Page 27 of Be Our Ghost (The Duchess Hotel #2)

Nineteen

Charlie peeked at her phone again. If Knox didn’t show up soon, they’d be late for dinner. Today of all days, when her parents would be observing him closely—and no doubt judging him—she wanted him to shine.

Two minutes later, his truck pulled into the circular drive.

She waited for him to get out, hoping he’d remembered the yacht club’s dress requirements.

When he emerged from the truck, she stared at him like a lovestruck teen.

Dressed in a sport coat and tie, his hair and beard neatly trimmed, he looked hotter than ever.

It was as if a big, burly woodsman was playing at being a sexy professor.

All he needed was a pair of wire-rimmed glasses to complete the look.

Back when she’d told him the yacht club required male guests to wear a jacket and tie while in the formal dining room, she wasn’t sure how he’d react. He’d just given her a slow smile and said, “Don’t worry about it. I can handle dressing up, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart.

It was one of his pet names for her, along with “pixie,” which was a particular favorite when they were in bed together.

She’d never been with someone who was so affectionate.

It made her realize how much she’d compromised, dating men her mother had foisted upon her, who had treated her like little more than arm candy.

He gave her an appraising look. “Nice dress. That’s a great color on you.”

“I saw it at the Bay Centre last week and couldn’t resist.” She twirled for him, letting the full skirt flare out.

The crimson fabric resembled the maple leaves scattered around the front yard.

A matching set of dark red pumps and a pendant necklace displaying an amber acorn completed the ensemble.

“Thanks for picking me up. My parents went on ahead to have drinks with friends, so I thought we’d be better off meeting them there. ”

“No problem. You still okay sleeping at my place tonight?”

“I’ve got my bag right here.” After enduring one too many comments about Knox’s truck, she was grateful for a chance to dodge her mother’s scrutiny. She picked up her duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder.

He opened the passenger side door. “Let’s head out. I’ve never been to a fancy Thanksgiving buffet before. I’m not sure what to expect.”

“It’s your basic mix of turkey and side dishes, but without doing any of the work. I’m guessing your family probably celebrated the holiday at home.”

“Oh, yeah. It was a big deal. My folks usually hosted, so we had our family of eight, plus a bunch of aunts, uncles, and cousins. And my grandparents. There was a ton of food, and the kitchen was sheer chaos.”

A familiar pang of longing tugged at her heart. Had her parents ever hosted a Thanksgiving dinner? The yacht club’s extravagant buffet had always been their go-to. Even when Randolph and his parents had joined them, dinner there was a subdued affair.

During the drive, a sudden bout of nerves took hold of her.

She didn’t know why she was so anxious. It wasn’t like she was springing a new boyfriend on her parents without warning them first. And they were the ones who’d extended the invitation.

Even so, she’d be glad when dinner was over and she could retreat with Knox back to his apartment.

Once they arrived, he handed his keys to the valet and helped her out. The sight of her parents, waiting outside the entrance, made her wonder if there was an issue. Had their reservation been canceled? Taking Knox’s hand, she walked over to join them.

“Hi, guys. You remember Knox McIntyre, right?”

“Of course.” Her dad stuck out his hand and gave Knox a firm handshake. “Glad you could join us.”

“I appreciate the invitation,” Knox said. “All my family’s in the Okanagan Valley, and it’s a hel—heck—of a drive. I’ve never been to the yacht club before.”

“Are we okay to go inside?” Charlie asked.

“We already have a table,” her dad replied. “Your mother thought it might be nice if we greeted you out here. To make Knox feel extra welcome.”

“Oh…kay.” An odd move, but she wasn’t going to question it. Maybe they’d been worried Knox wouldn’t be wearing the proper attire. “Can we go in now? I’m ravenous.”

Her mother frowned. “Hang on, Charlotte. You’ve got a smudge under one eye. It might be mascara. Let’s head over to the little girls’ room and clean it up.” She gestured to her husband. “Art, you can take Knox inside and get him settled.”

Charlie followed her mother into the ladies’ room. Though she’d checked her makeup before leaving, she might have rubbed her eyes during the drive. She peered at her reflection in the mirror but didn’t see anything amiss. “Mom? Where’s the smudge?”

Her mother grabbed her arm. “There’s no smudge. I need to talk to you before we go inside. The Bouchards are here.”

Shit. What were the chances?

