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“I’m sorry but what’s a coming out?” Allyson nearly choked. “What gala?”
“It’s tradition dear,” Dane’s mother, Liliana chided. “Before Dane’s father and I got married, I made my entrance into Rhode Island and New York society. You two seemed to have skipped the pre-nuptial formalities, so we’ll be making up for lost time.” She stared down at Allyson, clearly not impressed.
Dane’s father reached out to pull Allyson into a quick hug. “Welcome to our home. And welcome to the family.”
“Thank you,” Allyson stammered. Mr. Prescott had always been friendlier, probably because he had his wife to act like an attack dog on his behalf.
Liliana motioned for them to sit, and Allyson took her seat on the sofa across from them. Dane settled in beside her and took her hand. The warmth of his touch steadied her. No matter how tough this got, she had him beside her and he would have her back. She hoped. It might turn into a survival of the fittest. Billionaire family, social status, coming outs, and galas? She swallowed hard—she didn’t stand a chance.
“You’ve already signed Allyson up for some event?” Dane asked through gritted teeth. “Without our permission?”
His mother waved her hand dismissively. “It’s tradition. Our way of welcoming Allyson into the family. Hardly objectionable. It’s just over a week away.”
Allyson and Dane exchanged worried glances. This was bad. They only wanted to keep up this charade for the next few days at most. Now Dane’s mother was making plans for next week. Not that she could blame her.
“I don’t think I’d be ready in time. And where would I get anything to wear on such short notice?” Allyson asked.
“That’s why you’re here, darling,” Liliana said. “You can spend the next few days here while we teach you as much as we can. Heaven knows if you’ll learn anything.” She ignored Dane as she leaned forward and continued chatting away. “We’ll teach you all the table manners and rules of etiquette you’ll need. After all, you’re a Prescott now. What sort of family would we be if we tossed you out to sea without a life vest?”
Allyson stared at Liliana in horror. There was no way she’d learn all those rules in time. She’d make a complete fool of herself if she went to one of those society balls with less than a week to prepare. Besides, what on earth would they do if the tabloids broke a story with the truth before then? The humiliation would be unbearable. “But—”
“It’s already arranged,” Liliana cut in, interrupting her. “The charity gala has been on the calendar for months. Dane was supposed to be going with Katherine Handel.”
“No, Mother, I wasn’t,” Dane bit out. “You wanted Katherine to be my date. I refused.”
“Anyway, we’ll be dining with the Handels,” his mother barreled on, ignoring her son. “I’m not going to lie to you two—this sudden matter of your marriage has been rather indelicate. The Handels aren’t going to be happy you tossed Katherine over for...Allyson, here.”
Allyson frowned. The way Liliana said her name made her stomach churn. Like it was a disappointment. It reminded her of the way her own mother said it sometimes. With an edge of bitterness. Barely- masked disdain. She knew now that the invitation to stay at Prescott Hill wasn’t a gesture of hospitality. Liliana hated having her here.
“Next week isn’t a good time,” Dane said.
“It’s already settled,” his mother said. “Now, before we have some refreshments, why don’t you boys leave Allyson and me alone together to discuss next week’s gala?”
Dane turned to Allyson, his eyes dark with worry. She could either cause a scene and raise suspicion, or she could go along with what his mother wanted and keep the peace. They’d deal with the fallout later. No use angering his mother before her contract was renegotiated.
“I’ll be fine, Dane. Go with your dad,” Allyson said breezily before she forced a smile.
“Come on, son. We can talk in my study.” His father rose.
Dane squeezed her hand reassuringly and followed his father out of the living room.
Allyson regarded Liliana warily. Tall, statuesque, with perfectly-coiffed pale blond hair, the fifty-something-year-old had always been a great beauty. She had been a debutante and socialite, one of the most eligible bachelorettes in America until Alfred Prescott, a philanthropist ten years her senior, had finally stopped his womanizing ways to wed her.
Two maids quietly entered the room to lay out refreshments on the low coffee table, and then swiftly departed.
Liliana motioned to the spread. “Please help yourself, dear.”
Allyson reached for a slim glass of lemonade and took a sip. Her throat was dry, but the cool lemonade helped. “You have a lovely home, Mrs. Prescott.”
“Liliana is fine.” Dane’s mother eyes narrowed. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I invited you here.”
“It’s only natural you’d want to see us,” Allyson said. “The marriage was so sudden.”
“Yes. So sudden that I can’t help but wonder...are you pregnant?”
Allyson nearly choked mid-sip. After she forced some more lemonade down, she set the glass down on the table. “No. Not pregnant.”
Liliana crossed her slender legs and threw her shoulders back. “Thank goodness! This will be far less complicated then.”
Allyson blinked. “Oh?”
“Honestly, honey, I’m amazed you haven’t managed to get yourself pregnant yet.”
Allyson gasped. “Excuse me? That’s—”
“Oh, don’t play innocent with me,” Liliana snapped sharply. “We both know what you’re here for. Three years with my son and you finally got your gold-digging claws into him. I have to admit you caught me by surprise. I knew you’d try something, but you’re a real crafty one to get a marriage out of him without my knowledge.”
Allyson’s breath hitched. Thoughts swirled in her head. Dane’s mother really thought she was a money-grubber? Considering how unscrupulous fortune hunters could be, Allyson didn’t blame Liliana for being suspicious. But she bristled at her character being called into question.
Yes, she’d made an absolute mess out of a lie she’d had no right to tell. But she’d never wanted Dane for his money. It didn’t matter how obsessed her parents were with wealth and success; to Allyson, all that mattered was happiness. And now that it was clear Dane had no real interest in her beyond a fling, happiness was a million miles out of her grasp.
“I know how things must look to you,” Allyson began carefully. “But I assure you, this isn’t what you think it is.”
