Page 101 of Guarded King

The clink of glasses and too-loud laughter grates on my every nerve. I don’t have the temperament for social niceties, so I’ve never particularly enjoyed attending galas. A few years ago, I would have made Cole go in my stead. It would have been safer to rely on him to represent the King Group than Tate, who probably would have screwed some random woman in a shadowy corner before he left for the night.

Things have changed so much since then. Now, my youngest brother sits across the table, whispering in Violet’s ear. I can’t give her all the credit, since he started that change before they got together, but she’s anchored him. She’s given him the unwavering love he deserves, and now she’s the center of his world. These days, I think he attends events like this because he enjoys showing her off.

Cole and Delilah are here too, not because I told Cole he had to be the way I might have in the past, but because he and Delilah thought it would be a good opportunity to take a short break from baby duties while Lottie’s being looked after by a very well-recommended babysitter. The two of them are currently enjoying good food and wine while they chat with Tateand Violet, the conversation between the four of them flowing freely.

I’m here because I’m the CEO, and I’m pushing our agenda hard at the moment. So here I sit, in my tailored suit and perfectly tied black tie, drinking whiskey and counting down the minutes until I can leave.

“You’re even less of a barrel of laughs tonight than usual.” Tate interrupts my introspection from across the table. His arm is draped along the back of Violet’s chair, his fingers idly stroking her bare shoulder.

The simple movement sparks a memory of my fingers on Chloe’s skin, the way I relished the feel of the velvet softness. That, along with every other sight and sound and taste from that night—and the flight home after—has been etched permanently into my brain.

Clearing my throat, I force my mind away from that memory. “Being a barrel of laughs is your role,” I tell him. “I’m the grumpy one, remember?”

He arches a brow. “What does that make Cole?”

I meet our brother’s amused gaze and smirk.

“Obviously,” he says before I can comment, “I’m the charming one.”

Tate drops his head back and laughs. “I’m not sure that’s how anyone would describe you. Delilah, are you going to weigh in on this?”

Cole’s wife looks up at him, her pretty green eyes dancing. “I’m not sure I can offer my input in polite company.”

I snort. “Is that what you call the people sitting at this table?”

She gives me a genuine smile. “I was talking about Violet.”

Tate picks up his glass and tips it at her. “If you think Violet’s polite, you should have heard what she said to me last night while I was?—”

His fiancée smacks him in the chest with the back of her hand. “Nobody needs to hear that.”

I shake my head, even though I’m secretly happy to seethemall so happy.

Even if it’s no thanks to me.

Chloe said my love language is acts of service, but if that were true, I would have prioritized my brothers’ happiness over proving that I was a better businessman than my father was.

I take a sip of my drink, reining in the need to check my watch again.

“Is thatBeverly?” Delilah says. The surprise in her voice has me swiveling in my chair.

My mom is standing by the bar, looking as poised as usual in an ice-blue gown that complements her eyes, with her hair swept up as always. Except that… I blink. She’ssmilingas she talks to a man whose back is to us. He’s the same height as she is in her heels, with dark hair that’s thinning slightly on top. As he speaks, Mom touches her neck and laughs.

Confounded by what I’m seeing, I look over at my brothers. Cole’s brows are arched high, while Tate wears an amused grin.

“Is your momflirting?” Violet whisper-yells.

“I wouldn’t know,” Tate says. “I’ve never seen it happen before.”

“I think it’s great.” Delilah straightens, beaming. “She deserves a fresh start.”

As Mom talks to the unknown man, a whole host of conflicting emotions battles inside me. Despite the effort she’s been putting in lately, it’s hard to forget the years she wasn’t there for us.

“Anybody has to be better than Dad,” Cole mutters.

I grunt. That’s something we can all agree on.

As the conversation turns away from Mom, I take another sip of my whiskey. The sweet burn trickling down my throatinstantly reminds me of things I shouldn’t be dwelling on. After the trip to France, I expected to be invigorated. I expected to work late every night refining our EcoTech bid. Though Ellis seemed positive about the acquisition over dinner, it’s far from a done deal. Especially now that Roger is pushing hard to prove Haverscombe Industries is a viable contender.