“Do I look okay?”
Smiling widely at her, I nod my head. “No, darling, you look so much better than okay, you look beautiful.”
Charlotte blushes and hurries out the door.
Pulling up in the circular driveway, the valets open both our doors, and Charlotte gets out.
“Ah, Ms. Jones, Mr. Kelly has been waiting for you.”
“Chase?” I ask.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Looking at my cell phone, we’re a minute early. I smile tightly at the valet and walk toward Charlotte.
“Are you ready?”
Charlotte nods, looking apprehensive with a slight frown on her face. “What if they don’t like me?”
I laugh. “Don’t be silly. How could they not like you? You’re amazing.”
“You have to say that.”
Shaking my head, I link her arm with mine and move her forward. “No, I don’t. And besides, who cares what they think? I love you, and you love me.”
“Family first.”
“Always.” I wink at her, and we walk through the entrance of the mansion.
Having been here many times in the past nine months, I guide Charlotte through the throng of people and out onto the back patio. A server with glasses full of champagne stops in front of us, and Charlotte looks at me, dumbfounded.
Reaching out, I take two off the tray and hand one to her. “Just one glass for each of us.”
Charlotte beams at me and takes a huge gulp, which, of course, goes down the wrong way. As she coughs, I take the champagne flute out of her hand and put them both down on a table. Picking up a napkin, I hand it to Charlotte as I rub her back. It takes her a moment, but she eventually stops coughing.
“Are you okay?”
“Bubbles went down the wrong way. I don’t like it.”
Smiling at her, I dab her eyes with another napkin as they are watering. “What if we pour out the bubbles and both drink water in those glasses? No one will know.”
“Yes.”
Taking her by the hand, I guide her into the kitchen. There are people everywhere, and a server comes over to me.
“Madam, is everything okay?”
“Could we have two champagne flutes filled with water, please?”
“Yes, madam, of course.” He smiles at both of us and runs away, only to come back seconds later with my request.
“Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure. Can we do anything else for you?”
“No, thank you.”
Charlotte and I go back to the patio. She’s in awe of all the beautiful dresses and the men in their suits.
“Everyone looks so lovely.”
“Just like you, Charlotte.”
She looks down at her dress and smiles. “I feel pretty.”
“That’s because you are pretty,” says a flamboyant Liam as he pulls me in for a hug. “You must be Charlotte.”
Charlotte blushes and looks at me. “Honey, this is Liam, he’s a friend of Chase’s.”
“Pfft! I’m a friend of yours.” Then he looks at Charlotte and takes her hand. “I’ve known Chase for a long time, but it’s your sister I call a friend.”
Not knowing what he means by that, I shake my head and giggle.
“It’s nice to meet you,” replies Charlotte.
“And you.” He bends and kisses her hand. Charlotte goes a deep shade of red and looks at me with wide eyes. “Chase is looking for you. He’s down by the gazebo with the usual bunch. I’ll look after Charlotte.”
“Liam,” I pause and give him a tight smile. “Please don’t leave her alone.” I smile at Charlotte. “Will you be okay while I find Chase?”
“I think so?”
Liam laughs. “I promise to take good care of her. Now go before he blows a blood vessel in that gigantic head of his.”
“He’s mad?”
“He’s impatient.”
“We got here on time,” says Charlotte.
Reaching over, I rub her arm. “Yes, we did.” I smile at her, then look at Liam. “Keep her safe.”
He nods and holds a hand over his heart. “On my life.”
Shaking my head, I hurry down the terraces to find Chase. Why he doesn’t pick me up for these gatherings, I’ll never know. It would make my life so much easier. Chase claims it’s a waste of time coming in to collect me when he’s already here. As I navigate through the crowd, I smile and nod at some of the people I know.
“Isabelle!” yells Connery, Liam’s husband.
Smiling, I hold up a hand and wave but keep going as I need to find Chase. Taking only half a dozen steps, Connery is beside me. He sweeps me into his arms and sways to the music.
