Someone Like You

by Jennifer Gracen

  He looked around and tried to see it from her perspective, that of someone who’d never been in the Harrison mansion before, and hadn’t been raised with this kind of money. Marble floors, expensive furnishings, priceless art on the walls in rooms with high ceilings and sculptures and grand fixtures . . . glossy people all dressed to the nines . . . it was likely overwhelming to take in.

  He raised her hand to his lips, kissed the back of it, and said in her ear, “Welcome to the circus.”

  Her eyes flew to his. “Pierce . . .” She leaned in closer, so only he would hear. “You were right. This place is like a museum, not a home. Jeez . . .”

  “You’re impressed,” he guessed in a dry tone.

  “Well, yeah, but . . .” She touched his cheek tenderly. “The stories you’ve told me about growing up here . . . I just . . .” She stared deep into his eyes, then leaned in to touch her lips to his. Her hand was gentle on his face as their eyes locked, and she shook her head faintly. “Seeing this place, it’s different. I really get it now. And it breaks my heart for you. You as a kid, I mean. I wish I could go back in time and hug you then.”

  Something in his chest bloomed and warmth rushed through his entire body. It was empathy, that kiss. Not pity, but empathy. Compassion. She understood. She saw that this house wasn’t a place for kids, that it wasn’t warm or welcoming, that it was grand and striking but ice cold. Between seeing this place for herself, and having seen how he and his father interacted, she knew instinctively why he’d hated it here and wanted to comfort him.

  He hadn’t had a lot of comforting as a kid. Abby was a born nurturer. And she cared about him deeply, he could see it in her eyes, feel it in her touch.

  Emotions swirled inside him, overwhelming him, making his blood pulse and race. I love you.

  Then he jolted, stunned at his own thought. He’d never been in love and he hadn’t really cared. But the feelings rushing through him now . . . Christ, he loved her. He’d fallen, he was in all the way, because she was sweet and sexy and challenging and compassionate and high strung and smart and fucking naturally beautiful, inside and out. He cleared his dry throat. “Abby . . .”

  “There you are!” Tess rushed up to them with a bright smile. “I was beginning to worry you’d changed your mind about coming,” she confessed to her brother.

  “If Abby wasn’t with me, I’d likely be halfway out to the Hamptons by now,” Pierce muttered.

  “Then thank you, Abby. And oh, you look gorgeous!” Tess said to her, stepping back to give her a full once-over. “I love your dress. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Thanks,” Abby said, smiling. “You look stunning. Absolutely stunning.”

  Pierce added, “She’s right, Tessie.” His sister liked to wear heels to parties, and tower over some of the men. She must have been six-foot-one in those shoes, because she was looking him in the eye. He grinned, knowing she got a little thrill from that. Her long, willowy frame was poured into a shimmery sapphire dress that brought out her eyes, and her long, dark curls tumbled freely over her shoulders and down her back. “Hope you’re not outshining the bride,” he joked. “Though I guess it can’t be helped.”

  “You’re both sweet,” Tess said. “But no, Julia is the belle of this ball, believe me. Come on, let’s go find her and Dane. He’s been asking for you, you know.”

  “Hold on,” Pierce said, and stopped a passing waiter to pluck two flutes of champagne from his tray. He gave them to Abby and Tess, then took one for himself. “Cheers,” he said, and knocked his drink back in a few long gulps. Placing the empty glass on a nearby table, he linked one arm into Abby’s elbow and one into Tess’s. “I’m with the two most beautiful women in this place,” he said. “Let’s go have some fun.”

  They made their way farther into the mansion, following the increasing volume to the ballroom in the back left wing. Pierce caught the moment when Abby’s eyes flew wide as she looked around. The crystal chandeliers, the marble floor, the tall, wide windows . . . “Yes,” he said into her ear to be heard above the music and noise. “There’s a fucking ballroom in my house. If that’s not pretentious, I don’t know what is.”

  She shot him a look and bit down on her bottom lip. “It’s . . . different.”

  “Always so tactful. That’s my girl.”

  “They’re over there,” Tess said, gesturing to the far corner, and the three of them walked to where Dane and Julia were holding court.

