Page 219 of Boyfriend of the Hour

It gave me more hope for my own relationship than I wanted to admit.

“So, give us the goods,” Jane said as she poured everyone a cup of the steaming green tea. “When Xavier called to beg an audience—I still can’t believe he used that term. He’s so British, I can’t stand it—my interest was piqued. And, of course, when we found out you were Matthew’s little sister, it was a no-brainer.”

I accepted the tea and took a sip. Definitely a step up from Lipton’s.

“Well, it’s like this,” I said. “I have a story to tell. And then a favor to ask.”

Fifteen minutes later,Eric and Jane had heard my story. Twice.

Xavier wasn’t kidding when he said they would pull apart every little detail. My brother, also a lawyer, had the same annoying habit.

“So, theyreallythink controlling this poor girl is the secret to controlling their own son?” Eric said.

I nodded. “To them, Isla is just a pawn. And Nathan would do anything for her. He’s loyal like that. More integrity than pretty much anyone on the planet.”

“That’s…fucking unbelievable.” Jane’s blue and green hair waved around her face as she shook her head.

“Not completely unbelievable,” Eric remarked dryly. “Lillian Hunt isn’t related to Celeste de Vries, is she? Or a John Carson?”

I shook my head, a bit confused. “I don’t think so. I mean, I guess it’s not impossible, but I doubt it.”

“Former family members with similar conniving traits,” Jane explained wryly. “People who would probably give your future mother-in-law some lessons in duplicity.”

“Oh, she’s not my?—”

“Just anticipating the inevitable,” Jane said with a wink.

Eric chuckled. “Sorry. She tends to do that.”

“Oh, stop. We both saw how Dr. McDreamy was looking at Joni at the Sinai gala, remember? And so did everyone else there. I probably heard ten different socialites moaning about the fact that Nathan Hunt was finally off the market.”

Eric rolled his eyes. “She tends to eavesdrop too.”

He was rewarded with an elbow to the gut, which he quickly captured with one hand before tugging his wife close to mutter something into her ear that made her blush.

“Got that, pretty girl?” he finished.

Her cheeks looked like apples.

I found myself missing Nathan more than ever.

“Well, we heard the story,” Jane said. “And I have to tell you, I don’t take kindly to rich, uptight assholes thinking they have the right to run other people’s lives. Eric and I have both dealt with enough of that garbage to last five lifetimes. Your man doesn’t deserve it either, and neither does your friend Isla.”

She turned to Eric, and they shared another meaningful look.

Eric turned to me, gray eyes suddenly like storm clouds. “Jane’s right. How can we help?”

Half an hour later,I left the de Vrieses feeling like I was walking on air. Xavier had been understating their potential interest, and in the end, they hadn’t just agreed to my proposal but had added some other things to it. I had done the right thing—I knew it. All I had to do was tell Nathan and his parents, and maybe, just maybe, Isla would be under Nathan’s care much sooner than we thought. And he could be free to buy that place in Westchester. Or stay in the city. Or do whatever he wanted because it washischoice, not anyone else’s.

I couldn’t fucking wait.

I rounded the corner of Seventy-Seventh just after picking up a slice of pizza, intending to make an early night of it before I flew back to Virginia in the morning.

As I jabbered to Nathan on the phone, it was everything I could do not to tell him, though I knew surprise was essential for all of this to work. His parents had to believe he had nothing to do with it. It was the only way they might forgive him.

“I miss you,” I told him openly as I walked toward our building. “I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight without you.”

“Probably well,” Nathan said. “It seems like I crowd you a bit in my sleep.” Then, a few moments later, “I miss you too.”