“Connery, no one else is dancing, and Chase is looking for me.”
Whispering, he says, “Trust me. This will make the man come running. A gorgeous woman like you should never hurry after a man like him.”
“Connery,” I hiss at him. “Let me go.”
“Isabelle!” Turning, I see Chase walking toward us, a huge grin on his face.
“See, I told you,” whispers Connery.
Out of the corner of my mouth, I say, “You’re impossible.”
“You love it.”
Chase engulfs me and scowls at him. “You’re always monopolizing her time at these things.”
“What can I say, I have taste. And Isabelle is a rare beauty, one that shouldn’t be kept waiting. Where were you?”
Chase’s mouth drops open. “I-I was waiting down by the gazebo.”
“Why? You knew she’d be here. Why weren’t you waiting up at the house?”
Chase’s face flushes red, and he clenches one of his hands into a fist. Sensing he’s about to lose his temper, I place a hand on his chest.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I’ve left Charlotte with Liam. Do you think we could go find them?”
Chase drags his gaze from Connery to me and smiles. “In a minute. I want you to meet someone first.”
“But Chase, Charlotte is alone up at the house, and I—”
“You just said she was with Liam. She’ll be fine.”
“No.” Chase’s eyes widen. “I want to check on her.”
“But my brother, Mason, is here, and I want you to meet him.” His gaze goes back to Connery. “Why don’t you go find Liam and bring him and Charlotte down here?”
“Charlotte doesn’t know Connery, and she’s only just met Liam. Please, Chase, let me go get her. I’ll only be a moment.”
He steps back from me, his mouth in a firm line. “Fine.” Then he turns and walks away.
Connery holds out his arm to me, and we walk back to the house.
“Does he treat you like that often?”
I sigh. “He sulks. He’ll be fine soon enough.”
“Why do you put up with it?”
Smiling, I shake my head. “It must be love.”
“Love?” One side of Connery’s mouth turns up. “Do you know why I married Liam?”
“Love?”
He laughs. “Yes, that’s part of it. But the moment I found him, I found home. He comes from nothing, and I was born into this.” Liam holds a hand in the air and waves it around. “Money means nothing to Liam. He had no idea who I was, and we met in some backwater in Mexico, of all places. Liam makes me feel safe, protected, and he is home. All of the trappings could disappear, but as long as I have Liam, I’m okay.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Love is gentle, love is kind, love isn’t easily angered.”
“Are you quoting the bible to me?”
“A version of it.” Connery nods, and I look up to see Charlotte laughing with Liam in the distance. “The love you have for Charlotte is pure, but can you say the same about Chase?”
“Charlotte is my sister… it’s different.”
Connery shakes his head. “Yes and no. For me, it’s simple, would you die for Charlotte?”
“Of course.”
“Would you die for Chase?�
��
Lost for words, I stare at him, and then Charlotte bounds over and hugs me.
“Liam! Give Isabelle one of those chocolatey things!” Charlotte yells at Liam, causing some to stop and stare at us.
Grinning at her, Charlotte grabs my hand and pulls me toward the other man. Liam holds out a martini glass filled with what looks like a mousse.
“It’s yummy. Liam and I have had three each,” gushes Charlotte.
“Liam, I thought you were taking care of her?” I chastise him while smiling at the two of them.
“I was.” Liam leans over and kisses Connery on the cheek. “Connery, this is Charlotte Jones. Charlotte, this is my husband, Connery Saint.”
Connery holds out his hand, and Charlotte grabs it with both of hers, pumping it up and down.
“It’s so nice to meet you. I like your husband.”
Connery laughs. “That’s good, so do I.”
Charlotte giggles, then looks at me. “Have you tried it?”
“I think I need a spoon.”
“Oh!” Charlotte turns around and goes into the house.
“What have you been doing?” I ask Liam.
“She’s delightful, and she likes all things chocolate. My kind of girl.”
Charlotte comes back to us, holding up a spoon. “Here!”
