Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
L ess than a week into our marriage, and we were about to put it to the test. We were going to break the news to my family at dinner on Knox’s yacht, and I only hoped we could be convincing. If not, well, we’d be headed to France soon for our “honeymoon.” Maybe that would be enough to show them this was real.
I pulled up to the marina and put the car in park. The scent of Lily’s perfume was intoxicating, distracting, and I needed to get out of the car before I did something stupid like haul her into my lap and kiss her.
Lily had spent most of the drive peppering me with questions about my family, claiming it was things my wife would know if this were a real marriage. I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but it felt like she had placed a heavy emphasis on the real marriage part.
Was something bothering her?
If it was, I wished she’d just come out and say it. I was observant, but I could be shit at reading between the lines when it came to emotional subtext. Especially in romantic relationships. Not that this was a real romantic relationship, but it was a pseudo one.
However, now wasn’t the time. So, I switched off the engine and rounded the hood to open Lily’s door.
“You ready?” I smoothed down my shirt as I scanned the gated parking lot for my family.
I held out my hand for Lily, sensing her nerves. This was our first major test as a couple, and I knew my family would have questions. Lily and I had done our best to prepare, and now it was showtime.
She placed her hand in mine, and her diamond glinted in the light. I admired her ring briefly before spinning it so the band was facing outward. I wanted to buy us a little more time to break the news on our terms.
Her nails were painted a pale pink, and I briefly imagined her fingers wrapped around my cock. I quickly pushed that thought aside, but it wasn’t the first time I’d fantasized about Lily. God, our wedding had been fucking torture. That kiss had sparked something inside me, unleashing a wildfire of desire that was becoming more and more difficult to extinguish.
So when she’d come to my office to ask for my help with her dress… It had taken all my restraint—more than I’d even thought possible—to resist touching her.
“Graham?” she asked, making me realize I was still holding her hand. Still having completely inappropriate thoughts about my wife.
Right. She was nervous. She was looking to me for reassurance, and here I was, thinking about her hand around my cock. I am such an ass.
I cleared my throat and released her. “You look great, and you’ll do fine.”
And she did—look great. She’d opted for a flirty sundress in a cheerful yellow that made her blue eyes glow. She looked like sunshine personified.
My eyes followed the line of her delicate collarbone. The swell of her breasts. Jay had done a great job styling her. She looked like the wife of a billionaire, but she also looked like herself.
“I hope you’re right,” she said, clutching her purse.
I ushered her toward Knox’s yacht, a hand on the small of her back. “I usually am.”
She elbowed me in the side. I glared at her, and she laughed. When she tried to do it again, I grabbed her arm, and she pretended to try to fight my hold. She was laughing harder now, and I was holding in a smile.
As we neared the yacht, someone called out, “Graham?”
I shaded my eyes from the sun and peered at the upper deck. Knox was standing at the railing, his arms wrapped around Kendall’s waist. The sun made it difficult to see their expressions, so I waved up at them.
Knox disappeared briefly before reappearing at the gangplank. He smiled, his eyes full of questions. Fortunately, he was polite enough to keep them to himself—for now anyway. I wasn’t sure I’d be so lucky when it came to my other siblings.
Because while Knox and Nate were technically my cousins, they’d always been more like brothers to me. When we were younger, Knox had always had my back. And as we’d grown and matured, he’d been a good sounding board. Calm. Patient. Full of wisdom.
Knox might no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations of running the Huxley Grand brand, but his accomplishments were no less impressive. And while I could never imagine doing anything but continuing my grandparents’ legacy, I admired Knox and Nate for striking out on their own. For being successful business owners themselves—Knox as the owner of the LA Leatherbacks, the pro soccer team. And Nate not only owned his own production company, he was an award-winning actor and producer.
“Knox, this is Lily,” I said. “Lily, Knox.”
Knox tilted his head, a twinkle in his eye. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
“I used to work for Graham.”
“Ah.” He lifted his chin. “That must be it. Welcome aboard. Would you like a drink?” He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Graham, help yourself to whatever you want.”
I wandered over to the fridge and selected a beer from the offerings. Emerson’s laughter floated to me from the upper deck, and I assumed she was up there with Kendall.
“Is everyone here?” I asked, feeling my nerves build. I could only imagine how stressed I would be to meet Lily’s family. And while I hated that her relationship with them was strained, I was relieved I wouldn’t have to go through that ordeal.
“We’re just waiting for Jasper, Sloan, and Jackson,” Knox said.
Sloan and Jackson lived in London, but they’d come to LA following the Ixtapa opening. Brooklyn had a school play that Sloan didn’t want to miss, and our next board meeting was later this week. I figured this was as good a time as any to break the news of my marriage to Lily.
“What about Jude and Chrissy?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Ezra has an ear infection.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to seeing them.”
“Is that Uncle Graham?” Brooklyn called, her feet pounding on the stairs as she raced down to join us.
“Hey, kiddo.” I gave her a side hug. “Did you get taller?”
“Since the last time I saw you?” She peered up at me with skepticism. “I doubt it.”
Even so, I couldn’t resist leveling my hand on the top of her head and dragging it to my chest. She was definitely growing.
“I’m looking forward to your school play,” I said while Knox and Lily continued their conversation.
“Thanks! We’ve been working really hard on it. When can I garden with you again? How are my tomatoes doing?”
Lily quirked an eyebrow but kept her attention on Knox.
“Hopefully soon. And they’re looking good, but they miss you.”
She smiled at that.
