Give a Little (23 page)

But it wasn’t really his place to insinuate himself on their private celebration. They’d welcomed him, the new Earl of Amberlin, but he knew his bounds. He’d offer his congratulations after they’d finished.

Heading toward the refreshment table, he grabbed a glass of champagne, which his cousins loved but he could only tolerate. Give him a beer any day. When Luca and Finn joined him, he handed each of them a glass. “A little different than your weddings, huh?” he said, holding his glass up in a toast.

“It was perfect.” Finn clinked his glass to theirs. “If I could have held out for over a year, I might have wanted the same pomp and circumstance.”

Luca nodded. “I couldn’t wait, either.”

The couple had returned from Italy married, to everyone’s delight but not surprise. If there were ever two people who needed to be together, it was Bea and Luca.

Sebastian clapped a hand on Luca’s shoulder. “I don’t know how Bea manages to move her hand. That rock on her finger is so big, you can probably see it from space. I’m pretty sure her bicep is becoming bigger on her left arm.”

The Italian smiled mildly, his gaze finding his bride. “I wanted to be sure there was no doubt that Beatrice was mine, in her mind or anyone else’s.”

There was a whir of a camera and a flash of a blond ponytail as Titania took their picture and moved along.

Viola was the first of the sisters to wander over. She was glowing and adorable in the dress she wore that showed off her baby bump. “That was lovely, wasn’t it?” she asked as she slipped her arm around her husband’s waist.

Finn cuddled her close. “Chloe looked beautiful, too.”

Sebastian smiled at the fatherly pride in the man’s voice. Chloe wasn’t his biological child but a person wouldn’t know it to watch them. It was a classic case of love at first sight. What a lucky man Finn was, to have Chloe
and
another daughter on the way.

He himself had never pictured himself as a dad—he’d been too busy telling the world what they should spend their money on—but spending the past months with the Summerhills he’d realized the value in family.

Maybe one day he’d be lucky enough to have his own.

Fran bustled over to oversee the table, or to make sure he hadn’t eaten all the cookies if her expression was any indication. He grinned, reaching for one just to tweak her nose.

He heard the forceful clack of heels, and he smiled. He didn’t have to turn around to know who was joining their party. “Cousin Bea!” he exclaimed with feigned surprise. “Fancy seeing you here.”

She gave him the no-nonsense look he imagined had the power to scare the most successful men in the world. “I understand you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Yes, you should start counting the silverware now.” He wished she’d have let him get to know her better. Underneath their animosity, there was a mutual respect. It was
deep
down, but still.

Bea slipped her arm through her husband’s arm. “What happened? Did you find another inheritance to claim somewhere?”

“What? Your P.I. didn’t give you my itinerary?” He batted his eyes like he was shocked.

Vi shook her head. “Maybe you two can declare a truce for one night.”

“Unlikely,” Bea said as Sebastian said, “Probably not.”

They looked at each other. Sebastian was a master at recognizing people’s thoughts and emotions so he could manipulate them—it was what advertising was about. Bea was harder to read than most people; she knew how to wall up her feelings.

But in her sharp gaze, he saw concern.

It stopped him cold. “You aren’t going to go mushy on me, are you?” he asked suspiciously.

“Of course not.” She rolled her eyes.

Luca nudged her, giving her a not-so-blatant encouraging look.

She sighed and said with reluctance that was a show, “If you ever need anything, let me know.”

Sebastian focused on the ceiling, staring intently.

“What?” Bea asked.

“I’m checking to see if the sky is falling.”

Viola and Finn chuckled. Luca smiled, and Bea gave him a narrowed look, but Sebastian could see the humor curving the edges of her lips.

He was going to miss this family. He felt tears at the back of his eyes, and he quickly excused himself to get himself under control.

When he reentered the ballroom, Jacqueline sauntered over as though she were looking for him. Her gaze was way too sharp as she handed him another glass of champagne. She only clinked it against her own and said, “When Rosalind was a little girl, she’d draw pictures of her wedding. The dresses and the cakes, holding her groom’s hand. I think this was possibly lovelier than those drawings she did.”

