Chapter 51
CHAPTER 51
APRIL
C aleb and I arrive at his ancestral home early on Saturday morning. Today is for the family, and according to Caleb, I now fall into this category. He’s determined to throw me in at the deep end, which involves a family dinner with his mother and siblings.
I know Gabriel and Leah and, of course, the gorgeous Callum. I have yet to meet Harper, his youngest sister, although I know her by reputation. Her press coverage and social media accounts outweigh the rest of the Frazer clan put together. Caleb has warned me about Elijah. His older brother can, by all accounts, be prickly, but I’m not to take it to heart.
His older sister, Kat, is known in the press as The Ice Queen. Ruthless in business and the boardroom. If she were a man, she’d be praised for her business acumen, instead, she’s made out to be a cold, hard-nosed bitch.
According to Caleb, Jaxson is back in the country, so the big question is whether he will attend. I’m fascinated to meet the woman who has Jaxson Lockwood’s jaw tensing at the mention of her name. The woman who has made her way to the top in a very male-dominated world.
I know Caleb’s Playboy Posse will be in attendance. They’ve promised to look out for me if Caleb gets distracted. Caleb growled, and I mean really growled at his friends, causing them to fall about in raucous laughter. Not that it deterred Xander, Tristan, or Quentin. It only spurred them on. Only Marcus seemed to take pity on him.
“Hey.”
Arms wrap around my waist from behind. I turn my head away from the window where I’ve been staring out at the vast gardens below. A team of people are erecting the marquee that will host the party guests. It seems like they’ve taken control of the entire downstairs as well. It’s an all-out event with two hundred of the wealthiest citizens alongside beneficiaries of the charity. The success stories.
“You, okay? You’ve been quiet since we got here,” he says.
I give him a weak smile. “Just feeling a little overwhelmed. I should be with Scarlett prepping the last-minute bits and pieces.”
“No, you should be here with me. Scarlett is more than capable. It’s what she does.” He turns me to face him, his finger lifting my chin. “What’s really wrong?”
I drop my head forward. My insecurities are my problem, not his. It’s not fair to put this on him. Caleb adds pressure to his finger, making me look at him.
“My family is going to love you. My mum already does. As do Gabriel and Leah. Stop letting your thoughts overwhelm you.”
I drown in his eyes. The sincerity is real, and I know this is on me.
“I know,” I say. “It’s just…”
I shake my head. I don’t know how to articulate how out of my depth I feel .
“I’ve got you, and I’m not going anywhere. The guys and my family will also be here. You don’t have to worry about anything. We’ll be laughing about your nerves on Monday when everything has gone perfectly, I promise.”
He drops a kiss on my nose, pulling me hard against his body, and I sink into him, allowing myself to absorb his strength. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this man, and I desperately want to tell him I love him. I know he wants to hear those words, but I can’t, not until he knows the truth.
“Come on,” I say, taking his hand in mine before inhaling deeply. “I’m ready to face the lion’s den—and I promise to be on my best behaviour.”
“Oh, please don’t. You’ll make me look bad. I’m never on my best behaviour.”
I’m chuckling as we leave the room, a strong arm wrapped around my shoulder.
The house is enormous. Its sweeping wooden staircase is like something out of Gone with the Wind . The hallway hosts an enormous fireplace with stone flooring. Everything seems super-sized. Caleb spends the time telling me all his favourite hiding places. I can imagine this was a child’s paradise. I’m sure Francesca had a nightmare trying to keep track of her children. Caleb told me their mother raised them. There were no nannies, although they did have a houseful of staff to take the pressure off.
I envy Cal's childhood. It’s clear it was filled with love and family. The fact Francesca and his late father, Robert, opened their home every holiday to their friends, tells me the type of home this was. Loving and inviting. I only hope they’re as welcoming of me .
“April,” Francesca says, rising to her feet as soon as we enter the room. She makes her way over to us, pulling me into a hug before she even acknowledges Caleb. He grunts but laughs.
