Chapter 9
Nine
Eliot
I pulled into Crocus Valley and turned on the highway that led to Lily’s place. I was meeting her parents.
It was no big deal.
My gut churned like there was a paddle inside, mixing the acid. No. Big. Deal.
I was married to their daughter. They had to think we were in love.
That day on the phone was the first time I said I loved someone.
Lily deserved to hear the words for real. Maybe someday— A loop around my stomach tightened. We had to get through the next year.
Once I was on the long driveway to her house, I stiffened.
Did she have company?
Three cars lined her drive. A Cadillac SUV, a BMW, and a regular hybrid more like Lily’s.
Please tell me she’s home.
I parked behind the stall she didn’t use in the garage. A tall man walked out, looking like he came right off the golf course with his khaki shorts and blue polo shirt. The corners of his eyes creased when he squinted at me. Lily’s dad.
Barns had never looked that sleek. My father’s skin had resembled the leather of the worn Chesterfield he’d sat in to smoke his cigars and drink his whiskey neat. His breathing had rattled long before he’d been diagnosed with cancer. And he’d had so many cancer spots cut off his face that he had looked like he was slowly getting patched together.
When I got out, Lily’s dad was staring me down. I waited for the deep, commanding voice I’d heard over the phone, only this time, he’d point out everything I did wrong.
“Afternoon, sir.” Mama hadn’t done much for me, but she’d taught her kids manners and Cody had ingrained them in us after she’d left.
He grinned. “Weston, please.”
His grip was strong and full of warning.
I respected his reaction. My dad hadn’t cared about Aggie. Weston Duke was invested in his daughter’s well-being. “Is Lily home?”
“I’m afraid you’re early.”
I was afraid of that too.
“All my other kids are here.”
I cocked my head, but no, I’d heard him correctly. “All of them?”
They outnumbered my big family. I was the lone Knight on the premises.
“Like a family reunion,” he said. “Don’t worry. It’s not just to inspect you. It’s been a logistic nightmare passing along information about the trust. My sister will talk to one kid and that kid will talk to another and then information gets warped.”
“Like a game of telephone with extra bad reception.”
Weston nodded grimly. “This way, we can have everyone in one spot. Linda finally coughed up a copy of the trust, and I had my people look it over last week. Enough of that for now. Come on in.”
My stomach was all kinds of twisted going inside. When I entered, I was pinned by several sets of eyes, like I was a bug for a school project. Wariness and tension were woven into the air, and I did not care for that feeling in Lily’s warm home.
A woman rose. She was older, closer to Weston’s age, with dark wavy hair and a pinched expression. Lily’s mom.
“You must be Eliot.” She held out her hand. “I’m Magnolia.”
I clasped it. “Nice to meet you. Can I call you Mom?” I heard a choking sound from one of Lily’s siblings, and I grinned. “Just kidding. Trying to break the ice.”
The look I got in return from Magnolia was introspective. What had she been expecting from me?
I was floundering. The country kid in me wanted to go back to work. To get on a horse and find shit that was broken and fix it. I didn’t want to entertain Lily’s family. I wanted to pick her and the kids up and go somewhere where the air didn’t smother me in judgment.
Magnolia put a comforting hand on my back as if she wasn’t sure about me, but she wasn’t the type to push me into the middle of a creek without a paddle. “This is Alder, my oldest.”
She pointed to a stern-looking man with piercing hazel eyes. He resembled Weston the most, but the wave in his hair was from his mom. His nod was nearly imperceptible. He reminded me of Cody.
“And Violet, the next oldest,” Magnolia continued, pointing to the woman next to Alder. She had a flashing blue gaze and her black hair was pulled into a tight bun. She reminded me of Cody when he had hidden behind his professionalism. “I’ll go in chronological order.” Magnolia patted my back again. “Poppy and Clover. Then Jasper.”
“If I get tested, can it be multiple choice?” I joked.
Violet clucked her tongue. “He’s not taking this seriously.”
The verbal slap came out of nowhere. I held my hands up. “Whoa there. Don’t misunderstand my nervous humor. Lily might’ve learned about a deadline for our relationship that hastened our marriage, but I’m serious about her. I’m serious about this place. And those two little ones deserve the best. I’ll make sure they get it.”