  * * *

  Abby could not believe the grandeur she’d walked into. This party-that-wasn’t-a-wedding-reception was fancier than any wedding she’d ever been to, much less any event or party she’d ever been to. This was such a different world. Pierce’s world, whether he liked it or not. And boy, he hadn’t. He’d been tense and rigid all night. As the three of them walked over to the guests of honor, Pierce grabbed a waiter’s elbow and asked for a glass of whiskey. She had no doubt he needed it.

  She knew the man in the black three-piece tux had to be Dane as soon as they got close; he looked so much like Pierce and Tess, it was uncanny. His hair was a little curlier than Pierce’s—more like Tess’s—and his shoulders and chest were broader. But the features were so familiar, and as devastatingly handsome.

  “You’re finally here!” he cried, grasping Pierce in a bear hug and slapping him on the back. “I was beginning to think you blew this off. Thank you for coming.”

  “I had to pick up Abby,” Pierce said, knowing Dane saw right through his lie but didn’t let it bother him. He turned to look at her. “Abby McCord, my brother Dane. He’s the charming one in the family. Dane, this is my girlfriend, Abby.”

  “Such a pleasure to meet you,” Dane said, flashing a million-dollar smile as he shook her hand. She almost swooned as she thought, My God, each sibling is more gorgeous than the next. “Tess told me about you. Welcome. I hope you’ll have a nice time tonight.” He jerked his chin toward Pierce and joked, “Make him dance with you. Get a few drinks in him, and I’m sure he will.”

  “Shut up,” Pierce laughed. “Where’s your wife?”

  “Huh,” Dane said. “She was right here . . .” He turned to look and spotted her a few feet away, talking to a cluster of people. “Hey, Red?” he called. “Look who showed up.”

  The redhead turned, spotted Pierce, and broke into a wide smile. She excused herself from her guests and joined the group. “I knew you’d show,” she said, dropping a kiss on Pierce’s cheek. “I didn’t listen to a word they said.”

  “Who?” Pierce asked. He saw the momentary blip on Julia’s face and knew. “Let me guess. Chuck Two and Chuck Three.” He rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

  Abby saw that Pierce hadn’t exaggerated, Julia was really something. Long, thick red hair, dark eyes that shone with strength, and a voluptuous figure shown off in a sparkling silver gown. Abby was quickly becoming intimidated; not by the house or the wealthy trappings, but all these breathtakingly gorgeous people who seemed to be a little larger-than-life. She felt very much like mousy, vanilla little Abby from Edgewater as she watched these glamorous people talk and laugh together. Then, just as she was kicking herself to get over it, another incredibly handsome, dark-haired man in a tux came over and said, “Am I missing a sibling powwow?”

  She was introduced to Charles III, the oldest, surrounded by an air of power. Bits of silver peppered the dark waves by his ears, but Abby figured he was under the most pressure, being the COO of Harrison Enterprises. Or, as Pierce had called him, “the heir to the throne.” Behind his glasses, Charles’s bright blue eyes were shrewd and consuming. He was definitely stuffier than his brothers, more reserved and aloof. It was also obvious that he and Pierce didn’t share the same easygoing relationship that both of them did with Dane, but all three brothers adored Tess like she was the sun.

  The dynamics here were intriguing. Abby sipped her glass of champagne as they all chatted, wanting to simply watch and learn. But Charles asked her where she lived and what she did. Then Dane asked her wh
ere she taught, and when she said Blue Harbor, his and Julia’s faces lit up as they told her they lived there, pulling her deeper into the conversation, unwilling to let her stand on the sidelines.

  She glanced over at Pierce after a few minutes. He had already finished his first whiskey and started another one. A tiny warning bell sounded in her head, but she wasn’t his mother, she was his girlfriend, and wasn’t going to say anything unless she had to. Hell, maybe a few drinks would finally help Pierce take the edge off.

  She was determined to have a nice time, both for herself and for his sake. She wanted to support him here the way he had her at the festival. He’d gone into her world, now she’d go into his, intimidated or not. Now that she saw just how uptight he got around his family, and this house, she wanted more than anything to do that for him. His siblings were lovely, but she could still see he didn’t trust this atmosphere. He was on edge. Why?