“Charming, mother, my girlfriend gets the first hug,” he says as his mother turns to him, tuts, and pulls him into a bear hug. My heart stutters at his words and I wonder if I’ll ever get used to hearing it.
“You always were so needy,” she says, laughing and patting his cheek, pulling him in for a another hug.
“Of course, we were the youngest, or at least we were until Harper came along.”
Gabriel is ten minutes younger, and Caleb never lets him forget it.
“Now you’re going to play that card?” Gabriel says, standing up and making his way over. His son Callum rests in his enormous arms. The genetics of these men take my breath away, especially when Francesca is so petite. How on earth did she produce such enormous sons?
“April, it’s lovely to see you. I hope you’re keeping my brother in check.”
I smile at Gabriel, my eyes flitting to Callum, who is gazing up at his daddy.
“Hello, gorgeous boy,” I say, running a finger down his cheek, earning myself a little grin.
“Here, my arms could do with a rest.”
Before I can stop him, Gabriel has passed Callum over to me. I gaze down at the beautiful baby in my arms, and my chest tightens.
Cal moves behind me, his chin resting on my shoulder. “He looks good in your arms,” he whispers close to my ear.
I turn my head and catch his gaze. “Don’t go all broody on me,” I reply, as his hands tighten around my waist, pulling me back against the semi he’s now sporting .
What the?
The sight of a baby in my arms gives him a boner. Why does that send shivers of delight straight to my ovaries?
I need to get a grip. He still doesn’t know. This could all be over in a matter of days.
“April, why don’t you come and sit?” I look up to see Leah patting the seat next to her. “That boy of mine is getting heavy. We can have a girlie chat. Let the boys do something useful.”
“I think they’re dismissing us,” Gabriel says, casting his wife a look of adoration.
“We are, now, scram. Your mother has given you a list of jobs to do.”
Gabriel rolls his eyes. “And to think this time last year, we were sneaking off to the water tower,” he mutters, causing Leah to blush and Cal to burst out laughing.
I’m clearly missing something.
“I’ll explain,” Leah says as I walk across the room.
It’s Gabriel’s turn to blush. I bite my lip to suppress my grin.
I carry the gurgling Callum over to his mother and take a seat, gently untangling my hair from his iron grip.
When I turn back, the boys have gone, leaving me alone with Leah.
“I thought I’d allow you five minutes to breathe,” Leah says, giving me a gentle smile. “The boys forget how overwhelming this can be.”
“It’s spectacular,” I say, finally getting the chance to look around the room we’re in. Large sash windows flood the room with sunlight. A stone fireplace takes up space along the inside wall. There’s a full-sized grand piano and multiple sofas.
“This is everyone’s favourite room. We’ll be in here playing Monopoly later. It’s a family tradition. Gabriel is, how can I put it, competitive?”
It’s my turn to chuckle. “I’ve seen him at poker night,” I say.
“So you get it,” Leah adds, shooting me a telltale grin.
I gaze down at Callum and sigh. “He’s so adorable.” At five months old, he is starting to get big.
“He is, but then I’m biased. I wanted him for so long. I thought my time had passed, but then life changed direction, and here I am.” Her wistful tone surprises me. “As for all this. The Frazers are the most down-to-earth family I’ve met. I won’t lie, some people that will be here tomorrow have sticks lodged up their arses— that comes from Francesca, by the way. She asked me to warn you. But she said you’re to ignore them. She does.”
I wonder why Francesca sent the message through Leah rather than deliver it herself, but then Leah is like me… we’re not of this social standing.
“You’ll be fine.”
“I will,” I say, taking an exaggerated breath and making Leah laugh. “What’s with the water tower?” I ask, wanting to change the subject.
It’s from that moment on, I form a bond with Caleb’s sister-in-law. We spend the rest of the afternoon laughing and getting to know one another. And that’s how the boys find us.