The CEO Buys In
Page 94
Ben dropped onto his seat and grabbed another glass. “What I wouldn’t give to just pour this over my head,” he said.
“The officers’ club is air-conditioned,” Nathan said as he folded himself in beside Chloe. He surprised her by taking her hand. She scooted closer to him since he seemed to want her physical presence.
After a short drive, the limousine drew up in front of another white-trimmed brick building. This one had two long, covered porticoes leading to the doors. Once again, they followed a crowd of uniformed guests into the club, where air-conditioning welcomed them. They passed walls covered with the Marine insignia and arrived in a large room with deep blue patterned carpeting, brass chandeliers, and white linen–covered tables set around a parquet dance floor. Classical music played softly as the bride and groom stood near the door greeting their guests.
Chloe decided not to comment on how the bride radiated happiness, but it was true. Maybe it was because she was pregnant, but Angel’s face glowed, her smile lighting up every time she received a guest’s good wishes. When she looked up at her new husband, the smile both grew and softened.
Nathan’s grip on her hand became tighter the closer they got to the newlyweds. She reached across and laid her other hand over the back of his, making her borrowed bracelet glitter. “I won’t leave you, I promise,” she murmured.
“I’m sorry,” he said, easing the pressure.
Then it was their turn. Chloe braced herself, wondering what sort of greeting Angel would give them. From what Ed had told her, Nathan had not been cordial toward the woman he considered his mother’s usurper.
But the bride’s smile did not falter or dim. “Nathan, you were so good to come,” she said, putting her hands on his shoulders so he would bend to let her kiss his cheek. “I know it wasn’t easy for you.”
Chloe felt him stiffen. “It seemed like too important an occasion to miss,” he said. “Angel, meet Chloe Russell.” He moved Chloe forward so she stood in front of him almost like a shield.
“Best wishes to you for a happy future,” Chloe said, holding out her hand.
Angel drew her in for a hug. “Thank you, my dear. I feel as though I’m carrying our future with me,” she said, resting one palm on the soft swell of her stomach. “Strange miracles sometimes happen.”
A shudder passed through Nathan. Chloe quickly moved sideways to get him away from Angel. That brought them face-to-face with General Trainor.
“Congratulations, sir,” Nathan said, squaring his shoulders and offering his hand to his father.
Ironically, Nathan’s posture was more rigid than the general’s. The older man pulled his son in for one of those quick, hard hugs men give each other. Chloe let her hand slide loose from Nathan’s arm so he couldn’t use her for that shielding maneuver again.
When the general stepped back, Chloe could see a glitter of moisture in his eyes. Hope bloomed in her chest. The father was prepared to embrace his son. Now she just had to get Nathan to meet his father halfway . . . or even a quarter of the way. She got the sense that General Trainor would be willing to go the extra distance.
The general touched the hilt of the antique sword that hung in its scabbard on his belt. “Having this with me for the ceremony was something I hadn’t hoped for and probably didn’t deserve. Thank you for your generosity.”
“You’re thanking the wrong person,” Nathan said, putting his arm around Chloe’s waist to nudge her in front of him. “She’s responsible for the sword’s presence.”
When disappointment shadowed the general’s eyes, Chloe wanted to stomp her stiletto heel hard on the arch of Nathan’s foot. “He’s exaggerating,” she said. “I’m sure you know that Nathan doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to.” She deliberately did not look at Nathan to see how he reacted to her statement. Instead she stood on tiptoe to give the general a peck on the cheek. “Many congratulations, sir. You and Angel make a lovely couple.”
“Well, she’s lovely, and I make us a couple,” Nathan’s father said, a spark of humor on his face. He took both of Chloe’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “It’s good to have you here, young lady. I’m glad my son brought you.” He gave Nathan a shrewd look. “Or you brought my son. Either way works for me.”
Chloe slanted a look up at Nathan. His brows were drawn together in what she thought might be regret. “I wish you and Angel happiness together,” he said. “I think you’ve earned a chance at it.”
His father’s posture stiffened and Chloe waited to see what that meant. “That’s a good wish,” the general said, “and a surprising one. I accept it with humility and gratitude.” He shifted his gaze back to Chloe. “Stick with him, Chloe. We Trainor men improve with age.”
She gave the general a smile as they moved away to let the next guest offer congratulations. Nathan led her toward the bar across the room, muttering, “Let’s get something to dull our senses.”
“Is it that hard to be civil to your father?” she asked with genuine puzzlement.
He stopped in the middle of the dance floor and frowned down at her. “Civil, no. Sincere, yes. Celebrating his marriage to his pregnant girlfriend is not something I’m able to feel joy about.”
