“If that time isn’t now, Dad, why am I here?” I hated to be a dick about it, but I wasn’t coming home to have my parents boss me around.
“Let’s call it a transition,” he said.
“I don’t want to work for you.”
“Then call it a partnership. Don’t push me aside. I’ve got a few good ideas left in me yet, and I can be an asset to you.”
I inhaled a breath because he was probably right. I was still young enough that many of the old guard like him wouldn’t take me seriously.
I nodded. “Partnership then.”
“Pour us a drink, Katherine,” my father said to my mother.
“It’s not good for—”
“I’m not going to live the rest of my life without having a drink now and then.”
“Yes, fine.” She poured us both a finger of my father’s favorite whiskey from his ancestors’ homeland of Ireland.
“To partnership,” my father said holding up his glass.
I clinked my glass against his. “Partnership.”
“Well now that’s done, perhaps we can talk about something more fun.”
I couldn’t imagine what my mother was thinking.
“I saw Evelyn Winthrop,” she said, and I immediately rolled my eyes. Would she ever stop trying to get me and Evie married?
“Did she marry that duke or whatever,” I asked, having heard she’d been dating some guy with a title.
“No. And thank goodness. A title is all well and good unless you’re broke,” my mother said.
“Dodge a bullet on that one,” my father agreed. “You should call her.”
“Sure,” I said to appease them. I might call her, but not to marry her. Keeping in good with her family would help me as I took more control of the business. I’m sure that’s partly why my parents were on me to get with her.
Because I didn’t want to continue the conversation, I put my glass down. “I’ve had a long day and still have more to do.”
“At least you have the right work ethic. Sending you to Europe turned out to be the right decision,” my father said.
“In more ways than one,” my mother said under her breath.
I stared at her, wondering what she meant. Deciding I probably didn’t want to know, I said goodnight and headed out.
They were right about one thing, I was a different man than when I left, except for one thing. The effect Serena had on me hadn’t changed. I wondered what that meant.
3 Serena
I wasn’t sure how I made it through the rest of the day. Nikita immediately started asking me questions about how I knew Roarke and why hadn’t I ever said anything.
“You should be using that connection to help build your career,” she’d said.
“It’s not like that,” I said.
She studied me and I tried not to squirm. Fortunately, we reached the ground floor, so I hurried out of the building. Back at work, I busied myself with my other events, but Devin and his brilliant green eyes and sexy smile were never far from my mind. It was annoying. I’d been so certain I was over him. I was over him. My hormones, however, wouldn’t mind spending time with him again. It was annoyingly frustrating.
After work, I took the train home and picked up Andrew at my parents’ house.
“I’ve made enough spaghetti to feed an army,” my mother said when I found her in the kitchen. “Why don’t you and Andrew stay for dinner.”
I was never a huge fan of cooking, so I agreed. I also hoped being around my family would help distract me from seeing Devin again.
“We went to the library, mommy,” Andrew said coming into the kitchen while I set the table for my mom.
“Did you get good books?” I sat in a chair and pulled him onto my lap.
“Yep. I got one on airplanes.”
“Oh good. Maybe you can show me later tonight.”
“I swear that boy is going to be an engineer,” my mother said, setting a platter of spaghetti on the table. “Andrew, can you let Grandpa know dinner is ready.”
“’k.” Andrew squirmed off my lap and ran into the living room.
My mother watched him in a way that made me think she was wondering about his father.
My father appeared in the doorway. “I’ve been summoned for dinner.”
“Yes, yes, take a seat. Oh…did you and Andrew wash your hands?”
My father held up his hands to show her, winking at me. “I think your mother forgets I’m grown up sometimes.”
“When are you grown up?” my mother quipped.
My father waggled his eyebrows. “Late at night—”
“Oh stop,” my mother said quickly, her cheeks blushing.
I rolled my eyes. “How is it that I’m an only child?”
Andrew ran into the kitchen and climbed into his chair that had a little booster seat my father rigged for him.
“So, how was your day?” my mother asked, serving me and Andrew spaghetti.
“Good. Nikita asked me to help put on a party for Tony Gallagher.”
My father whistled. “Big time.”
“Did you meet him?” my mother sat in her chair.
“Not today, but she did ask me to help at the party.” I made sure Andrew’s napkin was tucked into the neck of his shirt to avoid getting tomato sauce on it.
“So, they’ll be lots of celebrities.” My father handed me the bowl with garlic bread.
“I suppose.”
“That will be so good for your career, I bet,” my mother said. “Where is the party being held?”
“At Roarke’s.” I turned my attention to Andrew to make sure there was nothing in my expression that hinted at my association with the Roarke family.
“I’d love to take you there sometime, honey,” my dad said to my mom.
My mother waved his comment away. “Why pay ten times too much for food I can make right here at home?”
“Why is it so expensive?” my father asked.
“Part of it is that they have higher-priced items, but mostly it’s the ambiance and brand,” I said.
“I hear it has quite a view,” my father said.
“It is nice.”
“Can you see airplanes there?” Andrew asked.
“Probably. It’s way up high.” All of a
