Page 46 of The Southern Thirst Trap
“What a lovely little family reunion this is,” Payton says as he joins our huddle of Olsens in the large and crowded ballroom, saving me from explaining my situation to Paige. “Why are we all over here in a corner? Shouldn’t you two be out there schmoozing money from all the people who showed up? That’s what this gala is for if I’m not mistaken.” He nods his head at Paige and Hayes.
“Thanks for the reminder, Payton. We really should be looking for funding for our second year, which is looking to double the amount of gardens we will be putting in,” Paige says, turning big green eyes on him. “But I would rather just celebrate our first year of successfully operating the Elysium Garden Project over here a little longer before I have to ask people to contribute.” Paige bites her red lip and scans the room packed with people in formalwear warily. While she is perfectly at home hosting lavish affairs, she doesn’t relish being in the spotlight if she can help it.
“Isn’t that why we have a guest speaker? He’s supposed to tug on the purse strings with whatever speech he’ll give during dinner so you don't have to,” Hayes says, smoothing a hand over her shoulder and rubbing her neck to ease her worries. She visibly melts into his touch and I find myself jealous that he can have that kind of effect on her.
“Who’d you sucker into that role?” I ask with a laugh at her look of relief instead of giving into my own feelings of what I would give to have Harlowe melting under my own hands. I look around the crowded ballroom that is filled with lavishly set tables decorated with beautiful florals befitting the garden project the gala is benefitting. Hayes and Paige could easily fund the project themselves, but find that philanthropic pursuits are good for others as well, and opened up their second year of the foundation to donors.
“Knox Contraire, from the Atlanta Condors. He’s been so wonderful this year, volunteering his time at so many of the garden sites. He’s a favorite of the kids and has a way with speeches, so it was a given that he would share his experience helping with the program,” Paige says, grinning innocently at me.
I go still, feeling a hot rage seep into my blood. The fucking football player who has had his hands all over Harlowe. Is she going to be here with him? I wouldn’t be surprised, since they’re dating. Fuck. He’s a complication I’ve conveniently forgotten in my haste to get back into Harlowe’s life.
“Isn’t that him over there? He’s hard to miss at six-six. The dude is huge,” Payton supplies, a hint of humor in his tone, and I glare his way to catch where he’s looking.
I turn my head and feel the air leave my lungs, but it’s not the brick house of a football player I see, it’s the stunning vision in black beside him that knocks the breath out of me. Harlowe, looking like a sparkling night-wrapped goddess, stands regal and proud at his side and I take her in like the air I breathe. Her golden skin glows against the inky black of her long dress, a slit cut high up one thigh nearly to her hip, showing off her entire leg. One shoulder is bared, the material gathered over the other in an asymmetrical design, and her waist looks impossibly small, her hips swelling below invitingly so I want to trace my hands everywhere her curves go. Her hair is caught up in some sort of classy low knot with soft wisps around her face and I want to put my fingers into it and pull, messing it up as I bury myself inside of her.
I snap my eyes away. My cock already embarrassingly hard, and I have to turn to adjust myself discreetly to avoid my family discovering just how affected I am by seeing her across the fucking room. I don't know if I can do this, be here with her in this ballroom and not have her with me, my hands on her, or putting her in my lap where she belongs. Fuck.
“Time to find our seats. Looks like y’all saved me from having to make any additional awkward conversations. Thank goodness for three broody, giant men,” Paige says, pulling on Hayes’s hand when the music quiets and the lights dim. “You’re all sitting at our table. Come on.” She snags my tux sleeve as she passes and I have to follow after them like a fucking puppy. It’s a hell of a lot better than sitting at another table with a bunch of random people, though.
We wind our way to a table near the center and take our seats. I lounge in mine as I quickly scan the place cards and see there is an empty seat next to mine, as well as next to Payton’s. Paige sees my look and shakes her head sadly as she tsks at me.
“I told you I gave you plus ones. It’s not my fault you both came alone. Read your invitations next time.” She shrugs at me. “Our table is going to be on the empty side, unfortunately.”
“Is it just us four?” I ask, feeling relief wash over me.
Paige’s cheeks redden, but she gets a big smile and seems to glow with excitement as she looks over my shoulder quickly and then back at me. “Nope. We have two more. Knox and his date will be joining us. Have you heard of Harlowe Sorenson? She’s a cookbook author and I love her YouTube channel. I’ve been following it for a few months now since Knox started dating her and told me about it. I can't wait to meet her. Don't mind me if I fangirl. I’ll try to keep it together, but no promises.”