  When the Harrison patriarch joined them, saying snidely, “Well! Look who decided to grace us all with his presence, two hours late,” Abby knew immediately why Pierce had still been on edge. He’d told her last weekend, after the run-in at Tess’s house, that his father was almost always sure to launch a verbal grenade designed to set him off. Arguing was how they interacted, like breathing. Now, here, it made her heart squeeze and her insides fill with uneasy suspense as Pierce glared at his father.

  “So he’s late, so what,” Dane said. “He’s here. That’s all that matters.”

  “Don’t do this in front of everyone,” Charles III said quietly.

  “Don’t do it at all,” Dane added.

  “It’s disgraceful to be this late,” Charles II said, as if they hadn’t spoken. His hawkish stare raked over his youngest son. “At least you managed to dress properly and hide all those repulsive tattoos.”

  “Dad!” Tess huffed in a scolding tone. “Really?”

  Abby’s whole body tensed and she didn’t know where to look. So she kept her eyes on her boyfriend, who looked . . . eerily calm. Pierce was the first to admit he had a temper. He was surly and quick to anger; even though it had never been aimed at her, she knew his reputation and he’d admitted to it. So now, his calm facade made her more nervous than if he’d shouted.

  “What?” Charles II sneered. “It’s the truth, isn’t it? Inking up his body like some thug. He’s a goddamn Harrison, whether he likes it or not.” He lifted his glass to his lips and finished whatever had been inside.

  “You’re still a nasty drunk, Pops,” Pierce remarked.

  “And you’re still a flaming disappointment. And now a tabloid disgrace to boot,” Charles II replied, gesturing with his empty glass in the air as he added, “A disgrace on both sides of the pond. Single-handedly dragging the Harrison name through the mud.”

  “Go talk to someone who cares what you think,” Pierce snarled.

  “You’re a disgrace on the family name,” Charles II went on, and Abby wondered if he was indeed drunk with the way he’d slurred “family”. “You’ve pulled reckless crap all your life, but sleeping with the team owner’s wife, and stupid enough to get caught? A new low.”

  “I didn’t sleep with her,” Pierce ground out from between clenched teeth.

  “Suuure you didn’t,” his father said. “Half the women you bedded have been married. Hell, from what I hear, it was like a running joke amongst your former teammates. ‘Married groupies? Send ’em Harrison’s way. He likes the married ones, they’re easier to get rid of when he’s done with them.’ Going to deny that, too?”

  Pierce’s face darkened with color and he froze. That telltale muscle twitched in his jaw. No one said a word.

  Abby’s pulse kicked up and her stomach did a nauseous flip as she stared up at her boyfriend. God, was that true? If so, it was awful. What else didn’t she know about the man she’d already let into her heart?

  Charles harrumphed softly. His gray eyes drifted to Abby as he added for her benefit, “Sorry, Abby, but you’re not special. He sleeps with any woman with a pulse, for God’s sake.”

  Dane swore under his breath and glared at his father as Tess ground out, “Dad!”

  As her chest got tighter, Abby watched Pierce’s reaction. It was like watching a dormant volcano burst to life. His nostrils flared, his fists curled at his sides, and his eyes flickered to her for a second before shooting back to his father. He got right in his father’s face and said in a low, dangerous snarl, “You take your shots at me, old man. Don’t talk to her. Don’t even look her way.”

  Charles II smirked and barreled on. “Your newest fling should know who she’s involved with, don’t you think? She seems like a nice, smart girl. Edgewater’s a little blue collar, but that’s all right.” He smiled at her, but it was hollow. His eyes brought to her mind an image of a snake sizing up its prey. “She’s not married, so right off the bat, she’s different from most of the women you sleep with. She’s a first-grade teacher—can’t get much more proper than that, huh? On the committee for the annual festival, coaching kids’ soccer . . . living at home with her parents to help take care of her nephew . . . really an exemplary young woman.”

  A new chill skittered over Abby’s skin. Charles II knew all about her. She certainly hadn’t told him anything, and she couldn’t imagine Pierce had. Maybe Tess had, like chitchat over tea or something?

  As if reading her mind, Pierce growled at his father, “You did a check on her?”

  “Of course,” Charles II said harshly. “Anyone who seriously dates a Harrison gets a background check. Don’t be naïve.”