I put it into the mousse and put a small spoonful into my mouth. The light, fluffy texture and sweetness of the chocolate are an explosion of goodness. “Oh, my!”
“See, I told you.” Charlotte grins.
“It’s very nice. Now, we have to find Chase. His brother is here, and they want to meet us.”
“Mason is here?” asks Morgan as she joins our small group.
“Yes. Morgan, this is my sister Charlotte.”
Morgan smiles at us and holds out her hand to her. “A pleasure.”
Charlotte looks at me and takes Morgan’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Morgan holds onto Charlotte’s hand and tilts her head to the side. “Chase told me about you. But he was wrong.”
Charlotte looks at me nervously and pulls her hand out of Morgan’s.
“What did Chase say?” I ask.
Morgan waves a hand in the air. “You’d best find the Kelly Brothers. It must be important to get Mason away from Europe and the polo scene.”
Morgan moves away from us, and I turn to stare at Connery.
“What was that all about?”
“Morgan, being Morgan. No one likes her, not even the father. But that could be because she doesn’t need any of them. When her mother died, the grandmother left her with the bulk of her fortune. Morgan doesn’t need help from any of the family, and they do so like it when the women rely on them.” Frowning, I open my mouth to ask another question when Connery holds a finger to my lips. “The gazebo, remember? Get going.”
Scowling at him, I take Charlotte by the hand and give the mousse to Liam. “Thank you for looking after Charlotte.”
“It was my pleasure.” He leans over and kisses Charlotte’s cheek. “Remember, you owe me a dance later.”
“Yep!” Charlotte nods.
Linking my arm through hers, we walk back down toward the gazebo, leaving Connery and Liam on the patio.
“Did you like Liam?”
“Yes, he was nice, and he gave me chocolate and another glass of water.” She shakes her head. “He tried to give me more of that other stuff, but I told him I didn’t like it.”
Laughing, I nod. “They are both nice men.”
Charlotte nods, and although I think they are both nice, Connery’s conversation with me has me a little baffled. Either he doesn’t like Chase very much, or he thinks I’m not the woman for Chase.
As we keep walking, Charlotte’s eyes dart everywhere. “Everyone looks so nice!”
“Yes, they do, but not as nice as you.”
Charlotte smiles. “You look pretty too.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I’d say she looks good enough to fuck.”
We both stop dead in our tracks and stare at the man in front of us. He’s the same height as Chase but with slightly darker hair.
He laughs at us and holds out his hand. “Mason Kelly, pleased to meet you.”
Charlotte reaches for his hand, and I put my hand over hers to stop her from touching him.
“I’m Isabelle, and this is Charlotte Jones.”
Mason bends over and laughs, points at me, and nods.
“You were right, brother, she’s a firecracker. Can’t wait until you break this one!” Mason yells loudly to Chase, who is laughing by the gazebo.
Grabbing Charlotte by the hand, I turn us around and head back toward the house as fast as I can in heels.
“Are you okay?” asks Charlotte.
“I’m fine, honey.” But I’m not. Anger boils within, and I want to go back and slap him.
Chase catches up with me and grabs my arm, halting us both.
“Isabelle!” Chase laughs. “He was only fooling around.”
Rearing back, I wrench my arm out of his grasp. “You think it’s funny?” The smile falls off his face, but I don’t give him time to answer. “He’s nothing but a pig. If you think it was appropriate for him to speak to me like that in front of Charlotte, then you don’t know me at all.”
Taking Charlotte’s hand, I continue toward the house without a backward glance. Liam and Connery are laughing with a group of people. Liam sees me first, and he stops laughing. Connery looks down at him, then follows his gaze, and whatever he sees in my face has him moving in our direction.
“Isabelle?”
“We’re leaving, Connery.”
I don’t stop.
I don’t want to explain.
We make it all the way to the front of the house when I’m stopped by Chase.
“Isabelle, can we please talk about this?”
