Another shriek sounded from the area of the den.
Elle finally made it there in bare feet and gaped at Brock’s enraged mother, Carol. “Oh, my God,” the sophisticated, elegant woman repeated.
“It wasn’t a vandal,” Elle said breathlessly. “It was me.”
Carol looked at her and frowned as much as her Botox-treated brow would allow. “Who are you?”
Elle fought a flutter of nerves. “I’m Elle,” she said. “Elle Linton—”
“Linton,” Carol interjected. “That name is familiar. Don’t tell me,” she said, lifting her hand when Elle opened her mouth to speak. “I know that name.” She blinked in recognition. “My son Brock’s assistant.” Then she frowned again. “Why are you here? And wearing a robe? And destroying my den?” Carol said, looking around the room in complete disapproval.
Elle paused, then said, “Elle Linton Maddox.”
Carol’s eyebrows would have risen to her hairline if they could have. “Maddox? Oh, my God. Has my son married you?” Her gaze immediately dipped to Elle’s belly. “Are you pregnant?”
Elle cleared her throat, realizing that Brock hadn’t bothered to contact his mother about their marriage. “Brock and I were married just last week.”
“Oh,” Carol said, clearly at a loss for words. “He didn’t tell me.”
Although Elle understood why Brock resisted his mother’s involvement in both business and his personal life, she felt a twinge of sympathy for the woman. It couldn’t be easy hearing that your oldest son had gotten married—from the new wife herself. “I’m sorry. I realize this is awkward,” Elle said. “Brock has told me a lot about you.”
Carol’s lips lifted in a cynical smile. “All good, I’m sure,” she said, looking at the den again. “I don’t suppose you could tell me what has happened to this room.”
“Uh, Brock asked me to choose one room downstairs to redecorate.” Elle shrugged. “I chose the den.”
“Oh,” Carol said. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. It was bound to happen someday.” She returned her attention to Elle, studying her for a long moment. “So you’re the new Maddox bride,” Carol said, slowly strolling toward her. “I suspect you have no idea what you’re getting into, but I can help with that. My flight from Aspen just arrived an hour ago—I made an extra stop there on my way back from Europe. Let me freshen up and the two of us can do lunch.”
Uncomfortable at the prospect, Elle shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t. You just got in. I’m sure you want to relax.”
“Nonsense,” Carol said, lifting her lips in a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. “I need to get to know my son’s new wife.” She glanced down at Elle’s abdomen again. “You didn’t answer my question. Are you pregnant?”
Elle thought about denying it because she knew what Carol would think—that the pregnancy was the only reason Brock had married her. Which, of course, was true. “Yes, I am.”
Carol gave a knowing nod. She glanced down at a diamond-encrusted watch. “Will an hour give you enough time to get ready?”
“That’s plenty of time, thank you,” Elle said. “But if you need to do something else, there’s no rush—”
Carol smiled again. “There’s nothing more important.”
An hour later, Elle joined Carol in the Bentley driven by a driver named Dirk. Carol peppered her with questions during the ride, and Elle did her best to sound as boring as possible. The car pulled in front of a posh restaurant in a pricey shopping neighborhood.
“Here we are,” Carol said and led the way into the restaurant. Although there was a lunchtime crowd, the host wasted no time finding a table for them. “Now,” she said. “Tell me all about yourself. All about your romance with my son.”
Grateful for the water the server immediately poured, Elle shrugged. “It wasn’t something either of us expected. There was just this special connection we couldn’t ignore.”
“Obviously, since you’re already pregnant. How far along are you?”
“Over three months,” Elle said, trying to ignore Carol’s tone. “But I’d rather hear more about you and the family. What was Brock like as a baby?” Elle said. “I’m sure you must have so many stories to share.”
“Not as many as you’d think. Being the wife of James Maddox was a full-time job. My husband expected me to be by his side for client dinners. I joined clubs and served on boards to keep the Maddox name visible. The company was always number one with my husband. As it will be with Brock,” she said. “But I’m sure you already know that, since you’ve worked with him.”