I know sisterly love is supposed to trump all else, but I’m a man down and I could really use the extra body. “She’s over there participating in my singles’ event.” Traitor that I am, I point her out. “I don’t suppose you’d like to join in?” I bat my eyes innocently.
“Yes, I would, thank you.” Then, before I can escort him to the other empty spot, he walks up to Lu’s table and looms over one of the men. I can only guess what he says because the man gets up and walks toward me.
I direct the displaced dater to another table, assiduously avoiding my sister’s glare while I set things into motion. “Okay, daters,” I announce. “If you’re a woman at a table with three men, you get to ask all the questions, and vice versa. You will all have a chance to be the only one of your sex at the table. The box at your table has questions, should you need a little help getting the ball rolling. On your mark, get set, date!”
The room becomes a buzz of activity as everyone animatedly kicks into motion. I stand back and watch the proceedings, feeling a real sense of accomplishment. For a moment, I forget the travesty that is my own dating life.
That is until the hair at the base of my neck starts to prickle. I feel a blissfully warm stream of air on my skin before hearing, “There you are.” It’s Geoffrey.
Yearning pools in the pit of my stomach. I want to turn around and throw myself into his arms. I want to kiss him until he can’t resist me. I want him to take me to Malquar with him. Where did that come from?
“Claire,” he croons in my ear. “I’m officially off work and ready to have some fun.”
“I have an event to run,” I tell him. “I’m needed here.”
“Stay put,” Geoffrey whispers and before I know it, he’s gone. I suddenly feel a chill in place of his warmth. How can this man mean so much to me when we barely know each other? And believe me, we barely know each other. The size of the secret he kept from me was so monumental that if I were smart, I wouldn’t trust anything he says to me ever again.
But guess what? Apparently, I’m not that smart. I don’t know if it’s my desperate need to believe him and I’m just fooling myself, or if he’s finally telling me the truth, and he has a plan that will actually lead to a happy ending for us.
Walking around the great room, I stop at various tables to see how things are going. When I stop by Lu’s table, she shoots me a look so intense it might have stopped the heart of an unsuspecting person. But I know my sister and I know this look. She picks up a card and asks the table, “What kind of movies do you like?” She sounds like she couldn't care less.
One of the men answers, “Action/adventure all the way.”
Another says, “I like romantic comedies.”
My sister shoots the second man another one of her famous venomous stares and says, “No, you don’t. You’re just saying that because you think that’s what I want to hear.” He doesn’t have the courage to meet her eye. He merely hangs his head like he’s about to be sent to the principal’s office.
“What about you, Alistair?” I ask, because my sister seems to be pretending he’s not there.
“I like French films,” he says with a smirk on his face.
“Really?” Lu asks disbelievingly. “Which ones are your favorites?”
“Yeux Sans Visage, Mépris, Les 400 Coups …” His French is flawless.
“You like the oldies,” my sister interrupts, sounding surprised. Wait, what? Lu likes French films? How did I not know this?
“Oui. J’aimerais en regarder un avec toi un jour.”
A blush—an actual blush!—washes over my sister’s face as she replies, “That’s impossible. How are we supposed to go to a French film together in Oregon?”
“Perhaps we’ll see one in Paris.”
“I’m not going to Paris with you to see a movie. Don’t be ridiculous.” Grumpy Lu is back.
“We’ll see about that Lutèce. Je parierais un an de salaire qu’on verra ce film ensemble tôt ou tard.”
“I’m guessing you can bet a year’s pay because you don’t have a job.” My sister’s voice cracks at the end of her proclamation.
“Don’t worry about my finances, Lutèce. I’m sure there’s something between us and I’m positive it is going to lead to an extraordinary evening in the City of Love.”
My sister suddenly jumps to her feet. She looks around the table, and then at me, before finally announcing, “I have to go.” And with those words, she bolts.
“Don’t worry, Claire, she’ll be back,” Alistair says with a smile on his face. “They always come back.”
“You don’t know my sister,” I tell him. “Because if you did, you’d know that cocky doesn’t work on her.”
“There’s a difference between being cocky and knowing something is meant to be,” he tells me before standing up. Then, with a bow, he adds, “I must return to my sister’s wedding reception.”
Once he leaves, I place the remaining two gentlemen at other tables. Then I stand back and really think about what Alistair said. Is there any way he might be right, and my sister is destined to be with a player from Malquar?
For the life of me, I can’t imagine that’s the case. Primarily because I’m sure Alistair’s parents would never allow it. If I’m not good enough for them, then neither is my sister.
Chapter Fifty-Two
The Queen
Dancing in her husband’s arms, Charlotte says, “You cried like a baby during the vows. You see, you’re not the beast you pretend to be.”
Alfred pulls his wife closer. “It was a beautiful wedding, wasn’t it? All a parent can ask for of their child’s mate is that they will love and cherish their baby. I think Chéri has done very well for herself.”
“What do you think about Claire?” Charlotte asks her husband for the second time in as many days.
“I think that Geoffrey would be lucky to have her. I just don’t know how that can happen with him coming home.” Alfred’s tone is sad yet resigned.