I loved that my niece was interested in gardening. Spending time in nature helped me feel more centered after a hectic day, helped me feel closer to Gran. I was grateful that Brooklyn was interested; it felt like I was passing on Gran’s knowledge and, with it, the memory of her.
Brooklyn lowered her voice to a whisper, forcing me to lean down to hear her. “Uncle Graham, did you bring a date?” She glanced over my shoulder, and I knew she was referring to Lily.
I smirked. This kid. She was just as nosy as the rest of my family.
Before I could answer, Jasper was boarding the yacht, Sloan and Jackson on his heels. Brooklyn flung herself at Sloan, and Jackson looked as if he might pop a vein.
“Auntie Sloan!”
“B! I missed you.” Sloan smiled, but she looked exhausted. Pale. I frowned.
“I missed you too.”
Now that everyone was aboard, the crew prepared to cast off. With every rope they untied, loosening us from the dock, I tried to remain calm. Tried to remember why I’d thought it would be a good idea to tell my family that I’d gotten married while we were trapped on a boat together.
It’s just for a few hours , I reminded myself.
We were scheduled to return to the marina after sunset. I’d chosen this setting because it was private and it had a designated end time, thus limiting the number of questions they could ask—for now.
I took the stairs to the upper deck in search of Lily. My family could be a lot. Even though she’d met most of them on multiple occasions, this was different. She wasn’t my assistant or my employee; we were married now. And I knew everyone had questions, even if they were keeping them to themselves for now.
“Hey.” Lily’s smile was tight as she peered up at me, wrapping her arm around my waist.
I hesitated a moment before draping my arm over her shoulder. That’s what a husband would do, right? What a real couple would do. Touch.
More often than not, I was trying to restrain myself from touching her—at least when we were alone. Like the night of our wedding. I skimmed my fingers along her skin, still full of regrets.
When she’d invited me to have a drink with her, I’d wanted to say yes. But I’d known it was a bad idea. And then she’d asked for help with her dress. When I’d unzipped it to see her bare, smooth back and the strap falling off her shoulder, I’d nearly bent her over my desk and taken her in all the ways I’d been imagining.
I wanted to touch her so damn bad. And it was nice to be able to do what I actually wanted for once.
I caught a whiff of her floral scent. I closed my eyes, feeling calmed. Grounded. When I opened my eyes again, Kendall and Emerson were communicating without words. Having some kind of telepathic conversation that only best friends could.
“The Leatherbacks are having a good season,” I said to Kendall, mostly to preempt any questions they might have.
“They are.” She beamed. “You missed a great game last week.”
I attended every home game I could, though hockey was my favorite sport. I was a huge Hollywood Hawks fan.
It wasn’t long before the marina was fading into the distance. The rest of my family found their way to the upper deck, and I tried to ignore their curious glances. Liliana fussed with her outfit, her hair, but she was doing great. I knew she was nervous, even if she wouldn’t admit it. I gave her shoulder a quick squeeze, wanting to reassure her despite my own uncertainty.
“Since we’re all here,” I said, not wanting to put this off any longer. Hell, I had a feeling Kendall had already spotted my wedding band, judging from her widened eyes. Time was of the essence. “I have an announcement.”
I gestured to one of the yacht staff. I’d spoken to her after we’d boarded and asked that she prepare some champagne. Everyone quieted, and I swallowed hard, trying not to lose my nerve. When it came to my family, I rarely was the center of attention. It made me uncomfortable, as if spiders were crawling over my skin.
“Ooh. Champagne,” Jasper said, arching his brow, as she held out a tray of champagne flutes. “What are we celebrating?”
Liliana glanced to me, champagne flute in hand. I waited until everyone had been served then noticed that Sloan was empty-handed.
“My wife,” I supplied, handing Sloan a flute of champagne, which she nearly dropped.
“Careful, hayati ,” Jackson said, his quick reflexes saving the day. He held her hand and took the glass from her. Jackson went to the mini fridge and filled an empty flute with sparkling water before handing it to Sloan.
“Excuse me. Your what?” Sloan asked, eyes bouncing between Lily and me, drink forgotten.
“This is a joke, right?” Jasper glanced to the others for reassurance.
Liliana was tense, and I held her close, hoping to reassure her. “Does this look like a joke?” I held up Liliana’s left hand to display her wedding ring.
“Surprise!” Liliana said, her entire body rigid.
Everyone else was silent. Dumbfounded. Except perhaps Kendall, though she was obviously still reeling from my announcement.
Lily lowered her hand, and I wrapped my arm around her waist. Jasper was unusually quiet. Jackson was watching this all unfold with interest.
“Since when?” Nate asked.
“Earlier this week.”
Sloan narrowed her eyes at me. I was afraid she could see right through me. Afraid she was going to call me out for my fake relationship.
“I don’t get it,” Brooklyn said, breaking the increasingly awkward silence. “Shouldn’t we be happy for Uncle Graham?” She peered at everyone, and I’d never been more thankful for that kid.
“We are happy for Graham,” Emerson said, placing her hand on Brooklyn’s shoulder. “We’re just surprised. That’s all. Right?” She elbowed Nate.
He shook his head as if awakening from a stupor. “Right. Surprised.”
That seemed to snap everyone out of it. Knox was the first to step forward and offer his congratulations. I breathed a sigh of relief as Nate and the others fell in line. Emerson and Kendall soon disappeared downstairs with Brooklyn, leaving Lily and me alone with my siblings.
“Congratulations.” Jasper looked…dejected. I frowned, hating the idea that I’d somehow hurt my family, even if I knew I’d done this for them. For all of us.