“Like hell it isn’t,” Liliana snapped. “I’ve always been able to keep scheming gold-diggers like you at bay, and you aren’t going to be the one who foils me. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my only son.”
“Mrs. Prescott, please—”
“I invited you here so I could find out one thing.” Liliana pursed her lips. “How much money do I have to pay you to divorce Dane?”
* * *
DANE HANDED HIS FATHER the snifter of brandy and sat in the antique chair across from him.
His father took a long sip, but said nothing.
The silence between them was usually easy. Since he was a boy, his father would invite him into his study to talk. Sometimes about serious things. At other times to talk about nothing at all. But he’d never had to talk about something as serious as having a wife.
It pained him to lie to his father. To keep up a charade about something so sacred. His parents’ marriage was a good one. A rarity in their social circle. Dane wanted what his parents had, though none of the heiresses ever made him want to settle down. Not even pretend settle down.
That thought unnerved him. The only woman he’d fake a marriage with was Allyson. That made him wonder if that meant his heart wanted the real thing with her, but his brain made him too cautious to pursue something so serious. Playing pretend came with all the benefits of being with someone as wonderful as her, but without the commitment.
“I must say, Dane, I’m surprised,” his father finally said.
“I know it’s sudden,” Dane murmured. “But we didn’t plan all this.” It hurt him deeply to have to lie to his father. He had to remind himself that all this was to protect Allyson. If he could protect her from further humiliation and save her job, then the lie would be worth it. His parents would understand someday. “She’s a good woman, Dad.”
“Does she make you happy?”
“More than any woman I’ve ever known.” That wasn’t a lie. It was the truth, plainly told. Nothing made his heart race the way it did every morning, right before he stepped into work, like the anticipation of seeing Allyson. Was that why he had loved work these past few years? Had it been her doing?
“I guess in the end, that’s all that counts.”
A knock on the study door caught their attention. His mother popped her head in.
“Boys, we’re done. Why don’t you take Addison up so she can freshen up a lot—I mean a bit.”
Dane sighed. He stood and set the glass down. “It’s Allyson, Mother.” He moved past her and took Allyson upstairs to change. This was going to be an exhausting next few days.
Upstairs they both changed into less formal outfits for dinner. She in a cotton sundress and he in a polo shirt and some khaki pants. Dinner was uneventful. Dane and his parents mostly talked about his childhood stories while Allyson listened attentively, her green eyes sparkling.
While the dinner table was being cleared, he took her hand and pulled her to him. “Want to talk a walk on the beach with me?” he whispered into her ear.
She gave him a small smile. “I’d like that.”
They stepped out the back door, hand in hand. He guided her away from the green lawns on the sprawling property until they reached the sandy beach.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said, excitement in her voice.
The moonlight illuminated her, giving her a soft glow. Making her look luminous, ethereal. Her hand slipped out of his as she raced to the gently rushing waves of the ocean. Quickly, she kicked off her shoes and let the waves wash over her feet.
She was so beautiful it took his breath away. It was remarkable the things that excited her. Not the private jet, or the enormous house behind them, but the sandy beach. Something so simple.
He kicked off his shoes, rolled up his pants, and followed her. The cold ocean water washing over his feet was refreshing, cooling.
“Did you come here all the time as a kid?”
“Every holiday,” he replied. “I went to school in New York City, so Prescott Hill was for vacations.”
“Let me guess, you went to one of those prep schools.”
He nodded. “Yes. Why is that important?”
She shrugged. “It isn’t. It’s just a reminder is all.”
“A reminder of what?”
She lowered her eyes to stare down at the waves. “Nothing.”
He frowned, concern roiling through him. Something was wrong. Whatever it was, she seemed determined to want to keep it inside. It had to be something his mother had said to her. Allyson had wanted him to leave them alone together, but he was starting to wonder if that had been a good idea. His mother was a very intimidating woman, often said things that made people who weren’t ready uncomfortable. “My mother said something to you, didn’t she?” He placed his hands on her shoulders, determined to get the truth out of her. Her skin was covered in goose bumps, and she shivered beneath his touch. “You’re shivering, Ally.” He pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her, and rubbed her back to try to warm her.
“Your mother thinks I’m a gold-digger,” she blurted out.
“Of course she does,” he muttered. “She thinks anyone who doesn’t come from old money is.”
Allyson pulled away to look up at him. “We should tell her the truth.”
He frowned. “We will. Just not yet.”
She turned to start walking down the beach. He fell in step beside her. They’d covered quite a distance before Allyson sighed and began talking. “I don’t like lying to your parents.”
“I like it even less than you do,” he said flatly.
Even in the semi-darkness he could see how taken aback she looked. “Of course,” she said. “This must be much harder for you than it is for me. But I hate lying like this. I hate scheming. And all this for what? To get my contract renewed?”
“That’s why we’re doing this. You’re a good person, Allyson. You’ve spent a lot of time being my attack dog and fighting for me.”
She laughed softly. “Is that how you see me?” She snorted. “I kind of thought of your mother being your father’s attack dog.”
“You’re my beautiful attack dog. What more could a boss ask for?” He gave her a lopsided grin. “But it’s time someone fought for you. I’ve accomplished a hell of a lot with you by my side. Let me do this one thing for you.”
“So, what you’re really saying is that Prescott Global would fall apart without me,” she teased.
“What I’m saying is that I would fall apart without you.” Damn it, where had that come from? He was supposed to be pretending. Not confessing long-suppressed feelings to her. After all this madness blew over, they’d have to go back to being the professionals that they were. How he was going to let her go he didn’t know.
And if they didn’t pull this off—which was also a possibility—he’d lose her. Not just as an assistant either. He’d lose everything.
The thought terrified him more than anything else.