“I’m willing to bet that if home isn’t seen as a prison, our children will seek it out on their own.”
Alfred nods his head. “Enough talk. Dance with me, wife, and remind me that I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
Charlotte lays her head on her husband’s shoulder. She realizes that even though his manner can be gruff and authoritative, he has the heart of a teddy bear.
Geoffrey
I find Ruby in the ballroom talking to Tooty. I sidle up next to her and say, “Things are going well, huh?”
She eyes me like I’m a new species before saying, “You’ve done a lovely job, Geoffrey.”
“Would you mind taking over the singles’ event so I can dance with Claire?” I ask her, hoping she’s not holding onto any residual anger toward me.
“It depends. Are you going to break her heart?”
Tooty adds, “Yeah, what about that, Geoffrey? Are you going to break Claire’s heart?”
“I have no plans to hurt your niece, Tooty. I promise.”
“Fine,” Ruby says. “I’ll go. I’ll show Tooty where to set up for her performance.”
I follow them out to the great room and make my way to Claire’s side. “Ruby is taking over so you can dance with me.”
“Geoffrey, I can’t just go off and dance,” she says. “I’m the event coordinator.”
“Pretty please,” I beg.
I’m not sure if it’s my pleading or Ruby’s walking up and saying, “Go, Claire. You’re off the clock,” that finally does it. I don’t care which it was, because Claire lets me take her hand and lead her off.
In the ballroom, the DJ is playing “Love” by Nat King Cole. I lead Claire out on the dance floor before taking her in my arms and softly singing the lyrics into her ear. I don’t proclaim my love for her because I don’t want to scare her off. But if what I feel for Claire isn’t love, then I don’t know what it is.
She feels so right in my arms that I want
to keep her there forever. I whisper into her ear, “I adore you, and I miss you, and I want to spend lots and lots of time with you.”
“How?” she sobs.
“By standing up for myself and telling my family that I’ve met the woman I see myself spending a long time with. I’m not going to say more because I know I’ve recently hurt you and you might not trust me. But Claire, trust this. You mean the world to me and you belong with me.”
She leans her head against my chest and whispers, “I want to believe that so much. But I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. When I told you we were going to work this out, I wasn’t lying. We are going to work this out and we’re going to do so in a way that allows us to be together.” Now, I just need to find a way to tell my parents without breaking their hearts.
When the song ends, my brother Andrew steps up to the microphone. He taps on it to get everyone’s attention before saying, “Chéri, Brigitte, we have a little surprise for you.” He motions for my siblings to join him. I have no idea what’s going on, but he says, “You too, Geoffrey, come on.”
I lean in and tell Claire, “I’ll be right back.” Then I join my brothers and sister on the makeshift stage. When Andrew rolls up his sleeves and sits down, I know what’s up. Aubrey picks up the violin, and Alistair borrows Sharon’s guitar. Andrew counts us down with his fingers. Three, two, one … then Alistair starts the intro of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” by Queen.
We used to play this song all the time together when we were kids. We had a whole routine worked out to it that includes snapping and clapping to keep the beat. While I haven’t been practicing with everyone, it’s clear they’ve been honing their skills for tonight’s performance.
Chéri lets out a squeal of delight and joins us. She stands at a small cocktail table right next to us and uses her hands to beat out the drumming rhythm. It’s a good thing this reception isn’t being covered by the press, because we proceed to entertain the troops in a very unroyal way. We simply let loose and relive one of our best shared childhood memories.
I smile at Claire across the room. She looks both happy and hopeful and every word I sing, I sing it to her.
When the song ends, everyone claps and whistles for more, but before we can bust out with our version of “We Will Rock You,” my dad comes up and takes over the microphone.
He clears his throat as the noise begins to subside. Then he says, “Once again, Chéri has forced the boundaries of change in our family.” Chéri whistles like she’s hailing a cab in Time Square in celebration of her trailblazing.
“My lovely wife,” he looks at his children and adds, “your mother, and I have been having some interesting conversations lately. We’ve decided that who you marry is up to you. That person might be from our country and might not. What matters most to us is that you find the person who will cherish you above all others. Of course, the prime minister and whoever else has to sign off on this, but we’ll make it happen.”
Well, I’ll be. I never saw this coming. Our father continues, “I would also like to officially announce that Geoffrey’s return home has been postponed for six months while he ties up some loose ends in Oregon.”
What? Wow!
He turns to look out into the audience and finds who he's looking for. “Claire,” he says. “That ought to give you enough time to decide if my son is someone you envision having a future with.”
Claire releases a sob of anguish or relief; I can’t tell which. I hurry to her side and whisper, “Are you okay?”
She nods her head as my father continues, “Now if we can just find Tooty, I’d like to see if she’ll sing a duet with me in my family’s honor.”
Sharon raises her hands and shouts out, “I’ll get her!” When she passes by us, she stops to say, “This is turning out to be a pretty great night, isn’t it?”
Claire tells her, “It sure is, Mom.” Then she leans into me like she’s trying to crawl under my skin. But the truth is, she’s already there. She’s in my heart.
