Seemingly oblivious to Chace’s emotion, Valerie set her glass aside, clasped her hands in front of her, her eyes shot back and forth between Chace and me and she instantly gave me the information I needed to understand what was going down.

“Trane is here!”

Uh-oh.

I tensed with Chace as Valerie babbled on, “He said he was tied up, most likely wouldn’t make it.” She looked at me. “I was devastated. I so wanted you to meet him and Chace’s father so wanted to meet you. I more so wanted Trane to meet you after I actually met you and you’re so very charming. And now,” she beamed between Chace and me, “He’s here!”

She then shot to her feet and rushed from the room without another word.

I turned to Chace but as I was doing this, he got to his feet, hauling me up with him, announcing on a growl, “We’re leavin’. Now.”

I nodded and didn’t say a word. I just bent and grabbed my bag as I went on alert because I could feel from his vibe that what would happen next would not go well.

I was not wrong though I would have no idea how bad it would get. And I would have no clue that bad wouldn’t happen until much later and it would be very bad.

We were coming into the foyer when we met Valerie and Trane.

I was not surprised to see, considering their money and Valerie’s barely diminished by age looks, that Trane’s father was also very dignified and attractive.

But I was surprised to see the resemblance Chace had to his father. They weren’t mirror images of each other, Trane’s hair had some gray mingled with the blond. But they were the same height, same build and Chace’s eyes were the same color as Trane’s. Although Chace was younger, the power and strength of his frame and stature not faded as Trane’s somewhat had, there were more than a few similarities.

I didn’t really get the chance to process this for, upon being in his father’s presence, that emotion flowing from Chace ratcheted up around two dozen levels making it hard to breathe. But even though he couldn’t miss it, Trane barely glanced at his son before he eyes lighted on me.

He sent a familiar but less natural and warm smile my way as he approached us.

“Faye,” he moved toward me as I felt Chace, already close, weirdly start crowding me, “what a delight. So pleased I made it home in time to meet you.”

Not knowing what to do considering everything about Chace screamed I should run for the hills but Trane was giving me a welcoming smile while Valerie stood to the side beaming with obvious pleasure, I simply locked my body but allowed Trane to take my hand.

It was when Trane touched me, the stifling emotion rolling off Chace hit the danger zone but I was caught. I could do nothing but allow Trane to lift my hand and touch his lips to my knuckles even when Chace’s arm slid around my waist, his fingers digging in and his mood blanketing the room.

I hadn’t been around rich people so I couldn’t know, maybe they kissed fingers as a matter of course, but even if Chace wasn’t being weird, I wouldn’t have liked him kissing my knuckles. It was debonair, I’d seen it happen before in movies but it also was a bit creepy. Furthermore, he couldn’t miss Chace’s possessive claiming tactics that shouted stand back! Thus he couldn’t miss he was putting me in an extremely awkward position and that wasn’t nice to me or his son.

Trane straightened and dropped my hand but didn’t release it when he continued to ignore his son and looked in my eyes. For my part, I was again caught, wanting to put pressure on my hand for him to release it at the same time thinking that might be rude.

“You’re lovely. What a shame I wasn’t able to be there while you graced my table.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Let her go,” Chace growled low enough his mother wouldn’t hear but his father definitely did because he let me go.

His eyes cut to his son.

“Chace,” he greeted. “You’re looking well.”

“We’re also leaving,” Chace replied, moving me around Trane toward his mother. I could hear the effort it took him to modulate his voice when he spoke to her. “Sorry, Ma, but we have to hit the road.”

Her face fell instantly showing she wasn’t disappointed, she was devastated.

Thus she leaned in beseechingly. “Couldn’t you stay for just one more drink so Trane can relax and chat with you and your charming Faye?”

“No,” Chace replied tersely, not to mention rudely, leaned in, kissed her cheek then moved back and told her, “I’ll call. Maybe in a coupla weeks you can come to Carnal, spend the weekend.”

“But –” she started but Chace’s arm gave my waist a squeeze, I took his meaning and moved forward.

“Lovely dinner,” I murmured, curling my hand reassuringly on her upper arm and leaning in to touch my cheek against hers. “I enjoyed it very much, the food,” I moved back, caught her eyes and gave her arm a squeeze before I finished, “and especially the company.”

She grabbed my hand and leaned in too and she did this in order to throw me right under the bus.

“Please, Faye, talk to Chace. Just a drink. The whole family,” she pleaded.

She wanted that, badly, and I knew Chace was not going to give it to her.

I was saved from having to reply when Chace moved me firmly away from her and stated, “We gotta go.”

He then instantly guided us toward the front of the foyer, stopping at a door and opening it.

“Just a drink. Fifteen minutes,” Valerie urged, her tone edging toward desperate.

Chace came out with my coat but his eyes sliced to his father. I fancied I knew him well, but you didn’t have to know him well to know he was telling his father to shut this down. Now.

Trane read this and moved to his wife, murmuring, “It’s late, love. They should be making their way.”

Her voice was rising to the point there was a hint of hysteria in it when she returned, “Fifteen minutes! That’s all I ask. Fifteen minutes with my family all together.”

“Fuck,” Chace clipped under his breath.

He’d helped me on with my coat so I was unfortunately free again to forge into the breach.

“It really is late and it’s also a long drive. I’ve had to work today, your food was delicious but with that, work, wonderful wine but lots of it and good company, I’m afraid I’m dead on my feet. I’ll probably fall asleep in the car.” I smiled at her. “Not to mention, it’s past Chace’s bedtime. So, to be safe, we should be getting home. It really was so lovely meeting you and,” I turned my eyes to Trane, “having the chance to meet you too.” I looked back at Valerie. “And I hope you take Chace up on coming to spend the weekend. I can show you my library and make you dinner.”