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“I don’t think so.”

“Just consider it. I know the rest of us are getting tired of you moping around. We already have to worry about Carter. Give us one less person to worry about.”

30

Harley

Harley trailed her fingers along the bookshelf in her father’s study. Her fingernails clicked against each spine as she dragged them along. The variety wasn’t anything like the books that Mason or her uncle enjoyed, but that was to be expected.

Her father was a renowned lawyer and most of the literature he owned was legal books. She missed seeing the weird titles and cover art for the made-up and imaginary worlds that could steal a man like Mason from reality. A smile tugged at her lips. Maybe she’d use some of her money to build a couple free little libraries around town. She could donate books to the schools.

There were so many ways to show the town of Copper Creek love, and she couldn’t wait to get started.

The door to the study opened, and she turned around. Her mother didn’t move into the room. Her sharp eyes swept over Harley’s outfit—a pair of nice jeans and a modest button-up blouse. The only tattoo that could be seen with this outfit was the small one on her wrist.

Harley folded her arms. If her mother was going to put her down because she looked like she belonged in a barn, then she’d be just as fast to remind her of where she’d spent the majority of her summer. “Hello, Mother.”

“Harriet.”

Harley flinched. Still, her mother refused to use the name she preferred. At this point, it was a matter of respect. What kind of mother refused to call her daughter by the name she wanted?

“I almost didn’t believe it when your father said you got on a plane with Anthony. I thought for sure we’d have to send reinforcements to get you on a plane, kicking and screaming.”

She lifted her arms out to the sides and dropped them. “Well, I’m here. Sorry to be such a disappointment.”

Her mother released an exaggerated groan. “Will you stop making me out to be the bad guy? I just want what’s best for you. Is that a crime?”

“It is when you dangle my inheritance over my head like a literal carrot you have no intention of giving me. What would Grandpa say to that backward kind of behavior?”

Blaire pressed her thin lips together with all the judgment she had left. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to have the desire to make another snide comment. Instead, she wandered through the room like she’d done in several years past, humming to herself. When she reached the window, she turned to face Harley again. “After you’re married, I’ll stay out of your life. You’ll get your inheritance, and you won’t have to step foot on this property again.”

“You’re joking, right? You actually think I will believe you after everything you’ve done up until this point?” Harley kept her distance from her mother, refusing to be baited into an argument and yet finding it incredibly difficult to keep her cool.

“I’m being serious.”

“Why?” Harley demanded. “What is it about Anthony that makes all of this okay?”

“It’s not about Anthony, not really. It’s about you being alone and in charge of all that money without anyone to rein you in.”

Harley laughed. “So that’s it? This isn’t even about marrying a Yale man. It’s not about marrying someone who has wealth. This is all about having someone who will babysit me.”

“I didn’t say babysit.” Blaire sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “That money is a lot of responsibility. Very few people have the ability to manage it on their own. You needed a sounding board.”

Her heart sank to her stomach. She wanted so badly to push her mother into a corner and demand to know if she would have accepted someone like Mason as her suitor. But something told her that she knew the answer already. Her mother was only trying to make herself look good. She would never accept that someone like Mason was capable of being a babysitter.

Blaire would have taken one look at Mason and turned her nose up at him. There wasn’t a single doubt in Harley’s mind.

“Are you even listening to me?” Her mother’s voice broke into her thoughts. “I was saying we’ve invited Anthony and his parents over for dinner on Friday night so we can go over the wedding plans.”

“Mom, you can’t do that.”

“I most definitely can, and I will. They are our friends, and I’m allowed to invite them over any time I’d like.”

“No,” Harley groaned, “you don’t get to plan this wedding like you’re trying to live vicariously through me. We’re not going to have some huge lavish event. Anthony and I have already discussed what we want, and we’ll be doing the planning all on our own.”

“You… don’t want a big wedding?” Blaire placed a hand over her heart as if the act of uttering that question was appalling to her. “What on earth will you be doing instead?”

“We want something small—simple. He’s been married before. He doesn’t need some big party.”