He nodded. “She planned this carefully.”

“Yes. It’s nice that life allowed for it.” She faced him and illuminated the elephant in the room. “I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow. The house is going to be empty without you.”

“Blessed silence,” Fran declared, as she joined them. She gave him the evil eye. “And my cookies will be safe.”

He grinned. It’d been their little game: She’d fill the cookie jar and he’d pretend to steal them. It made both of them happy. “I’m sure there will be better cookies in San Francisco, Franny.”

She gave him a death glare.

Chuckling, he risked life and limb by slinging his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll miss your sour face though.”

“Humph.” She lifted her nose in the air, but she didn’t move out from under his arm.

“You’re cute when you’re indignant.” Being brave, or foolish, he risked pecking her cheek.

She harrumphed again and slipped out from under his arm, but her face was suspiciously flushed as she walked away.

Titania nudged him with an elbow as she hurried by. “I got that. I’ll print you a copy.”

“Excellent.” Later when she was less focused on her photos, he’d ask her for more pictures, so he’d have souvenirs of his time in London. So he had some family pictures around him, because the only one he had was of his parents the morning before they’d died.

“We’re all going to miss you,” Jacqueline said. “Even Fran. Do you know where you’re staying?”

“I figured I’d stay in a hotel, but Rosalind’s friend, Bijou, said her parents had space.”

Jacqueline raised her brows. “You know who her parents are, don’t you?”

“Anson and Lara.” The biggest rock stars of their age. They were still every bit as relevant as they had been thirty years ago, which was impressive. Staying relevant wasn’t easy.

“They’re lovely people. If you decide to stay with them, you’ll be happy.” Jacqueline looked at him knowingly. “Less lonely, too.”

He smiled wryly. “Do you think I’ll be lonely?”

“I hope not.” She linked her arm through his. “It’s time, Sebastian.”

He didn’t need to ask her what she meant. It
was
time. Time to figure out what he really wanted in life. Time to become what he was meant to be.

If only he knew what that was.

She patted his arm. “You’ll figure it out. I have high hopes for this generation’s Earl of Amberlin.”

“How do you do that?” he asked, shaking his head. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“Easy, darling.” Smiling, she brushed his hair back from his forehead. “I love you.”

He had a flash of his mother doing that, and his heart lifted, grateful for the gesture and the memory, even if it made him sad, too. Impulsively, he took Jacqueline in his arms. “I love you, too.”

“I know.” She squeezed him. Then she released him, holding his face cupped in her hands. “Be happy, Sebastian. That’s the most important thing in life.”

He nodded, taking it to heart, even though he knew it was easier said than done. But he had more hope for the future now than he ever did before. He just had to get this favor out of the way first.

Find your heart in San Francisco with Kate’s new series, Fillmore & Greenwich.
What a Girl Wants
(Book 1)…

When a former business associate calls in a debt, Sebastian Tate is forced to end his extended sabbatical in London. He heads to San Francisco on a mission of mercy, to help the man’s daughter save her floundering business.

Unfortunately, the woman doesn’t want his help—or anything from him. Which is a problem, because she might be exactly what
he
wants.

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Kate has tangoed at midnight with a man in blue, furry chaps, dueled with flaming swords in the desert, and strutted on bar tops across the world and back. She’s been kissed under the Eiffel Tower, had her butt pinched in Florence, and been serenaded in New Orleans. She found Happy Ever After in San Francisco with her Magic Man.

Kate’s the bestselling author of the Summerhill series and critically acclaimed Laurel Heights Novels, as well as the Pillow Talk and Guardians of Destiny series. She’s been translated into several languages and is quite proud to say she’s big Down Under. All her books are about strong, independent women and the sexy alpha heroes who love them.

Most days, you can find Kate in her favorite café, working on her latest novel. Sometimes she’s wearing a tutu. She may or may not have a jeweled dagger strapped to her thigh …