I fight the urge to palm my face. Of fucking course, fate would do this to me. Paige doesn’t do social media and hates the Atlanta Haute List even more than I do, so she’s likely not aware of the connection Harlowe and I have. Hayes probably hasn’t told her about my situation, with how adamant he’s been about me proving Hendricks is mine through a paternity test. Paige is so innocent and has no idea what kind of mess she’s inadvertently created just by seating us all at the same table tonight. This could get so fucking ugly. I’m liable to explode in rage if I have to watch Knox touch Harlowe. Paige jumps up from her chair and I know I have to get my shit together for what I’m about to endure.
“Knox, hi, thank you so much for joining us tonight!” Paige says, rushing around the table to shake the giant man’s hand.
“Of course, Paige. I’m happy to be here and support the mission of your foundation,” Knox says, his low voice smooth and velvety and I hate the sound of it on principle. I hate everything about him. From the way he has a hand on Harlowe’s back, to the way he stands beside her, dwarfing her in every way and looking so good next to her. They’re a fucking matching pair with his classy all-black tux and her gorgeous black dress. Well, two of us can wear bespoke tuxes, fucker, and I bet I have the better tailor.
I watch as Paige grows a bit starstruck when she faces Harlowe, and it’s kind of cute to see my sweet young sister-in-law, who herself is a billionaire, owns the fastest-growing distillery in the South, and sits on the Board of Directors for the largest boutique hotel group in the country, vibrate with excitement and trip over herself at the prospect of meeting Harlowe.
Granted, Harlowe is the fiercest woman I know and exudes confidence and power. She’s also a woman I’ve fucked to tears and is the mother of my beautiful child, a woman that I’m desperate to have a shot with again. Who knew a situation like this would ever play out the way it is?
“Harlowe, oh my goodness, it is so nice to meet you! I’m Paige Fairchild Olsen and I’m a huge fan. I watch all of your videos and I love your cookbook. I’ve been working through all the recipes since I got it and everything has been amazing. I think my husband would agree, right Hayes?” she says, waving her hand behind her to elicit a response from my brother, who is now rising from his seat at her insistent beckoning.
“You’re so sweet. Thank you for saying such nice things. I appreciate it,” Harlowe says, genuine warmth on her face as she takes Paige’s outstretched hands in her own. Belatedly, she seems to register who is at the table with Paige, glancing around, then taking in the hulking presence of Hayes as he stands behind Paige. “You,” she bites out with quiet fury, her eyes narrowing at Hayes.
Paige looks between Hayes and Harlowe, confusion removing the animated joy she was just experiencing. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
I’m on my feet in a moment and at Harlowe’s side, called to action by that fury, facing down my eldest brother with murderous intent as the rest of the table stares at us in shock. There is history in that one word, and from the way Hayes evaded my questioning the first day Harlowe was brought up in the boardroom, I know they had a tense run-in, and if this is her reaction, it wasn’t pretty for her.
“Lowe, baby, I’m here,” I whisper in her ear, not sure what I want to convey, other than I am on her side. I put a reassuring arm around her waist and feel her stiffen.
She whips her head my way, then back to Hayes. “Excuse me,” she bites out, her voice shaking with undisguised rage. She turns away from us and leaves the table. Knox catches her hand and she whispers something to him and he nods, then returns to the table and sits. Fucking coward.
I stride around the table to Hayes, who gently moves Paige behind him, and Payton stands to intercept whatever brawl may be brewing between us. We stand together, a triad of powerful brothers among a sea of black-tie revelers not quite seated for a formal dinner, some aware of our presence, others completely oblivious. We couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks of our family squabbles.
“What the fuck happened?” I quietly snarl. “Five years ago.”
“I already told you everything,” Hayes snaps. “She came to Olympus looking for you and I told her you didn’t want to see her. I don't know why she would still be angry.”
“There has to be more. She wouldn’t be that pissed to see you now if you just wouldn’t let her see me,” I press, keeping my voice quiet to avoid making a scene for Paige’s sake, but I’m radiating with anger. My hands shake with the urge to wrap around his neck and force the truth out of him, all because of one word from Harlowe’s lips when she saw my brother. I would bring this entire place down on Hayes’s head for her.
Hayes shrugs his big shoulders and looks over at Paige, standing several feet away and studying us with a worried expression. “I may have offered her a lot of money to stay away. But it doesn't matter, she refused.”