Page 76 of Wilds of the Heart

“Well, you are,” I whispered.

My eyes fell to her mouth, but just as I was about to lean down to kiss her, I heard my mom’s voice echo through the ballroom.

“There you are, Lucas. Nina hasn’t even left her place yet. Can you believe your sister?”

The crowd parted for my mom as she glided across the ballroom floor as if she owned the place.

Her silver dress shimmered like a snakeskin as she made her way over to us with my father right behind.

My mom immediately recognized Emily and smiled, clapping her hands. “Oh, I’m so glad you could make it tonight, Emily. You’re one of the few people who can keep him in line.”

Emily chuckled and nodded. “I try my best, but he’s a handful.”

My mom smiled, nodding. “Yes, he is. He has his father’s smarts and his mother’s charms.”

“You look beautiful, Mom.” I bent down and kissed her cheek.

“And you are handsome as ever.” She took a step back and noticed Emily’s hand linked with mine.

My mom brought her gaze back to mine and drew a breath. “Doesn’t tonight just feel enchanting? Much better than Portugal?”

My dad frowned. “What’s wrong with Portugal? We were having a lovely time.”

I chuckled.

“Tonight is beautiful,” Emily said, looking around the room. “I’m in complete awe over your florals and just… everything.”

“We’ve got good people who know how to throw a party. Maybe if either one of my children ever decided to take dating seriously, I’d be able to throw them a wedding of a lifetime.”

A blush touched Emily’s cheeks, and she nodded. “You never know.”

My mom groaned and shook her head. “No, I’ve got a pretty good idea that I won’t be a grandma until I’m too old to remember that I am one. I mean, he had to drag his best friend to a gala. Your grandmother would not find thispoeticat all, and she was into that stuff. You knew that, right?”

Surprise darted through me, and I shook my head. “I had no idea Grandma was into poetry.”

“Well, she wrote. Didn’t you ever read one of her books? They’re in the library at the orchard.” She raised her shoulders. “Anyway, she’d be very distressed that her grandchildren were anti-love when she wrote about it so beautifully.”

Emily’s eyes widened, and she glanced at me with a timid smile. I’d never seen Emily look sheepish, but I certainly detected that now.

“Actually, Mom, Emily and I—”

My mom clapped her hands and looked over my shoulder, completely unaware that she'd interrupted me. “Would you look who’s here?”

“Who?” I could only guess my sister had decided to show up.

I turned around slowly, but when my eyes landed on the couple my mom spoke about, I froze before turning back around.

My mom waved them over as my jaw clenched.

“What are they doing here?” I asked in a low voice.

“Oh, your father ran into them at the store the other day. It’s been eons, hasn’t it?” My mom’s eyes stayed on mine, and I knew what was about to roll off her lips. I held Emily’s hand tighter before it hit.

“You know, Clara is back in town. She’s divorced.”

Emily’s hand turned limp in my hand as my mom kept muttering useless facts and figures about Clara’s current life in Seattle.

I let go of her hand but offered her my arm, which she took without looking in my direction.