Violet crossed her arms. She wasn’t as hostile as before, but her mouth was still set in a flat line. “Carter used to talk a good game too.”
“I sure as hell ain’t that bastar—” I dipped my head to Magnolia. “Apologies, ma’am. I haven’t heard a thing about him that’s likable.”
Magnolia’s militant expression matched her eldest daughter’s. “You heard right.”
A chortle came from Jasper. He was standing in the corner with his arms crossed. He resembled Alder but younger. Magnolia gave him a hard look, but he raised his hands. “I’m never not going to like hearing Carter shit talk.”
“That makes all of us.” Was it Poppy who spoke? She and Clover were crammed into the recliner, with one perched half on the armrest. Were they twins?
The Dukes had a real flower-and-tree thing going for their names. The other two sisters’ hair and eyes were lighter than Lily’s. They were dressed more casually, along with Jasper, but where he was wearing jeans and a loose shirt, the two women were in shorts and blouses.
Weston handed out copies of a document. “We can go ahead and get started.”
“Lily’s not home.” The rustling of paper stopped and attention was on me. I dug my boots in. “You came here to talk to everyone at once, so… We wait for everyone.”
“Lily’s gotten a head start, or you wouldn’t be here.” That was Clover. I was ninety percent sure. Whoever it was smiled, and where Violet had an edge, I didn’t get the sense her comment was meant to be challenging.
The door opened, and Cali streaked inside. She flung herself at my legs. “Eliot!” She stopped when she saw everyone, eyes wide. The Duke crew transformed in front of me from stern to elated. A chorus of “Cali” rang out. Violet’s was the loudest and she flung her arms out, nearly taking out Alder. The guy actually cracked a smile.
Cali’s grin had filled in since I’d last seen her. She raced toward Violet, who dropped to her knees on the floor. “I missed you, girl.”
I went to the door and held it open for Lily. Her gaze was fraught, and in her bright eyes, she was silently asking me if I was all right. The dark circles were back. Was Kellan fussy again? Teething?
Her dad took the baby carrier from her.
Lily turned her wide gaze to him. “I didn’t know you all were coming. Tonight.”
Wow. They’d really just helped themselves to her house. In their mind, it was still their grandmother’s place, and since she was gone, they’d taken over. I could understand, but also, Lily’s overwhelmed reaction was enough for me.
Perhaps events like this contributed to what had alienated Lily’s ex. I could understand, but he was still an asshole.
Cali was crowded by her aunts and uncles. Even Jasper had pushed away from the wall for her. Magnolia was freeing Kellan from his carrier. The baby was almost as stunned as his mom.
I rested my hand on Lily’s back and leaned close to her ear. “Doing okay?”
“Me?” she whispered. “What about you?”
“It’s been a party.” I flashed her a smile. She didn’t have to know her family intimidated me. “I haven’t been here long.”
She gave me a knowing look. “Long enough?”
“Now that we’re all here,” Weston said. “Why don’t we get talking?”
Lily slumped against me. I rubbed her back. She was tired, and all the seats were taken. She’d been working all day, and she hadn’t expected to get jumped by a family meeting.
Kellan was settled between Poppy and Clover, happily drooling at the women smiling and cooing at him. I still didn’t know who was who. Cali was on Alder’s lap, and Jasper had squished himself on the couch to get close to her. Lily’s family loved her kids. My estimation of them went up.
“I’ve had a chance to read through the will and trust,” Weston started.
“Wait,” Lily said, pulling away from me. I missed her heat. “You have a copy?”
“You didn’t review the document before you got married?” Alder asked, his tone clipped.
Lily stiffened. “Aunt Linda knows what she’s talking about.” A flush crawled up her cheeks. “She wouldn’t lie to me.”
“There’s a lot of money on the line for her,” Weston said. “She won’t get the payout from the estate unless all the terms of this trust are carried out within seven years. One year for each of you to get married before the deadline.”
“As if we’d do it sequentially.” Violet scoffed. She shook her head, and her disappointed gaze landed on Lily. “You got married, and you didn’t ask to see the trust?”
