Only Mine (Honey Mountain #5)(40)

Wolf wiped his mouth with his napkin before dropping it into his lap again. “Yet you’re dating the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the city, the owner of an NHL team, and meeting her family members, who clearly go against everything you believe in. What’s your end game?”

The table went completely still, and Sabine shot a death look at her brother.

“I have no end game. I find Sabine to be intoxicating. The heart wants what the heart wants.” Z smiled, meeting Wolf’s stare head-on.

“The heart wants what the heart wants,” Miranda bellowed out, startling me as she continued to sing. “Through the pain, through the heartache, I shall find you. I shall find you.”

No one paid her much attention as they were obviously all used to it. But I couldn’t help but want to join in. This was the most entertaining dinner I’d ever been to, and trust me when I tell you, the Thomas family dinners are rarely drama free. But this was next level.

“I have to agree with my son on this,” Duke said. “It doesn’t sound like you and my daughter have much in common. So, am I to assume that you are offended by how we make our living?”

“I don’t agree with it, but I can see past it because of my feelings for Sabine.” He kissed her cheek, and I think everyone at the table thought that Z might just be a little bit full of shit, but I also saw the way she looked at him, and I empathized with the fact that she didn’t have anyone on her side.

This is where sisters always came into play.

I always had them to support me.

“Well, obviously I’m new here. But, I think we’re asking the wrong person all the questions. Sabine is an amazing woman, why not ask her the questions?” I said, as Gweny picked up my salad plate and winked at me.

“What would you ask her?” Z said, notably annoyed that I was suggesting we take the attention off of him. He liked the spotlight, that much was clear.

“I’d ask Sabine if she thought there was a problem with the way Z living his life conflicts with the way she lives hers. And then I’d trust her, because she’s clearly a strong, competent woman.” I shrugged and then rubbed my hands together when a plate of filet mignon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus was set down in front of me.

“Thank you, Dylan. I couldn’t agree more. I think that right now, our relationship is in the early stages. We don’t need to decide our entire future. Z is different and fun and smart,” she said, smiling up at him. “And I like him. That’s all that really matters right now.”

“That’s all that really matters. That’s all that really matters to Sabine. And to me. And to Dylan,” Miranda sang out.

“Fine. Can we eat our dinner now?” Duke asked.

“I think my daughter is very wise. Thanks for pointing that out, Dylan.” Natalie smiled at me. “Z, can we get you a juice or something for your fast?”

“I’m guessing you purchase your juice from the store?” he asked. “I only drink freshly squeezed juice.”

“How does one afford freshly squeezed juice when he makes no money as a, what is it? A joy spreader?” Wolf hissed.

“He’s a spirit lifter,” Sabine and I said at the same time, and we both chuckled.

“Yes. What’s the going rate for spirit lifting these days?” Wolf asked, and he didn’t hide his irritation.

Classical music played through the speakers in the dining room, but it was soft enough that it didn’t interrupt the conversation, yet I found it very relaxing.

“I don’t work for money, Wolf.” Z folded his hands together and set them on the table.

“Interesting. How do you pay the bills?”

“My parents support me. They understand my desire to give back to the world, and they cover my finances.”

“Ah… What do your parents do for a living?” Sebastian asked.

“They own a production company. They are in the adult movie industry.”

“I love porn!” Sebastian shouted.

“Porn isn’t corn. Porn is porn. Corn is corn.” Miranda looked quite pleased as she sang out the new change in conversation.

Wolf coughed hard as he appeared to choke on his last sip of bubbly, or at the fact that the nonworking Z, who didn’t believe in names and the buying and selling of goods, was the son of adult movie producers. I reached for his back instinctually. It was my civic duty, right? Not the fact that I got to graze my palm along every muscle that strained against his black, fitted dress shirt. He cleared his throat, and I realized he’d stopped coughing, so I quickly pulled my hand away.

“Are you all right?” I whispered as the rest of his family was asking all sorts of questions about Z’s family business. Sebastian even knew some of the stars of their shows.

Wolf leaned down and whispered in my ear again. “As all right as one can be when sitting across the table from a complete asshat. What the hell does she see in this clown?”

When he pulled back, I turned to face him. My mouth was just an inch from his, and my lips would graze his if I moved the slightest bit. I turned his head and whispered in his ear this time. “If I had to guess, I’d say she’s having a little bit of a rebellious moment. And I promise you, the more you fight it, the more she’ll defend him. If you say nothing, I have a feeling she’ll lose interest quickly.”