,” she said. “No wonder Gordon Ramsay makes Beef Wellington a signature dish.”

Her remark reminded him that this was just dinner. “You’ve dined at one of his restaurants?”

She laughed. “No, I watch reality television. A weakness of mine. That and puppies. Since I don’t have time for a pet, I give in to my other vice.” She smiled. “So Mr. Weston, what are your secret vices?”

“You mean like hard liquor and fast women?” He stared at her over the rim of his glass.

“Marriage is going to cramp your playboy lifestyle.”

“Playboy lifestyle.” He shook his head. “I’ve spent my life trying to make my grandfather proud.” He twirled the wine in his glass. “Now I’ve waited too long.”

“Waited too long for what?”

For someone like her. For someone to make his house a home, to give meaning to the wealth and the success. Brettonwood was built for family, for generations to leave their stories within its walls. He’d neglected everything but business.

“I guess we all have regrets,” he said.

“But you can’t let them define you. We all make choices that in hindsight we wish had been handled differently. You have to know how proud your grandfather is of you. I’ve only been with you a few days and I can see how deep his devotion is to you and yours is to him. That’s what family is supposed to be. What you have is special.” She glanced into her lap. When she lifted her gaze, moisture glistened in her eyes. “I’m just so sorry you’re going to lose him.”

Trent swallowed hard and gave a slight nod. Once his grandfather was gone, she would be too and then he’d truly know what loneliness meant. Whereas Cassie would go back to her family. At that moment, he understood just what money couldn’t buy.

“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take,” he murmured.

She broke into a bright smile. “Lewis Carol.”