  Tess’s hands flew to cover her mouth. Charles III looked disgusted.

  Julia hissed out a puff of air, obviously offended. “I can only imagine what that meant when I was dating Dane. You probably knew more about me than he did.”

  Dane looked from her to his father. “Jesus. Is she right?”

  Charles II didn’t move, didn’t say a word; he met Dane’s eyes without blinking.

  “Bastard,” Dane spat. “If I’d known that you—”

  “Oh, spare me. You married her anyway.” Charles Roger Harrison II looked around at all of his children’s aghast faces. “I make no apologies. Members of this family—and their fat bank accounts—have been taken for more rides than a roller coaster at Disneyland.” His cold gray eyes went back to Abby, haughty and dismissive. “There are other men you can find on Long Island if you’re digging for gold, my dear. You don’t want someone like Pierce. Trust me on that. You seem like a decent woman. He’s not a decent man. Even though he’s a Harrison, and you’re nobody, he’s still not good enough for you. And deep down, you both know I’m right.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Abby’s mind reeled. The audacity! No one had ever spoken to her like that in her entire life, much less someone who didn’t even know her. Stuck between stunned and horrified, she had no comeback for Charles II’s scathing words. Her mouth dropped open, but nothing came out.

  “You’re a fucking bastard!” Pierce shouted, charging forward. He grabbed his father’s jacket by the lapels, but Dane quickly moved to stand between father and son. Julia gasped and Tess cried out while Pierce strained against his older brother’s arms and Charles III moved in to help Dane hold him back. Other guests nearby, having heard the commotion, discreetly but definitely stared. The spotlight was on all of them now, that was for sure. Abby felt like she was in a movie, like none of this was real. It was too bizarre.

  “Don’t,” Dane told Pierce in a low, tight voice. “Not here, not now.”

  The patriarch snorted, as if entertained. “Yup, all class, that’s Pierce. Trying to deck his old man in the middle of a huge party. You are just a thug.”

  “What are you trying to do?” Charles III asked their father, his brows furrowed as he glared. “Seriously. What the hell’s wrong with you tonight?”

  His breaths coming in short gusts, Pierce’s jaw was clenched so tightly Abby wondered if he’d crack a tooth. Dane’s hand stayed on his chest, whispering
things no one else could hear. Abby imagined he was trying to talk Pierce down. From the wild, furious glint in Pierce’s eyes, she wondered if that were possible.

  “Please stop, Dad,” Tess said tersely. “Please.”

  Abby looked around her. All four siblings were flushed and upset, but Julia, in contrast, had paled. And the puppet master stood there with a smug smirk on his granite face.

  Abby stood very still. Outrage bubbled inside her, simmering and popping, and she tried to quell it. She tried to stay in teacher mode, be a voice of calm and reason even though she was flabbergasted. But when Pierce threw a furtive glance her way, and she caught the mixture of fiery anger and worried vulnerability in his eyes, her control snapped.

  She glared at his father and said fervently, “You know what? You don’t know me. I’m proud to be from Edgewater; the people are honorable and decent. And I’m sure as hell not a gold digger. I don’t care what you think of me, or what you ‘dug up’ on me. At least I grew up in a loving home, with parents who love and support me.” Her face felt hot and she didn’t care. “Look around you. Pierce didn’t start this tonight, you did. You’ve upset all four of your grown children, and your new daughter-in-law, and people are staring now as they watch this horror show, and you’re standing there smirking. From what I can see, the only one here who’s not good enough is you.”

  Shocked silence fell over the group. Pierce stared down at her with something that looked like admiration, but she couldn’t be sure. All she knew was her heart was racing and she was mad as hell.

  “Spunky little thing, aren’t you?” Charles II said. His eyes bore into her like blades. “But here’s a tip: You don’t know me, either.” He grabbed the elbow of a passing waiter and handed him the empty glass before asking Abby, “So . . . you’re a teacher. First grade at Blue Harbor Elementary School, do I have that right? Are you tenured yet? You need to be tenured to keep your job, correct? I know someone on that board. Maybe I could . . . help.”

  What the . . . was he threatening her somehow? Abby blinked, dumbfounded. She opened her mouth to speak, but Pierce surged forward again with a menacing look on his face. His two older brothers could barely hold him back now.