Outrageously in Love by Jen Morris

33

Itry everything I can to get out of dinner, but ultimately, I know I need to be there. This is about Alex and Michael, not me. And who knows how long Mum’s cooperation is going to last.

So that’s how I end up wedged between Mum and Alex, opposite Dena, Luke and Michael, while Dad, Annette and William are further down the table. William takes care of everything, ordering champagne for the table before anyone else can order, insisting we all must drink it to celebrate. I try not to be irritated, but there’s something about this guy that rubs me the wrong way.

It doesn’t matter. I’m just waiting for the evening to hurry up and be over so I don’t have to keep seeing Luke with Dena. In his defense, he looks bloody miserable. And she’s hardly paying attention to him anyway; she’s engrossed in a conversation with William about insurance premiums, or something. Yawn.

“Everything ready for the wedding then, Alexis?” Mum asks. I stiffen, waiting for her to say something that might ruffle Alex’s feathers, but she just smiles over my head like I’m not even there.

“Yes, thanks to Harriet and Luke’s tireless work.” Alex gives me a nudge. “Thanks so much for everything, Harri. You’ve been a lifesaver these past couple of weeks. So selfless. You’re the best sister I could ask for.”

I give her a meek smile, swallowing down the guilt rising inside me like vomit. It’s fine, I keep telling myself. So I’m lying to her about Luke. It’s not going to interfere with the wedding, and that’s all that matters right now.

“I always wanted a sister.” Michael grins at me across the table. “I’m glad to have you as a sister-in-law, Harriet.”

I can’t help but smile back, because that’s really sweet. But hearing him refer to me as his sister makes me feel even more queasy, because it forces me to confront the fact that he’s now kind of my brother. And—gulp—does that make Luke kind of my brother?

Shit. It’s definitely weird that we’ve been sleeping together. And it’s even worse that now it’s gone way past the point of just sex.

“You must be looking forward to getting back home after all this,” Alex says.

Against my better judgment I let my gaze slide to Luke, but his eyes are riveted to his glass. I give Alex a mute nod, trying to ignore the way my heart feels strangled. I guess I thought Luke might be, I don’t know, at least a little bummed about me leaving. But after seeing him with Dena, everything feels off. Her presence has totally thrown me. Before, it was like Luke and I were inside some kind of invisible forcefield, safe from the chaos of the outside world. We had this shield around us, protecting us from all the shit that could be thrown our way. But Dena has broken the spell and now shit’s flying everywhere and I have to be extra vigilant in case something suddenly spears me through the heart.

“We saw Paula the other day,” Mum says, glancing at me. “She mentioned something about selling the cafe.”

I twist in my chair to face her. “What?”

“She said something else too. What was it, Clark?” Mum leans towards Dad, tugging on his sleeve.

“What?”

“What did Paula say? She was selling the cafe, but she said something else.”

“Audrey,” Dad says, his eyes bouncing between Mum and me, “she asked us not to say anything until she’d had a chance to talk to Harriet.”

Mum’s cheeks flush and she turns back to me. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t think.”

Okay. Well. This is unexpected.

Anxiety pools in my empty stomach as I process Mum’s words. If Paula is selling the cafe, am I out of a job? My pulse climbs as I stare down at my plate, trying not to panic. Maybe the new owners will keep us on. They could keep running the place as it is, with us there—that’s also possible, right? But for some reason, that idea doesn’t reassure me any more.

I glance at Mum again, twirling her glass, eyes dancing as she listens to the others talk. Her cheeks are pink from champagne and I make myself take a deep, soothing breath. She probably misunderstood Paula. Anyway, Paula loves the cafe. She wouldn’t sell it. Although she did mention something about wanting to travel when I told her I was going to New York, didn’t she? But—no, she was excited for me, that’s all. I can’t let myself worry about this now.

I catch Luke watching me from across the table and send him a brittle smile as our meals are served.

“Didn’t you mention something the other day about an idea you had for your own cafe?” Alex asks me, her fork in the air. “When we were at the salon. I’m sure you did.”