“You sounded sincere when you said he deserved a chance at happiness. And it surprised him.”
“The officers’ club is air-conditioned,” Nathan said as he folded himself in beside Chloe. He surprised her by taking her hand. She scooted closer to him since he seemed to want her physical presence.
After a short drive, the limousine drew up in front of another white-trimmed brick building. This one had two long, covered porticoes leading to the doors. Once again, they followed a crowd of uniformed guests into the club, where air-conditioning welcomed them. They passed walls covered with the Marine insignia and arrived in a large room with deep blue patterned carpeting, brass chandeliers, and white linen–covered tables set around a parquet dance floor. Classical music played softly as the bride and groom stood near the door greeting their guests.
Chloe decided not to comment on how the bride radiated happiness, but it was true. Maybe it was because she was pregnant, but Angel’s face glowed, her smile lighting up every time she received a guest’s good wishes. When she looked up at her new husband, the smile both grew and softened.
Nathan’s grip on her hand became tighter the closer they got to the newlyweds. She reached across and laid her other hand over the back of his, making her borrowed bracelet glitter. “I won’t leave you, I promise,” she murmured.
“I’m sorry,” he said, easing the pressure.
Then it was their turn. Chloe braced herself, wondering what sort of greeting Angel would give them. From what Ed had told her, Nathan had not been cordial toward the woman he considered his mother’s usurper.
But the bride’s smile did not falter or dim. “Nathan, you were so good to come,” she said, putting her hands on his shoulders so he would bend to let her kiss his cheek. “I know it wasn’t easy for you.”
Chloe felt him stiffen. “It seemed like too important an occasion to miss,” he said. “Angel, meet Chloe Russell.” He moved Chloe forward so she stood in front of him almost like a shield.
“Best wishes to you for a happy future,” Chloe said, holding out her hand.
Angel drew her in for a hug. “Thank you, my dear. I feel as though I’m carrying our future with me,” she said, resting one palm on the soft swell of her stomach. “Strange miracles sometimes happen.”
A shudder passed through Nathan. Chloe quickly moved sideways to get him away from Angel. That brought them face-to-face with General Trainor.
“Congratulations, sir,” Nathan said, squaring his shoulders and offering his hand to his father.
Ironically, Nathan’s posture was more rigid than the general’s. The older man pulled his son in for one of those quick, hard hugs men give each other. Chloe let her hand slide loose from Nathan’s arm so he couldn’t use her for that shielding maneuver again.
When the general stepped back, Chloe could see a glitter of moisture in his eyes. Hope bloomed in her chest. The father was prepared to embrace his son. Now she just had to get Nathan to meet his father halfway . . . or even a quarter of the way. She got the sense that General Trainor would be willing to go the extra distance.
The general touched the hilt of the antique sword that hung in its scabbard on his belt. “Having this with me for the ceremony was something I hadn’t hoped for and probably didn’t deserve. Thank you for your generosity.”
“You’re thanking the wrong person,” Nathan said, putting his arm around Chloe’s waist to nudge her in front of him. “She’s responsible for the sword’s presence.”
When disappointment shadowed the general’s eyes, Chloe wanted to stomp her stiletto heel hard on the arch of Nathan’s foot. “He’s exaggerating,” she said. “I’m sure you know that Nathan doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to.” She deliberately did not look at Nathan to see how he reacted to her statement. Instead she stood on tiptoe to give the general a peck on the cheek. “Many congratulations, sir. You and Angel make a lovely couple.”
“Well, she’s lovely, and I make us a couple,” Nathan’s father said, a spark of humor on his face. He took both of Chloe’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “It’s good to have you here, young lady. I’m glad my son brought you.” He gave Nathan a shrewd look. “Or you brought my son. Either way works for me.”
Chloe slanted a look up at Nathan. His brows were drawn together in what she thought might be regret. “I wish you and Angel happiness together,” he said. “I think you’ve earned a chance at it.”
His father’s posture stiffened and Chloe waited to see what that meant. “That’s a good wish,” the general said, “and a surprising one. I accept it with humility and gratitude.” He shifted his gaze back to Chloe. “Stick with him, Chloe. We Trainor men improve with age.”
She gave the general a smile as they moved away to let the next guest offer congratulations. Nathan led her toward the bar across the room, muttering, “Let’s get something to dull our senses.”
“Is it that hard to be civil to your father?” she asked with genuine puzzlement.
He stopped in the middle of the dance floor and frowned down at her. “Civil, no. Sincere, yes. Celebrating his marriage to his pregnant girlfriend is not something I’m able to feel joy about.”
“You sounded sincere when you said he deserved a chance at happiness. And it surprised him.”