Actually, the chances were pretty good, considering Randolph’s parents were yacht club regulars. “That’s okay. As long as we don’t sit too close to them, it shouldn’t be that awkward.”

“I don’t think you understand. I invited them here.” At Charlie’s stunned expression, a furrow crept up between her mother’s brows. “Don’t look so surprised. They’ve joined us for the buffet before.”

“But that was when Randolph and I were together.” Cold dread ran through Charlie’s veins. “Wait. Is he with them?”

“Yes. I made sure of it.”

Charlie stared at her in disbelief. “Why did you invite him if you knew Knox was coming?”

Her mother lowered her voice to a furious hiss.

“So you could see the difference for yourself. I’m not pleased you’re dating a man with no discernible future.

How do you expect a bartender to take care of you?

If you size him up next to Randolph, you might realize what a huge mistake you’re making. ”

No. Charlie’s stomach twisted into a knot. She’d invited Knox, believing her parents wanted to meet him. Not so he could be subjected to her mom’s warped agenda. “Does Dad know about this?”

“Of course not. He’s utterly clueless. But he doesn’t understand what’s at stake.”

“Knox doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.” Charlie gouged her nails deep into her palms. “We’re leaving.”

“You most certainly are not. Imagine how embarrassing it will be for everyone if you march into the dining room and drag Knox out of there. Do you really want to subject your ‘boyfriend’ to that kind of humiliation?”

A sob clogged Charlie’s throat. She needed to stand up for herself. To show a little backbone. But from the time she was old enough to join her parents on their grown-up outings, she’d been taught never to make a scene.

“Fine,” she said. “But if I keep dating Knox, you can’t pull this again. Do you understand?”

Her mother laughed. “Of course, dear.”

An agreement that counted for nothing. How could it, when Charlie had no leverage?

It’s your own damn fault for still living with your parents.

When she went into the dining room, Knox was seated beside her father.

Around the table were Mr. and Mrs. Bouchard and their son, Randolph.

He looked as slick as ever, in a dark gray suit that probably cost a small fortune.

She sat beside Knox and squeezed his hand in solidarity.

To her dismay, he didn’t return the gesture—a sure sign he wasn’t pleased with the setup.

Randolph fixed his gaze on her. “Hello, Charlie. It’s nice to see you again. We were just trying to decide what kind of wine to order with dinner. Perhaps your bartender friend could offer a suggestion.”

“His name is Knox,” she snapped.

“I’m not a wine connoisseur,” Knox said. “But with turkey, I’d suggest a light-bodied red, like a Pinot Noir. If you want a local wine, you could ask if they have something from the Okanagan Valley. The Quails’ Gate Pinot is one of my favorites.”

“Thank you, Knox,” her dad said. “We’ll see what they have and order a couple of bottles. Kids, why don’t you get started on the buffet?”

Charlie waited until Randolph had gotten up, then followed close behind Knox. She whispered into his ear. “I’m sorry. It was an ambush.”

“Right.” His voice was gruff. “I’m guessing your mom’s going for the whole ‘compare and contrast’ thing?”

“We can leave if you want.” Even as she said it, she hoped he wouldn’t force the issue. Her mother would never let her hear the end of it.

“I’m good. Remember, I spent years in the entertainment industry. I’ve dealt with all kinds of criticism.”

But you shouldn’t have to deal with it here. “Okay. Thanks.” If Knox felt like he could hold his own, forcing him to leave might undermine his self-confidence.

At least the food looked mouthwatering—a carving station with slices of turkey breast, two kinds of stuffing, cranberry sauce, roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, and a few other side dishes.

Plus pumpkin pie, apple pie, and butter tarts for dessert.

She’d just have to hope that her parents—and Randolph, in particular—would treat Knox with respect.

At first, everyone focused on the food and the wine—which proved to be an excellent choice.

The conversation stayed polite and impersonal as they chatted about the unseasonably warm October weather and discussed a recent scandal involving a prominent member of B.C.

’s legislature. No one appeared to be judging Knox or finding him lacking.

Clearly, her mother wasn’t satisfied because she turned to Randolph with a simpering smile. “I understand you received a significant promotion at work this month. That’s so impressive.”

“Thanks,” Randolph said. “Considering how many hours of sweat equity I’ve put in, it was long overdue. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but it feels damn good to be making seven figures.”

“Seven figures,” her mother said. “Quite an accomplishment at your age.”