My eyes stray to Luke’s again and he nods, his expression encouraging.

“Er, well… I have had some ideas,” I admit, taking a bite of my steak.

“Really?” Mum chimes in. “You want to run your own cafe?” There’s a hint of disbelief in her words and my shoulders slump. Even my own mother thinks it’s unrealistic. But I shouldn’t be surprised; she didn’t believe Alex could become an author, either.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Luke says. He gazes at me warmly and, for a moment, I feel the forcefield there again. “I’ve been trying to convince her to do it, helping her come up with ways to make it work.”

Oh, shit. I suddenly remember what I told Alex at the salon—that my mystery man has been encouraging me with this—and glance at her in alarm. But she’s oblivious, gazing at Michael across the table.

“Well, you know a thing or two about working for yourself,” Michael says. His voice is tinged with brotherly pride, and Luke grins.

“Speaking of work, how’s that going?” William asks, joining the conversation with sudden interest. He has one eyebrow cocked, his question underlined with what almost sounds like sarcasm.

My irritation ratchets up a few notches. What is wrong with this guy?

But Luke ignores his tone, smiling. “It’s good, actually. I’ve had the past couple of weeks off, but before that I had a meeting in Houston with a company we’re looking to partner with, to expand into virtual reality. I’m just waiting to hear back from them.” His whole face is animated now. “It’s a big shift, but if we can incorporate VR into the game, we can—”

“Ugh, isn’t Houston airport the worst?” Dena says, cutting Luke off mid-sentence.

He sighs and stuffs a piece of steak in his mouth. I make a mental note to ask him more about virtual reality and this opportunity with the Houston company, if I get the chance. He seems really excited about that.

Dena continues, oblivious. “I was there for work last year and had the worst layover.” She shakes her head to emphasize what an absolute tragedy she endured at Houston airport.

“Didn’t you fly into Houston, Harriet?” Michael asks.

I nod, crunching on a green bean.

“That would have been around when Luke was there,” he adds thoughtfully.

There’s a nervous twinge in my abdomen, as if from that information alone he’s figured out everything that’s been going on and is about to reveal it to the whole table. I focus diligently on loading my fork with more beans.

“Hey,” Alex says with a giggle, her cheeks rosy from the champagne, “wouldn’t it be funny if you guys had been on the same flight and not even realized?”

My neck is hot as I shove the beans into my mouth, keeping my gaze averted from Luke.

“Oh, I think she was too busy on that flight to look for my kid brother,” Michael says, mirth glimmering in his eyes.

Alex chortles, then her face grows serious as she glances across at Michael. “Oh, I didn’t tell you, honey. She has actually been seeing this mystery plane man.”

I take a long slug of champagne. I can feel Luke’s eyes on me, and sweat gathers on my top lip. I wipe at it discreetly, willing my erratic heartbeat to settle.

Michael tosses me a grin. “Well, I hope he’s good enough for my new little sister,” he says affectionately, and I grimace so hard I nearly break a tooth.

“Actually,” Alex adds with a smug little smile, “I think she might be falling in love with him.”

Oh God.

Michael’s grin widens. “Really?”

“It’s not…” My face is in flames. “I don’t think… It’s only been a few weeks.” I can’t bring myself to even so much as glance in Luke’s direction. If only these two knew what kind of trouble they’re causing.

“Oh, come on,” Alex needles. “You’re so smitten.”

Luke’s gaze is boring a hole into me now and I raise a hand to my burning cheek, shaking my head.

My mother leans closer beside me, angling to speak to Alex, her voice brimming with excitement. “What’s this about Harriet being smitten?” A shadow crosses her brow. “It’s not another American man, is it? Because if I have to fly over here for another wedding—”

“Jesus,” I mutter, pushing my chair back with a scrape. I snatch up my champagne glass and drain it. “I’m going to go and make sure the reception hall is all set for tomorrow.” And I stalk out of there, refusing to look at Luke.