The waiter returned with a glass of fizzy water. “Here you go, miss.”
“Thank you,” Elle said to the man. “She hired excellent staff,” she murmured after he left.
“As if my mother would have done anything else,” Brock said with dark humor.
“Brock, it’s been so long,” a feminine voice said from behind them.
Elle glanced at Brock’s face as she turned and saw his expression twist in pain just before it shuttered and went blank. “Claire,” he said in the most neutral voice Elle had ever heard him use. “What a surprise.”
Elle looked at the tall, beautiful blonde with a perfect shape and felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. “Claire?” she echoed, searching her memory for the name and unfortunately coming upon it.
Claire was Brock’s ex-fiancée.
Ten
The ravishing specimen of beauty flicked her gaze over Brock. “You’re looking good,” Claire purred. “I’ve missed you.”
Elle bristled at the woman’s obvious seductive tone.
“I didn’t know you and my mother were still in touch,” Brock said.
“She insisted I come tonight. She told me you would be here.”
Brock cleared his throat. “Claire, this is my wife, Elle.”
Claire blinked and parted her lips as if in surprise. “I thought I’d heard a rumor, but I wasn’t sure,” she said in a sad voice, then turned to Elle. “Congratulations, Elle. You got a wonderful man.”
“I know,” Elle said, forcing herself to extend her hand. “Thank you. Lovely to meet you.”
“She’s so sweet,” Claire said to Brock. “I never would have expected you to choose someone so—” She broke off and shrugged her bare, glimmering shoulders. “It’s coming back to me now. Are the two of you expecting?”
Silence stretched between them, against the background noise of social conversation and tinkling glasses.
“Yes,” Brock said. “Elle and I are very much looking forward to our first child.”
Claire stared into Brock’s eyes and her gaze seemed to say, I could have been the mother of your child instead of her. Claire nodded. “Congratulations. How exciting,” she said. “I see an old friend. Please excuse me.”
“Of course,” Brock said and took a long swallow of wine. “I’m ready to go.”
“Me, too,” Elle said, every bit of social courteousness sucked out of her.
Brock’s mother stepped in front of them just as they approached the door. “Leaving so soon? You just arrived,” she said with a practiced pout.
“Perhaps if you hadn’t invited my ex-fiancée and also neglected to tell her that I’m married, we might have stayed five minutes longer,” Brock said, clenching his jaw in obvious anger.
Elle’s stomach began to churn. She didn’t know what upset her more—Brock’s fury, his mother’s manipulation or the memory of Brock’s stunning ex-fiancée.
Carol’s eyes rounded in mock innocence. “But I thought you two would enjoy seeing each other. Time to let bygones be bygones now that you’re married,” she said, shooting a glance at Elle before she looked at Brock again. “Unless it stirred up old feelings—”
Elle swallowed a gasp.
“Not from me,” Brock said. “The only thing you’re stirring up is trouble. You invited Claire to intimidate Elle.”
Carol shook her head. “Oh, now, really. How could Claire intimidate Elle?”
“Exactly,” Brock said. “Elle is my wife and the mother of my child. Claire is history. You might want to remember that. Good night,” he said, and ushered Elle through the door.
Fifteen minutes later, Elle and Brock walked inside the house. The housekeeper greeted them. “May I get something for you?”
“No, thank you,” Brock said.
“I’m fine,” Elle said.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like some sparkling water?” Anna asked with a gentle smile.
“No, thank you,” Elle said, feeling as if she’d lost every bit of her sparkle. “I’ll just get a bottle upstairs. You’re kind to ask, though. Thank you.”
She and Brock climbed the stairs and Elle stared into the mirror as she removed her earrings and necklace. She felt like such a fool. She’d tried so hard to look pretty, but Brock’s ex was at a totally different level. The woman was breathtaking.
“You okay?” Brock asked.
“She could be a model,” Elle said.
“That doesn’t mean she was right for me.”
“But she was perfect, gorgeous. I bet she’s intelligent. You wouldn’t tolerate anything less. How could—”