Beauty and the Bachelor(30)

"You're looking beautiful, Mom." She picked up the linen napkin and flicked it open to settle over her lap. "How's Dad?"

"Thank you. And he's fine. Worried, but fine." Her mother picked up her  glass of white wine and sipped, studying her over the rim. "I'm  surprised by your concern. It's been four weeks since  your"-pause-"wedding. And we haven't heard from you once."

Charlene was not just her mother, but the mother of guilt trips, also.  "After our last conversation, I assumed we both needed time." Their  waiter appeared, setting a plate of hot, fresh bread on the table.  Sydney placed her order for a shrimp salad before returning to her  mother and plucking up a slice of the honey oat loaf.

Charlene's mouth scrunched into a moue of distaste. "Really, Sydney.  Bread? As if you need any more carbs." She sighed. "I don't know how  many times I've warned you to be careful of what you eat. Women of  your"-another significant pause-"stature have to be more vigilant and  careful than others."

Sydney set the slice on her plate and folded her hands in her lap. "Stop  it, Mom," she said softly, though she instilled a vein of steel in the  order that halted Charlene mid-diatribe. "I'm not going to let you talk  to me like that any longer."

Charlene huffed out an impatient breath. "The dramatics, Sydney-"

"Through pointed reminders and criticisms, I have understood for a very  long time that I am not a perfect size two. I also know that disappoints  and embarrasses you."

In her head, Lucas's voice echoed, rebounding against the walls, and gaining volume with each pass.

"Have your parents ground you down to the point where you believe you deserve that kind of treatment … "

She could still feel Lucas's palm against her jaw. Still see the fire  that had blazed in his turquoise gaze as he'd made her contemplate  herself in front of that mirror.

This woman is the most conscientious, selfless, considerate person I've  met. And I've known her for weeks. How do they not recognize it … why does  she let them get away with not acknowledging it? With not respecting  her gifts, her heart, her feelings?

"I love you, Mom," she continued, shaking off the memory. "But if my  stature aggrieves you that much, we can limit our interaction. And when  we are together, I'm no longer going to allow you to put me down for  it."

Silence, heavy with tension, loomed over their table like a single gray storm cloud.

"Well," Charlene said, tone as stiff as her spine. "Apparently being  married to Lucas Oliver has also taught you how to be disrespectful."         

     



 

Sydney didn't reply. Anything she uttered now would be construed as an  apology, and she was not sorry for finally-finally-standing up for  herself. Fighting for herself. Elation, airy and bright as a summer ray  of sunshine, glowed inside her chest. No doubt, her mother viewed this  as an opening volley in a bid for control, but damn it, for the first  time she didn't fold, believing the outcome a foregone conclusion.

"Mrs. Williamson asked about you at our literacy meeting." Charlene took  another sip of wine. "She wanted me to pass along her congratulations."

"Thank you. I'll have to call on her." Pleasantries. Trivialities. Safe topics.

"I told her you might." Then she launched into a detailed account of the  events and parties she'd attended as well as the local gossip, not  halting as the waiter returned and set their orders before them. "I  accepted the invitation on your behalf to the Reinholds' reception after  the Carnaval ballet opening this weekend. I'll send the car-"

"Wait, I'm sorry," Sydney interrupted, tuning back in. "Mom, why would you do that? I can't go to the Reinholds'."

"Of course you will," she dismissed with a careless flick of her hand.  "I think it's very gracious of them to invite you after your treatment  of Tyler. It would've been rude to decline."

"Yes, it is beyond generous of them to ask Lucas and me to their home, but I can imagine how awkward it would be."

"I didn't mention Lucas Oliver," Charlene corrected coldly. "The invitation was for you alone."

"And you agreed?" She gaped at her mother. "You expect me to attend the  party hosted by my ex-fiancé and his family without my husband. That's  ridiculous."

"You can go, Sydney. It's the least you can do for the Reinholds as well  as for your father and me. They are extending the olive branch, and I  must insist you accept it."

Anger at her mother's presumptuousness and cavalier rejection of Lucas sparked fast and hot. "Mom, I-"

"Excuse me. I hope I'm not intruding."