When Sharon and Tooty come back, my dad calls them up on stage and says, “Ms. Jackson, will you do me the honor of singing with me?”
Tooty claps her hands together and answers, “You know I will. What should we sing?”
He smiles at her and says, “I’d like to sing my favorite song of yours. ‘Don’t Tell Me I’m Wrong, I Don’t Think I Can Take It’.”
Hands start clapping and feet start tapping as the King of Malquar and the Queen of Country Music entertain us.
Honey, don’t tell me I’m wrong,
I don’t think I can take it.
I have to be right,
Otherwise, my heart, you’ll break it.
I need to be the ruler
of my very own kingdom,
And if you can agree with me
Drop your bags and leave ‘em.
Welcome to this land of mine
And join my family seat.
Just never tell me that I’m wrong,
I cannot take defeat.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Sharon
Sharon leaves the ballroom after Tooty and the King of Malquar tie up their concert. Tonight is going better than she could have ever imagined.
Finding Ruby in the lobby, she announces, “Looks like you’ve got yourself a chef for six more months.”
“I heard! One of the servers came out and told me. All I can say is, things really seem to be working out for the best, don’t they?”
Nodding her head, Sharon replies, “I always thought they would, but there sure have been some twists and turns.”
“Life is not known for its predictability, is it?”
Sharon laughs, “Girl, you can say that again.” Then she changes the subject and asks, “You haven’t seen my daughter Lutèce by any chance, have you?”
“She was leaving the lobby the last time I saw her.”
“You mean the dating event?” Sharon demands. “That’s not good. Not good at all.”
“Why?”
“That girl has had a relationship road that runs somewhere between an active volcano and a glacial cliff. It’s not been easy.”
“So far, maybe. But that doesn’t mean things won’t smooth out. Who knows, maybe she met someone nice,” Sharon offers.
“Let’s hope not, otherwise we’ll have to check the alley for a body.”
“Sharon!” Ruby laughs. “She can’t be that bad.”
“Oh, no? I’m afraid you ain’t seen nothin’ until you’ve seen Lu in action.”
Claire
Dancing while nestled in Geoffrey’s arms is the only place I want to be. He holds me so closely I can hear his heart beating and I let it lull me in like a ship to its harbor. “Are you really staying for another six months?” I ask him.
“You bet I am. And then I’ll stay another six more and six after that until you agree to come home with me. Do you think you might ever want to do that?”
“You really do want to go home, don’t you?”
“I do. It’s a beautiful country and I really miss my family. I think you’d love it, too.” Then Geoffrey leans down and says, “Just to make sure we’re on the same page, we’re officially dating, right?”
“Oh, yeah. We’re officially dating.”
“You’re my girlfriend,” he whispers in my ear, causing goosebumps to erupt all over my body.
“You’re my boyfriend,” I tell him back. His lips are on mine so quickly I don’t see him coming.
This is the first time I’ve kissed Geoffrey as my boyfriend, and it is so very nice. I want to keep on kissing him until the sun comes up. And then I want to keep kissing him for years to come.
If you would have told me only a month ago that moving to Oregon would result in my finding my own Prince Charming, I would have never believed you. But here I am standing in the arms of my prince, feeling a world of possibility in front of me.
I look up and
smile at Geoffrey before asking, “Were you really going to tell your parents you weren’t going home right away?”
“I really was,” he answers. “Life is short, and while I’m willing to jump through some hoops as a result of my birth, I was not willing to walk away from you because of it.”
I am so totally happy in this moment that I want everyone I care about to be just as happy. Starting with my sister, Lu. I’m not quite sure how to go about that, but I know one thing for certain. If it’s in my power to help my sister, I’ll move heaven and earth to do it.
THE END
You’re So Vain
Preorder You’re So Vain, book 4 in the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Series.
Lutéce Choate has spent her life struggling to avoid the limelight. With a mother who’s an award-winning country western song writer, an aunt who’s a Country Music Hall of Famer, and a brother who’s a rock star, it hasn’t exactly been a low-key kind of life, and she is ready for a break.
So, when Lu’s younger sister, Claire, goes off and gets engaged to a prince from Malquar—bringing the dreaded spotlight back to shine on LU’s family yet again—she wants to go to the engagement party about as much as she wants to yodel the Star Spangled Banner at the Grand Ole Opry with her crazy relatives. Alas, not going doesn’t appear to be an option.
Alistair George Henry Bere Hale is not the heir, but the spare. Without the weight of the Crown in his future, he’s managed to live the carefree life of a man about town. That is, until his younger brother gets engaged before him and their mother starts pressuring him to settle down.
Alistair represents everything Lutéce has come to despise—he’s a rich, playboy partier who’s always in the public eye…
But Alistair doesn’t feel the same about Lu. In fact, he’s quite drawn to his brother’s future in-law, prickles and all.
When Lu and Alistair’s mothers witness the sparks between their children, they start to make plans of their own. Will Lu relax her prejudices long enough to get to know Alistair?
It's My Party: A Royal Romantic Comedy (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Book 3) Page 25