Without saying a word, I cross my arms across my chest and stare at him.
“It’s Mason’s way. He meant nothing by it.”
I raise an eyebrow and flick out a hip but remain silent.
“Sweetheart, you’re making a scene.” Chase looks around the room.
Turning to face Charlotte, I grab both her hands. “Lottie, why don’t you go outside? I’ll be there in a minute.”
Charlotte nods, glances at Chase, and hurries past him into the night. Chase is watching her go, a look of surprise on his face.
“I’m leaving.” Walking past him, I find Charlotte talking to the valet.
“Do you want your car, ma’am?”
“Yes.”
“No, she doesn’t.” Noah Kelly, Chase’s father, steps out of the darkness. “Isabelle, Charlotte, won’t you please follow me?”
“I’m leaving.”
“Soon. Please come into my office.” He sweeps an arm wide, indicating I should walk in front of him.
Charlotte comes up beside me, takes my hand, and then she pulls me back toward the house. Against my better judgment, I allow myself to be pulled along. Noah walks ahead of us, and when we walk into his office, where he strolls around and sits behind his desk. Charlotte happily walks in and sits on one of his leather couches. I don’t sit. I stand near my sister and stare at him.
Chase and Mason walk into the room, and lastly, so does Morgan. She closes the door and sits next to Charlotte.
“Mason, do you have something to say?” asks Noah.
“You can’t be serious?” scoffs Mason, putting his hands on his hips.
The older man leans forward and glares at his son. “Every person out there knows why we’re gathered here tonight, and I’ll not be made a fool of.”
Mason shakes his head, then turns to stare at me. “I apologize if my actions upset you or your sister,” he sneers.
Taking a step toward him at his tone, I ask, “And what do you mean by that?”
Mason throws his arms in the air. “It was a fucking joke.”
“The only joke I see in this room is you.”
Mason tak
es a step toward me, and Chase gets between us.
“Enough!” roars Noah as he slams his fist down on his desk.
Charlotte jumps up and puts an arm around me.
Noah stands. “Mason, you’ve made a mess of this. Fix it…” he pauses, “… now.”
Mason pulls at the collar of his shirt as though it’s choking him, then he takes a deep breath. “Isabelle, Charlotte, I deeply apologize. I meant no offense and hope you can both forgive me.” He bows, and as he rises, he winks at Charlotte.
Charlotte moves further behind me so she can’t see him. Mason stares at me, and although I don’t want to accept his apology, I nod once.
“You forgive me?”
I nod again.
Chase lets out a sigh and puts an arm around me. “You’ll get used to him. He has a unique sense of humor.”
Moving out of his embrace, I give him a tight smile. “We’re still leaving.”
Charlotte threads her fingers through mine and moves closer to me.
“No, you’re not. For Christ’s sake, Chase, fix this and do it now,” orders Noah.
Puzzled, I stare at Noah and wonder how he thinks Chase can smooth things over with me.
“Dad, this isn’t how I wanted to do this.”
“Well, now you don’t have a choice. This party is for you. My friends are here for you. I’ll not be embarrassed.”
Chase looks up at the ceiling and tries to take both my hands in his, but Charlotte won’t let go of me. “Isabelle, I love you. My brother is an ass.” Mason laughs, and I scowl at him. Chase cups my face. “This party was for you. For us.” Chase drops down onto one knee. “Isabelle Jones, will you marry me?”
“What?”
“Isabelle, will you marry me?”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’ve been planning this for months. It’s one reason I wanted Charlotte here. Isabelle…” he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring box. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
He’s smiling up at me, holding the ring box up like a trophy for me to take. Looking around the room, the Kelly family is staring at me expectantly. Charlotte looks as confused as I feel.
“Isabelle, do you love my son?” asks Noah impatiently.
“Yes.”
“Then say yes and let’s all get back to the party to celebrate your upcoming nuptials.”
Spark of Time: MacKenny Brothers Series Book 5: an MC/Band of Brothers Romance Page 6
