Chapter Eight—Jace

I didn't get away fast enough. I knew by the look on Lidia's face, the neck roll and her opened-mouth gape. What had he asked? Did he introduce himself as my Grandfather?

Monty Jacobs kept going on and on about his yacht in the Florida Keys while I tried to inch myself away from the horrid stories. When I finally did, Lidia had already shoved her foot down her throat and the dirt still marked her lips.

It dawned on her as I approached who this old guy asking questions was … Johnny Archer, the one and only. "I see you've met my Grandfather."

She blinked a few times, as realization doused her like rain. "Oh," she squeaked. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Archer."

He winked at her. "Call me, Johnny … I didn't get your name."

"Lidia," she whispered, her eyes finding the toe of her heel.

"It's nice to meet you, Lidia," he said. Grandfather glanced up from her, his eyes sparkled with amusement, as he said, "Son, you've picked an interesting one."

I'd say. I picked the one woman that couldn’t judge a conversation and keep her mouth closed. Loud mouth, anyone? My fingers tightened on her waist, and I felt how tiny she was underneath the flared skirt.

I looked down at her nervous face, her bottom lip tucked into her mouth and her fingers tapping against her wine glass. "Is that your first glass?" I asked, not wanting another vomit incident.

She narrowed her gaze and slowly looked up at me. "If it isn't?"

Grandfather howled with laughter and slapped my shoulder. "Leave her be, son. Seth said he would be here, but I haven't seen him." He glanced over the marble-floored room, and the crowd of people but I already knew Seth arrived.

I'd noticed the moment him and some floosy walked into the gallery. Over random uh-huh's and yep's to Monty, I made intense eye contact with Seth. He winked like the devil he was and walked up the artist as if he knew her personally.

Grandfather checked the time from an ole pocket watch that he had in the coat of his expensive suit jacket. "It's already close to nine. I need to get back to your grandmother. Where is that—there he is."

I swallowed another mouthful of wine, ignoring the feel of Seth and his fiancé's presence beside me. Lidia glanced at me over the rim of her glass and lifted a dark brow at me—an almost smile pulled at her lip—and she turned her attention back to Grandfather and Seth.

"Son, I've been looking for you," he said. "It's so nice to see you Leanne, you look beautiful."

For the benefit of being kind, I glanced over at Leanne. She looked like I figured she would from my brother's type. An angelic face, tall and skinny like a runway model. Her teeth were picture perfect, and her dark skin stood out against a deep silver dress that showcased her even longer legs.

"Nice to see you again, Mr. Johnny. This must be your big brother, Seth, aren't you going to introduce us?"

Seth smiled. "Of course, this is my brother Jace, and his friend Lidia. It's nice to see you again, darlin'."

The look of shock on Leanne's face told me she knew about the contract, and the fact that Lidia came out of the blue sky. She gave her an awkward onceover and grimaced at her bright pink top.

Lidia didn't seem to notice, or she didn't care, which made me prouder to have her with me. I shook Leanne's hand and shoved it back into my pocket, feeling the heat rise in the room.

"Lidia was telling me that she has a degree in art design," Grandfather said. "I can see why you hired her."

"Wait," Leanna said, laughing. "You work for him and date him? That can't be healthy for your relationship."

Seth chuckled over his drink. "Leanne is a psychologist. She works uptown for a clinic that's been around for a while."

"Really?” I asked. "You don't look old enough for that."

She took it as a compliment, but it wasn't. Seth slid his tongue across his teeth but saved himself with a smile. "She graduated last spring."

Grandfather offered Lidia his arm. "Let's make a round before I have to leave. I'm interested to see what your thoughts are, Dear."

Lidia lit up, and looped her arm with his, leaving me in the dust while she took off. Seth waited until they'd made it around the first pillar to drop his demeanor. I always wondered if it was just dropped around me but the fact that Leanne stood with us—I know knew I wasn't the only lucky one.

"She's a piece of work, Brother. It'll never work."

Grabbing a cucumber sandwich, I popped it into my mouth, giving the slew of curse words time to swallow down with it. "Oh yeah? What are we talking about here? Your engagement to Leanne or the fact that you won't get the gallery?"

