“What happens when this goes badly?”

“Why assume the worst? What happens when it goes well?”

He released her hand and stroked her face. “Such an optimist. You should get that looked at.”

“I have a bubbly personality—it’s part of my charm.”

“Yes, it is.” He kissed her. “Stay right there.”

He left the kitchen. She watched him go, then poured two cups of coffee and waited for his return.

When he walked toward her, he held out a business card. “My work number. I wrote my cell number on the back.”

She took the card and knew what he was offering—access to his world. Access to him. If things did go badly—as he expected—her having this information could make his life messy. It was a big step for him.

In return, she gave him her heart. She wasn’t sure it could be considered a fair trade.

Late Sunday morning Willow stood in front of the second biggest house she’d ever seen. It was three stories of elegant trim and windows and formal grounds. There had to be at least three people on the permanent gardening staff.

Marina joined her and linked arms. “So, what do you think?”

“It’s amazing. I can’t believe we’re related to anyone who lives here. Todd’s house is bigger, but we don’t really know him, so it doesn’t count. You think she has live-in help?”

“I’m sure of it.”

“I don’t think I’d like that. I’d want to come and go without being monitored. Plus, what about walking around na**d? Kind of embarrassing with staff.”

Marina laughed. “How much time do you spend being na**d in your house?”

“Not much, but I want to keep the option open.”

Julie hurried up to join them. “Sorry I’m late. I was, um, busy and didn’t noticed the time.”

Willow looked at Marina. “I’m guessing she means she and Ryan were doing the wild thing again.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Julie smoothed the front of her dress. “I’m ignoring you two. Come on…let’s go see what our grandmother has in store for us.”

As they walked toward the front of the house, Marina sighed. “You’re still seeing Kane, aren’t you?”

Willow smiled. “Uh-huh. It’s official. We’re an item.”

“Great. So everyone has someone but me. That’s kind of depressing.”

Julie patted Marina’s arm. “You can have Todd.”

“Gee, thanks.”

The three of them laughed, then Willow pushed the bell by the door.

“Is there a maid?” Marina asked in a low voice.

“In a uniform,” Julie whispered back. “You’ll love it.”

There wasn’t just a maid—there was a staff. Someone to show them in, someone else to bring them drinks, a third person to serve the meal.

Willow did her best to keep her attention on the food and the conversation, but she was distracted by the beauty of the “breakfast room.”

“So much brighter and less formal than the dining room,” Grandmother Ruth had said as she’d led the sisters into it.

If this was informal, Willow didn’t think she was ready for anything more grand.

Six beveled glass windows opened onto a beautiful English-style formal garden. There were three crystal chandeliers hanging over the inlaid table and two matching buffets on the wall. The carpet looked antique, the artwork original and the china probably cost more per place setting than she made in a week.

“How are your wedding plans coming?” Ruth asked as the maid set down salad plates in front of each of them.

Julie looked up surprised. “Ah, well, fine. We haven’t done much in the way of planning.”

“Oh, are you waiting until after the baby’s born?” Ruth asked.

Julie touched her stomach. “No, but I’ve been busy with work.”

“And Ryan,” Marina teased. “How could details like place cards and vows be more interesting than him?”

Julie grinned. “Excellent point.”

Ruth cleared her throat. “I hope this doesn’t sound too presumptuous, my dear, but I would be honored if you would consider having the wedding here. The backyard is beautiful, even this time of year, and there’s plenty of room for a large tent or two. As an alternative, depending on the size of the wedding, we could hold it inside. There’s actually a huge ballroom on the third floor. I never go up there, but it’s quite lovely. I know a few wedding planners who could turn the space into a fairyland or whatever else you’d like.”

Willow eyed her sister. She’d heard how Ruth had meddled in Julie’s relationship with Ryan. But in the end, the old woman had come through, telling her granddaughter she only wanted Julie’s happiness.

Willow guessed the offer was as much a way to connect as a desire to see her oldest granddaughter married in her house.

Nothing about this place was her style, but Julie might like it. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Julie smiled at her grandmother. “I’d have to talk it over with Ryan. If he’s willing, I’d be very interested in holding the wedding here.”

“Wonderful. You will be totally in charge. I won’t get involved, except to pay the bills.”

“No,” Julie said quickly. “You don’t have to do that. We want to pay for things ourselves.”

“You’re my granddaughter and he’s my great-nephew. We’re all family, dear. It will be my gift to you both.”

Marina leaned toward Willow. “Think she’d spring for new cars for us single sisters?” she asked in a whisper.

Willow grinned. “I’m sure they’re there for the asking.”

Ruth glanced at Willow. “How is your young man? Kane?”

“I, ah, he’s good.” She tried to figure out if her grandmother should know about Kane. It was possible Todd or Ryan had mentioned she was dating him, assuming they knew. Well, Todd should know. He could see her car parked by Kane’s place.

“Interesting man,” Ruth said. “Dangerous, which is always exciting and sexy.”

Willow nearly choked on her bite of lettuce. Had her sixtysomething grandmother just said sexy?

“He’s very wealthy, you know,” Ruth added. “An impressive investment portfolio.”

Willow’s eyes widened. “How do you know?”

“Todd mentioned it. He didn’t give me exact figures, but apparently Kane doesn’t work because he has to.”

Willow disagreed. However much money Kane had now, he didn’t think it was enough. Apparently privacy and a secure location didn’t come cheap.

Would he really do it, she wondered. Would he really leave everyone behind and go off by himself? The thought of it made her sad—not only because his leaving would devastate her but because she didn’t think it would make him happy. Sometime in his past he’d gotten the idea that he had to be solitary. She didn’t think that was true anymore, but she wasn’t sure she could convince him otherwise.

