Escorting The Billionaire #2(11)

 

“Hello, Mother,” I said.

 

“Hello, James,” she said formally, mocking me. She turned to Audrey, inspecting her from head to toe. “And how are you this evening, dear? You’re looking very… satisfied.”

 

My mother was an astute observer. Plus, she’d been next to us at dinner last night. Looking at Audrey right now, I could see what my mother must have seen: Audrey’s skin was positively glowing, as if her every cell was lit up.

 

Audrey smiled at her without missing a beat. “I am very satisfied,” she said kindly and without irony. “Your son has been showing me a wonderful time.”

 

“I’m so sure,” Celia said, and she did not look pleased.

 

“Okay everyone, it’s time,” Todd called, breaking up the conversation and saving us. “We’re going to start with our family on one side of the fountain, Evie’s family on the other.” He grabbed Audrey’s arm and steered her toward the photographers, chatting happily.

 

My mother watched him, the look on her face shifting quickly from surprise to utter indignation. “These are family photographs. Where is she going?”

 

I gave her a savage smile and grabbed her arm, following after them.

 

“With the rest of us, mother,” I said loud enough for Audrey to hear. “My girlfriend is going to be in these pictures.” I unceremoniously dropped my mother in front. Todd winked at me as I went toward the back and grabbed a stunned Audrey’s hand.

 

I held it for every photograph they took.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Well, that was… interesting,” Audrey said when we were back in the car. “I thought your mother was rooting for me for at least the rest of the wedding celebration, but now I’m pretty sure I’m on her radar. Her bad radar.”

 

“Oh, well.” I shrugged, not giving a fuck about my mother or her radar for the moment.

 

“And you didn’t have to say I was your girlfriend,” she said. I watched as a hot blush crept up her neck.

 

I played with her hair, brushing it off her face. “Yes, I did.”

 

“No, you didn’t.”

 

“Audrey.” I waited until she turned to look at me. “Not only am I paying you to act like my girlfriend, I wanted to say it. So let’s leave it at that, okay?”

 

“Okay,” she mumbled and looked out the window.

 

“Are you going to tell me about before? What that phone call was about?”

 

She sighed. “Honestly, you don’t want to know.”

 

“I can’t help you if I don’t know what the problem is.”

 

“That’s okay—it’s not your problem. It’s mine, and I’ll deal with it.” She took out her phone and looked at it. “I have a voicemail,” she said miserably. “I have to listen to it.” She was quiet for a minute, her brow furrowed. When she hung up the phone, she looked pale.

 

“What is it?” I asked.

 

“Do you think Kai can take me somewhere after this? I have to deal with something,” she said in a small voice.

 

“Of course,” I said. “I’m coming, too.”

 

She looked at me, her face reddening some more. “No, James. Please. You’ve seen enough. Let me handle this by myself.”

 

“Is it a guy?” I asked. I was suddenly, unmercifully angry.

 

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I wish.”

 

“Then what?” I was surprised by the frustration in my own voice. I wanted her to stop being so stubborn, to stop holding back from me.

 

Audrey sighed. “It’s my mother, James. She’s just causing trouble. I need to go see her tonight.”

 

I was relieved it wasn’t a guy, some boyfriend I didn’t know about. I was also relieved that she’d told me. My anger eased back a bit. “Fine,” I said. “But I’m coming, too.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For some inexplicable reason, Cole was at the bar waiting for us, looking like the cat who’d just swallowed the canary. “I didn’t invite you here,” I said, clapping him on the back. “But it’s nice to see you anyway.”

 

“Todd texted me,” Cole said. “He wants me to come to everything I can. He said he wants to make you happy.”

 

“Aw, that’s sweet,” I said. I inspected him further. “You’re looking smugger than usual,” I said, making sure that Audrey was tucked safely behind me. “Why’s that?”