But just as I think he’s going to close the distance between us, the sound of the front door opening shatters the moment and we jump apart, turning behind us to see Mrs. Hollister and Preston standing in the doorway.
CHAPTER FOUR
BROGAN
“What is the meaning of this?”Mother demands as Willy and I scramble to face her, her perfectly coifed hair falling slightly out of place as she turns her gaze toward Willy. “You! I hired you to renovate this beach house, not to seduce my son! How long has this been going on between you two?”
“Mother, calm down,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “Willy and I were just taking a break. There’s no need to make a scene.”
Mother scoffs, her hands folded in front of her chest. “A break? It looks like a lot more than that to me. And what are you doing here anyway? You told me you weren’t coming in for another three days and here you are, doing work I hired Willy to do.” She turns her attention back to Willy. “You, young lady, are fired. And I’ll make sure you never work in Love Beach again.”
“You can’t do that!” Willy exclaims, her eyes wide withshock. “I never asked Brogan to help me. He just showed up?—”
“You’re doing no such thing, Mother.” Suddenly I take Willy’s hand. I don’t even know what makes me do it, but the plan appears in my head for a split second and all I know is that as crazy as it sounds, I don’t have much of a choice.
“Willy and I… we’ve been seeing each other for a while now and I came here a few days early to surprise her,” I continue as Willy’s look of surprise is replaced by confusion.
Preston straightens. “Wait! You guys are dating?”
Bringing my arm over Willy’s shoulder, I pull her to my side. “Yes, we are, so stop all this talk about ruining her career just because you don’t approve of her.”
“But you’re supposed to be meeting Calvin and his daughter, Beatrice, in two days,” Mother begins. “They’re flying in tomorrow just in time for the party on Beckham Steele’s yacht.”
Beckham is one of my family’s business partners but that’s all I know about him.
“Beck’s unveiling his latest venture on his yacht, the Intrepid,” Preston says, sounding almost bored though there’s no mistaking the way he’s studying me and Willy. “You can’t miss it, Brog. It’s currently anchored in the Cove.”
“We’re one of his investors, dear,” Mother adds. “But now that you’re here, I’ll inform him that you’ll be attending, too.”
“Willy will be attending with me.”
Mother starts to say something but stops herself. “Preston will let Gail know to add two more to the guest list then. I’m sure Willy will find something to wear. I wouldn’t want her to stick out like a sore thumb.”
“I don’t really have to go, Mrs. Hollister,” Willy says as she tries to pull away but I keep my grip firm. “I’m sure you’d love to spend time alone with Brogan now that he’s back.”
Mother laughs. “And miss out on introducing you two as a couple to the world? Of course not. It’s decided. You and Brogan will attend.” She turns to face me. “I just wish you could have given me advance notice, dear, then I wouldn’t have wasted Calvin’s time. Beatrice was so looking forward to seeing you again and hearing all about your missions. But fortunately, she and her father are among the official guests at the Steele party so it’s no big deal.”
“It’ll be one interesting party, that’s for sure,” Preston says as I find myself wishing I could punch the grin off his face right now.
“I just hope Calvin will forgive me for leading him to believe you were… single,” Mother adds, wringing her hands nervously. “You never once even hinted you were dating someone. I mean, she’s not even… she’s not one of us.”
As Willy flinches, anger flares in my chest. How can Mother say such things? Hasn’t she once considered why I refused to find my place in the family business? Instead, I enlisted in the Navy the first chance I could and declared my intent to be a SEAL. I carried fifty pounds of gearon my back, hiked miles in the scorching heat, and pushed my body to its limits, all to prove I was more than just a trust fund kid.
“Mother, I care deeply about Willy and she’s the one I choose to be with,” I say. “If you can’t accept that, then I’m sorry. That’s your problem, not mine.”
Mother’s eyes widen. “Brogan, dear, you can’t be serious. You have responsibilities… obligations to this family. You can’t just throw it all away for some… some fling with a girl who doesn’t even belong in our circles. Her father was our gardener, for crying out loud.”
“Willy is not a fling, Mother,” I say as calmly as I can.Why is this getting worse with every passing second?
But even though it feels like I’ve just dug Willy and myself into the deepest hole possible, I’m even more determined to stick to the lie. I just hope she’s game. “Willy’s an incredible woman, one who has worked hard for everything she has. She’s talented, intelligent, and kind, and I’m lucky to have her in my life,” I say as Willy turns to look at me, mouthing, ‘I am?’ “And if you can’t see that, then maybe it’s time for me to reevaluate my place in this family.”
It’s overkill but it works as Mother gasps, her hand flying to her chest. “Brogan, you can’t mean that. You can’t turn your back on your family, on your legacy. You’re a Hollister!”
A bitter laugh escapes my lips. “What legacy? The one where I’m just another trust fund kid, living off the family fortune? That’s not the legacy I want. That’s not theman I want to be.”
I turn to Willy, willing her to play along even as she looks on, looking amused now. “And Willy… she understands that. She sees me for who I really am, not for my family name or my bank account.”
“How long have you two been seeing each other?” Preston asks.