Leanne leaned against the table as if she lived for the excitement of a good argument and smirked.

Seth checked his phone in his pocket, and then glared at me through narrowed eyes. "I mean this girl you have pretending to date you. Once I can prove this to Grandfather, and he realizes you don't plan on marrying this girl, because let's face it, you won't for obvious reasons, the gallery will be mine."

For obvious reasons? "You've caught my attention. For what obvious reasons would that be?" I asked.

He scoffed and smiled at someone who walked by to grab some food. "Look at her, Jace. She's … not our type and you know it. She's the first art major you could find. She won't make it in our family. Even if she did surprise us, you won't marry her, and she won't marry you. So, the contract won't be met, which means I'll be taking resident in that big leather chair in your office. I might even keep Lidia around, she's cute."

I'd never been a jealous man, but the thought of Seth putting his grubby hands anywhere near Lidia made me want to throw him across the room. Not to mention the fact that he was right, Lidia wouldn't openly marry me, the girl didn't even kiss if the feelings weren't there.

I'm not a feelings guy. Or a marriage guy. Why did I think this would work?

The grasp I had on my wine glass tightened, boiling my blood and fueling the rage I had for him. I chuckled humorlessly and grabbed a glass of wine from a server walking past.

"You don't know anything," I lied because he'd hit the nail right on the head. I swallowed the wine in one gulp and stalked off to find her so we could get out of there.

I made the rounds a few times, not finding them, until I heard her. I rounded the large white pillar in the front room to see her standing in front of the centerpiece painting on the wall, staring at it in awe.

"This is amazing," she slurred, pointing toward the sunset. "I mean … look at that sunset. The contract in colors. Brilliant."

Grandfather stood beside her, pinching his chin with his fingers and nodding. Seth and Leanne stood beside them, laughing at the way Lidia swayed back and forth.

I groaned, and forced my way over, but not quick enough to see the artist walk over. "I appreciate your honesty tonight," she said. "You're the only one that has given me an honest opinion tonight. Good or bad."

Grandfather locked eyes with me across the room, and the pride on his face made my heart stall. For a brief moment, I understood why he wanted me to marry; he didn't want me to be alone.

Why couldn't he understand that I liked being alone? I sighed and walked over, taking Lidia's elbow in my hand. She turned and looked up at me, her eyes bright and soulful almost. "Hey, I've been looking for you," she slurred.

"It's time for us to go home," I said. "This was lovely, Daisy. You've really made something out of yourself."

Daisy smiled. "I would love to get together with you both sometime. Lidia here is … amazing. She knows her stuff."

Lidia jabbed her thumb over her shoulder and chuckled. "See, and you thought I'd embarrass you." She poked a finger into my chest. "Did you see the way your brother's fiancé," she said in a British accent—that was totally random, "look at me earlier?" She howled with laughter. "Do you think she liked my outfit?"

I tried not to laugh. "You're getting tipsy," I whispered into her ear, hoping Grandfather took it as something romantic. "We should leave."

Lidia waved her clutch at me. "Okay, okay, whisk me away like you did on my first interview. Remember when I fainted and threw up?"

"How could I forget?" I asked, wrapping my arm around her back to keep her upright.

"We are going to go," I told Grandfather who had made his way toward the door. "It was good seeing you, I hope you can make it to the exhibit next week. Lidia here has basically planned the entire event."

Grandfather placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. Really smiled. Even the hooked mustache couldn’t make him look mean with that smile. "I’m proud of you, son. Keep this one, she makes you better."

If he only knew …

Seth smiled at me over his shoulder and something crazy settled into my stomach. That stupid jackass could not get the gallery. When Leanne snaked her arm around his shoulder, I thought of one hundred ways they could sell it and make a fortune flushing Grandfather's work down the toilet. "Lidia and I are getting married soon," I lied.

Lidia lifted her head from my shoulder, her sleepy state really played to my advantage. "Really?" she purred. "Awe, shucks. I'm gonna be an Archer. Can the wedding be in pink?"