Page 40 of See You Maybe

His chest warmed a little when Cara beamed at him, but Olivia’s lilting laugh from the next table had him narrowing his eyes again. Chris said something else, and Olivia’s dark curls caressed her shoulders as she laughed. He wasn't the only one annoyed. Courtney had returned to the table and was now glaring at Olivia like a serpent ready to strike.

His instincts were on full alert. Declan didn’t like the way she was fixated on Olivia. Courtney had become unpredictable over the past few weeks, and while he welcomed the psychotic bitch’s breakdown, he didn't want Olivia anywhere near her when it happened. His low growl drew the attention of his siblings, and they turned to look at the other table as well.

“I'm surprised they sat so close,” James pointed out.

Fiona pursed her lips. “Surely that's water under the bridge by now. It’s not like you all didn’t walk away with a fortune.”

Declan saw Dahlia turn her fork like it was a weapon, and if looks could kill, Cami’s glare would have ended Fiona, but it was Cara who had him the most concerned. His sister’s small stature might fool some, but her blood was Bloom through and through, and she had survived things that would have broken most people.

He needed to put a stop to this… now. Declan stared at Fiona, letting her see the fury in his eyes. “Nothing is water under the bridge.”

More laughter came from the table next to them, and this time, he knew it was something Olivia had said from the way her ex-husband and Courtney glowered at her.

“Who is that?” Dahlia asked.

“The one who looks like Snow-White?” Cara pursed her lips. “She’s stunning, but she should be careful. Courtney looks like she’s going to skin her alive,” Cara said, her voice a little too interested. Her eyes weren’t on Olivia, they were on Declan, waiting for a reaction.

She wasn’t getting one.

Fiona took a sip of her wine. “She works for some little company they're trying to buy. My dad said they brought them up here to woo them or whatever.” She rolled her eyes.

“Armstrong Electronics out of Atlanta,” Cara supplied, and all eyes turned to her. “What? I have Google.”

Wes exchanged a look with his wife and then turned to Declan. “Isn't that the company your mother said that you were trying to buy?”

Everyone at the table looked at the group nearby and then back at him. He grunted and drained his whiskey.

“This fish is good,” Cami said brightly, nudging James with her elbow.

James raised an eyebrow at her, but besotted fool that he was, he followed his wife’s lead to change the subject.

“Gotta love a catered dinner.” James bared his teeth and everyone except Fiona and Declan laughed.

Conversation was stilted as they ate. He knew his heavy mood and Fiona’s presence were affecting his family, but there was little he could do to remedy it. They would just have to get used to Fiona. They would understand it was worth it in the end.

He was doing this for them.

Fiona made a few snide comments about other attendees, but when the rest of the Bloom family wasn’t interested in gossiping about who was wearing what or which vacation locale was no longer au courant, she stood up.

“Excuse me for a minute, darling. I need to speak with Bianca. We're co-chairing a fashion show.”

Cara got up from her seat and scooted into the one next to Declan. “Who do you keep glaring at over there? Chris?”

“Cara—”

“I'm just asking,” she cut him off. “Because it seems to be every time that woman lau?—”

“Cara,” Declan barked.

Wes’s back snapped straight at Declan’s tone, and he gave Declan a hard look. Declan struggled not to roll his eyes. As if he'd hurt his sister. Though he could admit a grudging respect for how protective his new brother-in-law was.

“I'm just interested in the company,” Declan said in a softer tone.

However, Cara’s comments had drawn the table’s attention and now everyone had swiveled in Olivia’s direction. Declan ground his teeth.

“She's a beautiful woman. Ow!” James yelped dramatically when Cami swatted him. “I can still notice when people are beautiful, even though you are the most spectacularly beautiful.”

“As long as you remember that.” Cami looked at Declan. “What are your chances of buying the company? It's not great they're here with Bloom Communications, is it?”