More Than a Billionaire(2)

Twenty minutes later, Gray walked into The Hillcrest and passed through the lobby, stopping at the security desk. He’d only visited the place once before, but the security guard took one look at him and punched in the code for Trent’s private elevator. There were some upsides to sharing such a strong family resemblance.

Once off the elevator, Gray knocked on his brother’s apartment door and waited.

“Look who decided to show up.” His younger brother, Derek, opened the door, shaking his head. “Looks like you two won that bet.”

“Nice to see you, too.” Gray stepped around his brother into the apartment. Even without asking, he had a good idea of what they’d been betting on.

The fact that his own brother didn’t have enough confidence in him to know he’d never miss Trent’s wedding stung almost as much as the fact that Trent had asked their cousin, Jake, to be his best man. When Trent had dropped the news, it hadn’t shocked him. Trent and Jake had been close all their lives. They were only months apart in age and acted more like brothers than mere cousins. Still, a tiny part of Gray resented the fact that his older brother had chosen Jake over him. If he stayed honest with himself, however, he had to admit that Jake was a better choice.

“Derek, I told you and Alec not to bet against Jake and me.” Trent walked over and slugged Gray in the arm.

Derek shrugged. “You both got lucky.”

“I can’t believe the four of you were betting on whether or not I’d show today.”

“Nay, we took bets on whether you’d get here in time for the ceremony. Alec and Derek figured I’d have to call Curt to ask him to take your place.” Trent handed him a drink. “I knew you’d get here.”

A fantastic insult sat on Gray’s tongue, but he held it back. If just his brothers and cousin were there, he would have let it fly, but their father was there as well a man he assumed was Addison’s brother, and a photographer, too.

“So who was it this time? A pretty blonde beach babe or that bikini model you were seen with last month?” Derek asked with a knowing wink.

Gray took a sip from his drink and resisted the urge to wipe the smile from his brother’s face. Something else he couldn’t do with his father in the room. If his brothers and cousin knew what he’d been doing a few hours before, they wouldn’t have joked, but he had to keep that part of his life private, even from his family.

“I was in Mexico for work, not pleasure.”

“Since when don’t you mix the two? It’s amazing how Sherbrooke Enterprises needs you to go to all the exotic locations in the world.”

Most days, Derek’s comments rolled off his back. Derek excelled at giving him a hard time. He always had. Today, his brother’s comments sent his already foul mood farther south.

“I told them all you’d be here.” Gray’s dad gave him a hug and a thump on the back. “I hope you plan to visit for a little while.”

Gray chose to ignore Derek and his comments. “At least for a few days.”

His father stepped away. “Good. Abby will be pleased.

“Gray, I’d like you to meet Addie’s brother, Rock.” Trent dropped a hand on his future brother in-law’s shoulder.

Gray didn’t know a lot about Trent’s fiancée, but he did know she had four older brothers all of whom where in the military. “It’s nice to meet you.” Gray extended his hand toward the man. He didn’t know the how or why behind the name Rock, but it certainly fit the guy well. He was built like a giant boulder.

“You, too.” Rock shook his hand, but didn’t crack a smile.

“Okay, gentlemen, now that you’re all here, I’d like to get a few more shots before we head to the church.” The photographer stepped forward, interrupting the family reunion  .



***



Kiera glanced around the grand ballroom. How long had it been since she visited Cliff House? She didn’t know, but it looked unchanged. Of course, why would anyone mess with something so magnificent?

“That was such a beautiful ceremony today,” her mom said beside her. “And I haven’t seen Trent look so happy since before his mom passed.”

Not only was her mother, Annette, married to Mark Sherbrooke’s chef, but she was also the head gardener for his estates. Her mom had met Mrs. Sherbrooke when they’d been kids at summer camp years ago. In fact, her Mom was the first employee Donna Sherbrooke hired after she and her husband had built their mansion in Barrington. A lover of plants and flowers, Donna had often worked alongside her mom, and sometimes, their children would accompany them.