Page 90 of Incisive

Stella turns on the lime and waves her hand in the general direction from which we just came. “He issupposedto be outthere, talking to people and getting his picture taken with everyone! Why did you bring him back here? I gave youonefucking simple job! Get my parents, and put him in front of the donors and photogs!”

I feel Mom’s arm tighten around mine and I’m not even sure if she realizes she’s doing it. I tuck her closer against my side and like hell will I leave her alone with Stella right now.

“Hello to you, too, sis,” I drawl. “I didn’t realize you were going to treat me like a rubber-chicken-dinner photo prop. I thought I was here to celebrate your wedding.”

I mean, I totally expected she’d probably try to pull that shit but I wasn’t going to outright bait her and admit it. It’s better to let her think I’m a little clueless regarding her motives and to let her think she’s got one up on me.

Stella’s face scrunches up in that way it always has since she was a kid. Then she turns to Dad. “Would youpleasetell him to go back out there? I told people they could take pictures with him!”

Dad laughs. “Honey, he’s a whole, grown-ass adult with a security detail. I’m not telling him anything.” His smile fades. “But if the only reason you invited him is to use him like that then he’d be well within his rights to leave right now.” His expression darkens even further in a completely unfamiliar and unexpected way. “And since he’s our ride, we would leave with him.”

Stella’s jaw drops and I’m not so sure that mine doesn’t, too. “Youcan’tleave before the wedding! What would that look like if my parents and brother took off?”

“Considering the way you were screaming at those poor girls,Idon’t honestly thinkyouthink much about what other people think aboutyou, Stella.”

Impasse.

And can I say I think now that I’ve heard those words from Dad, maybe I don’t need to hear him tell me he’s proud of me. I’m simply glad I was standing there to hear him stand up to my sister and defend me.

I didn’t mean to lock gazes with Jordan right at that second but from the nearly imperceptible curl of his handsome lips I know he’s pegged exactly how important those words were to me.

And he gives me one of our secret head-tips.

Good boy.

Maybe today will be worth all the aggravation after all.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

A very flusteredStella tries to bluster a few protests as I walk past her and into the suite with my arm around Mom and get her settled on a fancy sofa that’s probably worth more than my parents’ truck.

It’s also uglier than my parents’ truck.

Stella follows. “Elliot, seriously, I told people you’d be available for pictures!” Several more tropical-fruit-hued skirtsuit-clad assistants nervously huddle in the back of the room, apparently terrified over this hiccup.

“Funny, you never asked me ifIam okay with that.” I sit on Mom’s right and Dad sits on her left while the rest of my detail and Leo and Jordan hang back. “I’m here for a wedding, not a donor event.”

Stella actually wrings her hands and stamps her foot. “You need togo!”

“Go where?” I settle in, draping my left arm across the back of the couch and around Mom’s shoulders. “Back to DC? I mean, okay, I can. Like Dad said, I’m his and Mom’s ride, so—”

She points at the suite’s door, which is now closed. “Outthere, idiot!”

“Stella!” both our parents scold.

I arch an eyebrow at her and point at the couch with my right index finger. “I’m going to sithere, thanks. Aren’t we taking family photos before your wedding?” I turn my finger on her, indicating the robe. “By the way, I must say that’s an awfully bold fashion choice for a wedding dress, even for you, sis.”

She glances down. “Argh! I don’t have time for this bullshit today, Elliot!”

“Then I suggest you quit wasting time arguing with me and go get dressed, or skin some puppies, or whatever item is next on your busy agenda, Cruella.”

Dad bursts out laughing. Even a couple of the agents on my detail purse their lips into tight lines as they attempt to stifle their amusement. From the corner of my eye I see how Leo and Jordan immediately try to clamp down on their laughter as they exchange a glance.

Except while I get why everyone’s laughing not a damn thing’s funny about any of this. I strongly suspect people outside of immediate family members have been charged top dollar to score an invite to today’s event with the promise of rubbing elbows with me. I suspected Stellis would use this more as a fundraiser than a family event but that even Stella would so brazenly admit it like this in front of me and our parents is somewhat worrisome.

She never was good at managing her larger schemes without Grace’s help.

A jaded view of my own sister? Yes.