“He seems very responsible,” Ruth continued. “An excellent quality in a man. Although he’s a bit of a loner. You’ll have to watch that. Some men like that can be turned around, but others can’t. Be sure he’s given his heart before you risk your own.”

Excellent advice, Willow thought. Unfortunately it was about a month too late. Kane pretty much had possession of her heart from the moment he’d fussed over her ankle, taken in Jasmine and her kittens, then freaked when Jasmine went off for a little alone time.

He might have the rest of the world fooled into thinking he was a big, tough soldier, but she happened to know that inside he was warm and caring. He was also the man she loved.

Julie leaned toward her grandmother. “This would be you staying out of things?” she asked with a smile.

“Oh, no. I’m meddling, aren’t I?” Ruth sighed. “Old habits and all that. But I do have one more thing before I swear off the habit forever.”

Julie laughed. “Of course you do. What is it?”

Ruth turned to Marina. “I would so like for you to meet Todd. I know you have every reason to be apprehensive and so I’ll even withdraw the offer of money, if you’d like. Please?”

Marina looked at her sisters, then back at Ruth. “Okay, I’ll meet him, but only if the money offer stays on the table. The promise of riches makes it all the more interesting.”

“You sure about that?” Julie asked. “What if you like him? The money will get in the way. Trust me, it’s a complication.”

“Oh, please. No offense, Grand, but what are the odds of that happening? I doubt he’s my type. So I’ll meet him, just to make you happy, but don’t have any expectations.”

“You’re tempting fate,” Willow murmured.

“I’ll risk it,” Marina said. “What chance is there that Todd Aston the Third is the one for me?”

“Unfortunately she’s right,” Ruth said. “But I’ll still hold on to my grandmother dreams. It’s all about family, isn’t it? Oh, speaking of family, I’ll be meeting your father next weekend and I’m looking forward to that.”

“Me, too,” Marina said.

Julie only looked annoyed, while Willow wondered what her father would have to say to her this time.

Later, when lunch was over, the sisters left. When they’d reached their cars, Marina turned to Julie.

“Are you really considering having your wedding here?” she asked.

Julie grinned. “Sure. Ryan loves Ruth, so he’d be happy. I’m sure Ruth knows the best party planners around, so that will make things easier. I’m not letting her pay for everything, but other than that, I think it’s a great idea. You don’t approve?”

“I like the idea,” Marina admitted. “The house is gorgeous. I think it’s a beautiful venue and if it makes Grand happy, then hey. Why not?”

“Willow?” Julie asked.

“I like the idea, too. Imagine how great the pictures would be. And it is a chance to bond with Ruth. You two got off to a rocky start.”

“All forgiven,” Julie said.

“Speaking of forgiven,” Marina murmured. “Are you okay? About Dad coming home, I mean.”

Julie shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess. I’ve been talking to Ryan a lot and that’s helped. Mom loves him. I may not understand her feelings, but I want to respect them. He’s her husband and our father and in his own useless, selfish, twisted way, a part of the family.”

Marina grinned. “As long as you’re respecting everyone’s feelings.”

Julie sucked in a deep breath. “I’m doing my best to keep an open mind, okay? That’s as good as it’s going to get. In my heart, I’m still angry with him for what he’s done to Mom for the past twenty years and I’m furious with her for putting up with it. But it’s her decision. Not mine. I love her and I acknowledge that he’s my father. That is my peak maturity experience for the day. Anyone expecting more is going to be disappointed.”

“You’ll get there,” Marina said. “Personally I can’t wait to see him.”

“You always were his favorite,” Julie said easily.

“Not his favorite, but we get along. I agree that life would have been better if he’d been the kind of guy to stick around, but he’s not. So I accept him for what he is and enjoy the time he’s around.”

“You’re a better person than I’ll ever be,” Julie said with a sigh. “I have to run. I’m meeting Ryan.” She waved and walked to her car.

Marina turned to Willow. “I suppose you want to get back to Kane?”

“Pretty much.”

“Wow—both my sisters seriously involved. I suppose that means I need to find myself a guy.”

“You have Todd.”

Marina laughed. “Right. All I can think is that our lone date will be a night I’ll never get back.” She hugged Willow. “See you at Mom’s.”

“I’ll be there.”

Marina left.

Willow climbed into her car and started the engine. Now that she was alone, she could stop pretending she was excited about her father’s return. Her guilty secret had always been that she dreaded his visits. It never mattered what she did or how she tried, he never saw her as anything but a failure.

As a child, she’d tried desperately to make her father proud of her. Tried and failed countless times. A few years ago, she’d stopped trying. But that didn’t mean the hurt had gone away.

Ten

Willow shifted in the passenger seat of Kane’s Mercedes. Normally the yummy smell of a leather interior and a dashboard that looked more like a cockpit would have distracted her. If nothing else, she would have tried to justify how the smell of leather could be yummy when she didn’t eat meat, except on very special occasions when it didn’t count.

But this afternoon, she couldn’t seem to think about any of that. Instead she fought against the rising need to throw up and wondered if the knot of dread in her stomach would ever go away.

“You’re quiet,” Kane said as he pulled into the left turn lane and glanced at her. “I’ve learned that’s not always a good thing.”

“I’m fine. Okay, not fine, but not awful. Semiawful, maybe. This is all a mistake. Why are we doing this? We shouldn’t be doing this. I should have said no or that we were busy or at least that you were busy. Asking you along was a mistake.”