Oh, God. Sydney briefly closed her eyes. Not now. Why now?

"Tyler." Charlene rose, a beaming smile wiping away the chilly  disapproval she'd worn seconds earlier. Her mother clasped Sydney's  ex-fiancé's hands and pressed her cheek to his. "How wonderful to see  you."

"And you're beautiful as always, Charlene." His gaze shifted to Sydney,  who'd remained seated, shocked. A whisper of suspicion that this chance  meeting wasn't so chance filtered through her brain. And a quick glance  at her mother's smug smile confirmed it. "Sydney." He bent, lightly  brushed his lips over her cheek.

A month ago, before the engagement had been broken off, the touch would  have been nothing more than a polite greeting. But now she fought the  impulse to recoil. Somehow, receiving a kiss from another man  seemed … wrong.

"Hello, Tyler," she murmured. "I hope you've been well."

"Yes, as well as can be expected." The tone of his voice dropped,  infusing the words with an intimacy that slithered over her skin. His  gaze skimmed over her face, a heat she didn't remember ever glimpsing  before lighting his gaze. Nervous nausea bubbled in her stomach. "I've  missed you."

"Won't you join us?" Her mother gestured toward an empty chair as she  reclaimed her own. "I was just telling Sydney about the invitation to  your reception this weekend. Your mother was so kind to include us."

"I hope you'll come," he said, his intense perusal never leaving Sydney's face.

"I RSVP'd just this morning." Satisfaction practically purred in Charlene's tone.

"Wonderful," Tyler murmured. "I'm disappointed I can't stay for lunch. I  have to return to the office for a meeting. But I'm thrilled I was able  to see you before the reception. Now I have even more to look forward  to."

Confused, Sydney stared after him as he rejoined his group and exited the restaurant.

"You arranged that accidental meeting." Sydney contemplated the pleased upturn of Charlene's lips. "Am I wrong?"

"Please," her mother scoffed. "You're so dramatic lately. I saw him at  the Miltons' a couple of nights ago and mentioned we would be having  lunch today. He seemed delighted to see you, though."

"I'm married, Mom," she stated.

Charlene waved off her words. "We both know that event shouldn't have  happened and can easily be annulled. And when Tyler expressed how much  he missed you the other night, I knew there was still a chance for this  whole sordid mess to be over."         

     



 

Sydney calmly set her napkin on the table beside her uneaten salad and rose from the table.

"Where are you going?" Charlene demanded. "You haven't touched your meal. And we still have details to discuss-"

"I'm leaving." Sydney slid her purse strap over her shoulder. "My appetite has suddenly vanished."

"Sit down," Charlene hissed, her gaze darting around the dining room. "I will not have you make a spectacle of us."

"I anticipated us having a nice, quiet lunch together, but you viewed it  as an opportunity to ambush me. I won't have you disrespect me, Lucas,  or my marriage by playing matchmaker." A tremor shook the last few  words. She'd been surprised but happy that her mother had reached out to  her. That she'd made an effort to bridge the gap between them. That  she'd cared. God, what a fool. "I took vows, made promises. I won't  betray them. Not for you, not for Dad, and certainly not because of a  party invitation. Good-bye, Mom."

She didn't wait for her mother's response or castigation, because they  would be one and the same. As she crossed the dining area and left the  restaurant, fury and sorrow continued to burn inside her. Charlene  wouldn't so easily forgive Sydney for walking out on her. But by her  actions, her mother had jeopardized the agreement between Sydney and  Lucas. And therefore risked her father's freedom.

And if a small, irritating voice pointed out that it'd been her mother's  disdain of Lucas that had angered her, not the thought of the contract …   Well, it was small enough to ignore.





Chapter Seventeen


Two o'clock in the afternoon. The CFO had called for a meeting to  discuss the upcoming end-of-quarter, end-of-year budget. Aiden had  scheduled a teleconference with potential buyers for the sale of one of  their retail companies. And Lucas's assistant had forwarded him a list  of calls that needed to be returned before the end of the day. He'd  never neglected a meeting, a phone call, hell, an email in favor of a  woman before.