We climbed out and I stood awkwardly outside the house while Dad and Gentry fetched our luggage. No one mentioned the lack of a welcoming party for our arrival, so I didn't bring it up. It wasn't like I was in any rush to do awkward introductions either.
“So, you'll be in the pool house.” Gentry opened the door and motioned for me to go ahead, but I hung back, waiting for him to pass. “Now, I know there's only one bedroom, but we've replaced the old couch with a sofa bed. I hope that's okay?”
“Gentry, it’s more than enough. The agent left a message. The work should be finished soon. They anticipate it being wrapped up in a month. A couple at the most.”
He gripped my father's shoulder. “There's no rush, Robert. We're excited to have you both here.”
He kept saying that, but I couldn't work out if it was for our benefit, or his.
Dad nodded and motioned for his brother to lead the way. I traipsed after them, through the house that resembled a small mansion. It really was something else. We passed the deep staircase which led to a balcony, and what I knew to be at least five bedrooms positioned down the long hallway. The kitchen was just as I remembered, spacious and modern with a centre island and six black leather stools tucked neatly underneath. Sparkly dark counters lined the walls housing various gadgets, all of which looked brand new.
“Lo?”
My eyes snapped to Dad and Gentry. They had stopped by the French doors, both smiling at me, and I realised I was gawking. “Even though I’ve been here, it’s like seeing it again for first time.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them and Gentry let out a smooth chuckle.
“I’ll be sure to tell Loretta you were impressed. Honestly, I don’t know what we’d do without that woman.”
“Loretta, right,” I grumbled with a shake of my head. They had a housekeeper. I’d forgotten about that.
This wasn't life. At least, it wasn't my life. Sure, Dad did okay. We'd lived in a nice house in the country and money had never been an issue, but this was... well, this was going to take some getting used to.
Gentry helped us get situated in the pool house and then left us to unpack. It was more of a small self-contained apartment overlooking the amazing pool in the beautifully landscaped gardens. It was all so annoyingly perfect, I wanted to hate it.
Dad insisted I take the bedroom. He started at Stone and Associates on Monday and expected to be working long hours to get up to speed with the family business. Which meant I would be spending a lot of time alone, or with my new family. The ones who were so excited to see me again they still hadn't bothered to show up yet.
I'd just finished unpacking one of my cases into the small closet, when Dad poked his head around the doorframe. “Gentry made us something to eat.”
“Great.”
His eyes scanned the room, and he smiled. “It's already starting to look like home.”
I cocked my eyebrow at him in disbelief. Surely, he knew it was going to take more than a few strategically placed photo frames and sentimental keepsakes to feel homely? But instead of starting an argument I said, “Come on, I'm starving.” I ducked under his arm and headed for the house.
We found Gentry placing a bowl onto the island. “It’s not much. Loretta took a personal day, but she’ll be back tomorrow.”
“It’s fine, right, Lo?” Dad flashed me a reassuring smile, and I said a polite thank you, helping myself to some salad.
“They'll be here soon.” Uncle Gentry checked his watch again. “Rebecca can't wait to see you both.”
He kept saying that, but we'd been here at least an hour and still hadn't caught so much as a glimpse of his wife and their children. Dad gave a strained laugh, and I kept my head low, shoving the green leaves around my plate.
“They promised,” Gentry grumbled under his breath so quietly he was probably unaware he'd actually said it out loud.
“Sorry, I'm sorry.” A woman breezed into the room, arms wide as she made a beeline for her husband. “I got held up.”
“It's fine,” Gentry said, standing to greet his wife. “You're here now. Come and say hello to Robert and Lo.”
“Oh my.” She glanced in my direction and her eyes widened. “Eloise, what a beautiful young lady you’ve become.”
I blushed wanting the ground to open and swallow me because if she thought I was beautiful it made her Aphrodite. “Thank you, it's nice to see you again.”
“Rebecca.” Dad rose from his stool. “It's good to see you again.” He wrapped her into an awkward hug that had me stifling a laugh.
“Are they with you?” Gentry looked to the door.
“They're not here?”
Gentry and his wife shared a strange look, but Rebecca's smile widened as she launched into a game of twenty questions. How was our flight? Did we need anything? Was the pool house okay? Dad was halfway through his not so funny story about the layover in Reykjavik when a door banged somewhere in the house and the sound of chatter filled the air.
“Thank God,” Gentry grumbled and I was about to ask what he meant when a familiar face bounded into the room. Kyle, with his father’s good looks and same sandy hair, grinned in my direction. “Cous, looking good.”
Heat crept into my cheeks and I offered him a small wave. His sister, Summer, the youngest of the Stone-Prince children, and a perfect mix of Rebecca and her father, edged forward offering a small smile. “It’s nice to see you both again.”
“You too, Summer,” Dad said. “I know Lo is looking forward to spending time with you all.”
“Yeah,” I grumbled in earnest.
Gentry shared a look with his son and Kyle shrugged as a tall willowy girl entered the room. I hadn’t met her last summer—she and her brother were visiting their dad—but I knew her to be Macey, Rebecca’s daughter. The resemblance between them was startling, but from my limited knowledge on the Prince daughter, she was the polar opposite of her mother. Macey didn’t speak, offering me a tight-lipped smile. I gave her the benefit of the doubt, because if she felt even an ounce of the awkwardness coursing through me, I got it.
“Macey,” Rebecca scolded. “Please say hello to your Uncle Robert, and Eloise.”
“Hello.” Her flat tone matched her expression, and I received her message loud and clear—we wouldn’t be BFF’s anytime soon.
I shot Dad a discreet look but he didn’t seem to share my concern, smiling reassuringly just as Uncle Gentry said, “And this giant here, is Maverick.”
My head lifted watching as another person entered the room. I did a double take, my eyes widening with surprise, and then something much, much worse. My stomach sank and then plummeted into the tips of my toes.
It couldn’t be.
There was absolutely no way this could be happening.
My fingers curled around the edge of the stool as I tried to stay upright all while I was unable to tear my gaze away from a face I thought I’d never see again.
A face I didn’t want to see again.
Dark hair curled at the ends giving way to an angular jaw and a perfect nose set between two of the most intense and unfathomable eyes I’d ever seen. Eyes I’d almost lost myself in once before.