Lily shrank against me. “I…”
“I think we should pick this up later.” Lily’s ex was spineless. I had no issues setting limits that would work for everyone. Lily was drawing in on herself, and I could see the girl who was afraid she’d never stand on her own. She was exhausted. “How about tomorrow? Or Sunday?” I made a point of asking Lily.
Her expression softened just for me, and goddamn, a guy could get used to that.
Weston frowned. “We’re all here. We should go over this?—”
“Eliot’s right.” Lily straightened her spine while sticking close to me like she was soaking up my strength.
“Lily.” Jasper was unexpectedly serious. “We really need to discuss this. You only just met this guy.”
If Lily didn’t need us to lie, I’d feel like shit. Her family clearly cared about her. They worried for her. There were worse things than involved parents and siblings.
She lifted her chin. “Sometimes you just know.”
And I knew from the moment I saw her she was strong but barely keeping her head above water. “Like it or not, my wife’s had a long day. You’ll need to talk on her schedule. I respect that you’re worried about her and you’re not sure about me, but I can’t prove I’m not some controlling jackass in one night.” Cali let out a scandalized gasp. “Sorry, boss lady. I’ll watch my language. But I heard Friday nights are Lucky Charms night and I’m hungry.”
Lily’s lips twitched like she was fighting a grin. “How about tomorrow for lunch? I’ll make some hamburgers with the beef my husband so kindly arranged to have delivered. Then, we can all go and support the kids in the dance recital. Cali’s been asking about lessons.”
I nodded, but that was news to me. Lily and I faced her family. Even the kids were quiet, like they sensed the edge to the air in the room. How would the Dukes take to me kicking them out?
Magnolia rose. She clapped her hands together. “Well, you heard them.”
One of the twins cocked her head. “Um…where are we supposed to stay?”
Jasper chuckled. “I think what Eliot’s telling us is…not here.”
Lily
Embarrassment swept through me as the last of my family pulled away. Guilt ate at my insides, but also relief. I had barely recovered from my parents’ last visit when they came to town like a whirlwind and left almost as soon as the check was taken care of for the meal. Then I walked in on Eliot facing down my entire family.
Kellan was on his play pad, and Cali was right outside the front door, waving at everyone leaving. I might be irritated at my family, but they doted on her.
Eliot was sitting on the couch, his forearms draped across his knees. He was wearing the shirt he’d worn to the courthouse like he’d dressed up for the occasion. His hair was ruffled from the wind or from working part of the day, but he looked as smoking hot as always.
“I’m so sorry.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. If he didn’t regret marrying before, he would now.
“Not your fault.”
“I can’t believe…” I shook my head. “You talked, and they listened.” It’d been amazing to see. Individually, each of my relatives was formidable, some more than others. But all together?
“It’s my giant balls. They can tell I mean business.”
I sputtered out a laugh. “Maybe it’s all the balls you’ve taken. You give off big castration energy.”
He grinned. Energy sizzled between us. A shiver traced down my spine, lighting up places best left dark. Only they hadn’t been dormant. Not since the last time Eliot was in town. “You do not have to eat cereal for dinner.”
“It happens to be one of my favorites. Mama always hated cereal. She thought it was too unrefined, and I’m not talking about nutrition. We were too country, too hick, too boring.”
His face lit up when he was talking about any of his brothers or his sister. The guardedness returned when he mentioned his mother. “How old were you when she left?”
“Nine. Maybe it should’ve hit me harder, but Aggie was the youngest and the only girl. Mama doted on her. Aggie was the only one Mama had kept in contact with. The rest of us had been mad at our mother, but Mama wanted to save Aggie from the fate of getting trapped in a marriage.” He shook himself like he was waking from a dream. “Enough about her. We have your very present kin to worry about.”
The shame from their visit returned, heavy on my shoulders. “I can’t believe I didn’t think to ask Aunt Linda for a copy.” Horror crept up in my throat, making breathing a struggle. “What if you didn’t have to marry me?”
His lips turned down, and he thought for a moment. “You know, neither of us asked to see proof. Your aunt didn’t strike me as a manipulative lady.”
She hadn’t been as long as I’d known her. The feeling of foolishness ebbed. “Thank you for that.”
“Your dad left us a copy. We can review it with milk dripping down our chins like responsible adults.”
I laughed. “How bad is it if I confess that this is turning into the best Friday night I’ve had in a long time?”