Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(53)

How different would their relationship be now if they had shared more of those moments? Her whole childhood, she’d yearned for her mother to stop running from one bright new shiny thing to another and be content with what she had. Why couldn’t having a daughter who loved her be enough to make Diane happy? Chloe’s eyes watered at the thought, but she blinked the moisture away. Crying over the past was a waste of energy better spent on shaping the present.

Diane smiled at something in the copy of Modern Bride she held. When she gave DeeDee a look as hopeful as an eager puppy, Chloe realized they must be planning the wedding. DeeDee shook her head and waved a hand, telling her daughter to look for something else.

Chloe saw Diane’s whining plea collide with DeeDee’s impatience. She could almost hear the argument through the glass.

Why won’t you let me have what I want?

Because we want a dignified affair.

But why does dignified have to mean boring?

Knowing DeeDee and Diane would be occupied with their argument for a while, Chloe turned her attention to the men, wondering which of the two talking to John was her mother’s next marital disaster.

The one who stood in profile she discounted instantly. He looked like a stocky, middle-aged boxer who’d taken too many hits to the face during his career. Her mother wouldn’t be caught dead dating a man like that. In fact, looking at his loud Hawaiian shirt and baggy slacks, she wondered what he was even doing here. A bodyguard, perhaps, for the fiancé? No, a bodyguard wouldn’t be drinking.

Dismissing him, she sized up the man who stood with his back to her. He had a tall, lean body that wore his casual but obviously expensive clothes well. His dull gray hair made him older than she’d expected, since her mother gravitated toward young, pretty men who liked to party as much as she did.

Then there was John, standing over six feet with the body of a much younger man and the bearing of a king. His salt-and-pepper hair framed a face that had always reminded her of a hawk: sharp, elegant, and lethal. Her stomach twisted, knowing he had the power to make or crush dreams, and he currently held her dream of a life on Pearl Island in his fist.

She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. Stay calm and this will all be over soon, she told herself. Pasting on a smile, she opened the French doors and stepped outside.

“Chloe!” her mother called out in a bright voice. “You made it.”

Everyone turned as Diane rose and hurried toward her, arms held out. Her mother’s broad smile gave Chloe hope that this wouldn’t be too bad. At least Diane seemed genuinely happy to see her.

When her mother’s arms went around her, Chloe closed her eyes and hugged back. She let herself savor the feeling for just a second. As a pang of longing filled her, however, she forced herself to pull back and shore up her defenses. “Yep,” she said with forced brightness. “I’m here.”

“God, I’m so glad you came.” With her back to the others, Diane let her smile drop as she took Chloe’s hands in a firm grip. “Thank you.”

Chloe arched a brow, suspecting the reason behind her mother’s desperation. “DeeDee?”

“If only that were all.” Diane closed her eyes as if she were holding on by a thread. “DeeDee I can handle. But this—” She shook her head. “Never mind. We’ll talk later. Come say hi to the dragon lady before I introduce you to Harold. I’ll get you a glass of wine.”

Steeling herself, Chloe went and kissed her grandmother’s cheek, breathing in the light, powdery scent of her perfume. “Hello, DeeDee.”

“Chloe,” DeeDee returned politely. Her welcoming smile slipped, however, as her gaze took in Chloe’s outfit. “You didn’t have time to change out of your jeans?”

“They’re designer,” Chloe countered, hoping she sounded breezy.

“They’re denim.” DeeDee frowned.

“By Armani.” Chloe accepted the glass of wine her mother offered her. “And I was too eager to see you to waste time changing clothes.”

Diane’s eyes shone with amused admiration as she lifted her glass in a subtle toast. Chloe hid a twinge of hurt by taking a sip. Couldn’t her grandmother, just once, say she looked nice? Acceptable was the best she’d ever achieved.

“You have been away a long time,” DeeDee sighed. “One would think Galveston were on the other side of the world with as little as you come to visit.”

Chloe hummed politely, thinking her life on Pearl Island actually was a world apart from this one.

“Well, at least you came for your mother’s wedding,” DeeDee said.

Chloe shot her mother a look of alarm since she’d agreed to come to the engagement party, not stay two whole weeks until the actual wedding.

Diane cringed apologetically, then turned up the wattage on her smile. “Come, let me introduce you to Harold.”

Chloe prepared herself to be polite. No good would come from her freezing the man out from the beginning.

John spotted her as they approached and gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Ah yes, the we’re-in-public-so-let’s-pretend-we-like-each-other smile. “Chloe. How wonderful to see you. It’s been too long.”

“I’m glad I could make it.” She smiled back with equal sincerity. Or lack thereof.

“I’d like you to meet Ian MacMillan, who’s going to be coming on board as the new head of accounting for LeRoche Shipping,” John said, indicating the gray-haired man.