Say You Will(7)
She crossed her arms. “It’s not about the money.”
No, for her it wasn’t. She just wanted her rightful place. He felt sad for her because, as much as she wanted it, her place wasn’t here. When they cast her out—as they inevitably would—she’d be hurt. He wished he could spare her that heartache, but he knew that she’d never give up.
“I know you don’t believe me, but my father loved me. He was the one who encouraged me to realize my dreams by giving me the money to study law.”
“True.” Depositing money in her account for university had been the only decent thing Summerhill had done for Summer in Nick’s opinion. A complete anomaly, but definitely decent.
“I need to know what’s in the will, Nick.” She bit her lip, looking like she had as a child. “The problem is they don’t know where the will is. If they can’t find the will, then his property is intestate and his wife inherits it all.”
Nick frowned. “That doesn’t seem proper.”
“It’s not.” Summer bit her lip and looked across the room. Her gaze focused, and then she said, “Come with me.”
Before he could say anything, she strode across the room straight to Rosalind Summerhill.
Oh no. Not sure what Summer was going to do but not wanting to find out, he sped up to intercept her. His legs were longer than hers, so he reached her quickly, but not quickly enough to stop her from stretching her hand out and saying, “I’m sorry for your loss,” to her unsuspecting half-sister.
Rosalind glanced at him as she took Summer’s hand cautiously. “Do we know each other?”
Summer shook her head. “We’ve never met. I’m Su—Sara,” she said, giving him a look. “But I know you’re Rosalind Summerhill.”
Rosalind looked at him again. He saw the weariness dimming her eyes, and the urge to take her in his arms and soothe her to sleep shocked him. Instinct told him to run away, only his feet were going nowhere.
“You design wedding dresses, don’t you?” Summer continued, unaware of his libidinous thoughts. “I realize this is hardly the appropriate place, but I need a wedding dress.”
He mentally groaned.
Rosalind frowned at the two of them. “You’re getting married?”
“No,” he said as Summer said “Yes.”
His half-sister gave him a look before smiling tightly at Rosalind. “Joe is my matron of honor.”
He didn’t realize he was Joe until Rosalind turned to him and said, “Nice to meet you, Joe.”
“Most people call me Nick,” he said, shooting a glare at his mad stepsister.
“Nick”—Summer surreptitiously pinched his side—”is a solicitor.”
He slipped his arm around his sister’s waist and squeezed. “Now’s not the time, Sara. We should leave Ms. Summerhill to her other guests.”
“But my wedding dress—”
Rosalind shook her head. “I won’t be here long enough to design a dress, much less to make it. I custom fit all my dresses, so unless you’re willing to come to San Francisco, I can’t create one for you. But I can recommend a couple designers in London who are almost as good as me.”
“You’re that good?” Nick asked, impressed.
“The best.” she said with conviction.
Maybe it was wishful thinking, but the light in her eyes made him wonder if she implied she was the best at more than dresses. “I don’t doubt it.”
Rosalind sipped from her teacup and grimaced. When she noticed his amused smile, she shrugged. “It’s been a trying day, and there’s a distinct lack of whiskey at this event.”
Summer suddenly interjected, “Nick knows a great pub close by.”
“I do?” Nick said.
She knocked him in the ribs.
He turned to Rosalind, who looked like she needed to be whisked away, and he badly wanted to be the man to do it. So despite himself, he couldn’t help saying, “It’s not far.”
Surprisingly, Rosalind nodded. “Okay. I’ll just get my coat.”
The flash of excitement that coursed through his veins was ridiculous. He watched her walk away and resisted the urge to trail after her.
Instead, he faced his villainous stepsister. “That was poorly done.”
“It was brilliant actually.”
“You told her I was a solicitor.”
“So that she’ll find it natural to talk to you about the will if she has legal questions.”
“Yes, but I know nothing about law.”
“Just distract her.” Summer grasped his arm and lowered her voice. “Stay close to Rosalind to find out what’s going on with the will. And before you say you can’t do any such thing, let me remind you that you’re my brother—”