CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

If Blake knew she wasjoining the Dufort's for Easter weekend, then he hadn't let on. In fact, the entire day Leilani had been waiting for Jacob to respond to her message asking that very question, but he hadn't.

Damn him.

Her overnight bag was tucked under her desk, hidden, to avoid any questions, but very soon the cat would be out of the bag—pun intended—because the entire office was closing early.

Jacob would be here any minute.

Leilani chewed her lip, and then smiled as Bella Dufort walked through the door in a gorgeous beige coat, her hair long and glossy.

"Happy Easter, Lani," Bella said, stopping at the desk as a suited man followed behind her with two bags.

No one carried her bag up.

When she told her mom she was going away for the Easter weekend, she'd just nodded and poured another glass of vodka. "With Amy and Vanessa?"

"No, a new friend. And my boss's family." Leilani replied.

That got her attention. "The Dufort's?"

Leilani nodded.

"That's not a good idea. You should keep your personal life separate from work." Her mom frowned. "Are you sleeping with him?"

"What? No. He's my boss."

"Then who are you shagging?"

"No, it's not like that."

Well, it was, but she wasn't going to talk to her mom about it. She could barely understand the decisions she was making herself, let alone explain it to her friends and mother.

"It's a bonus thing," Leilani lied. "And I told them I couldn't go because you are sick."

Her mom tugged her dressing gown around her and then nestled back into the sofa with her vodka. At seven a.m.

"You should go. If you aren't sleeping with the boss. I'll be fine." She shrugged.

"I am going, and they have kindly paid for a nurse to stay here while I'm gone." Leilani announced and prepared for the resistance.

"What on earth for? I can take care of myself."

Blah, blah, blah...

She tuned out and listened to all her mom's drunken words, with the arms crossed.

"So, she will be here on Friday afternoon. Play nice. If you don't want to talk to her, don't. She is here for me, and my peace of mind, not you," Leilani said.

That wasn't true, but the extra padding she'd put around her heart was doing its job.

She had to take care of herself, as the doctor had said. One day, her mom would be gone, and Leilani refused to run herself into the ground, fighting a battle that couldn't be won.

So she packed and was ready to fly to the Hamptons with the Dufort's, but she was pretty sure Jacob was the only one who knew.

Before Bella could ask about her weekend plans, she abruptly changed the trajectory of the conversation.

"Your coat is amazing. Dare I ask where it is from?" Leilani asked.

Bella preened. "It's a Verity Co Private Line. My father's fashion brand."

"Oh, I didn't know that was your family business," she lied.

She did.

She also knew she couldn't afford to shop there. Now or in fifty years.

"Do your brothers work there?" she asked, keeping the conversation going.

Bella nodded, but her brows dipped as if picking up on her bullshit. Although she did love the coat, even if it was a little warm this time of year for it.

"Yes, Knox leads the marketing department. Are you okay? You look a little peaked."

"Hey, baby." Blake appeared and leaned down to kiss the top of Bella's head. "Time to wrap up, Lani."

She nodded and turned away.

Please don't say it. Please don't say it.

"Are you doing anything fun this Easter?" Blake asked.

Shit!

"Depends on if you're a douche canoe all weekend. Isn't that right, princess?" Jacob said in the doorway.

Blake and Bella turned.

"Um," she said, biting her cheek.

Almost comically, Blake and Bella turned back and stared at her.

"Where's your bag?" Jacob asked, walking around her desk as if it was no big deal.

"Under there." She pointed, and he laid his hand on her hip as he reached down and picked it up.

"Well then, wheels up in thirty. Are you coming?" Jacob asked his brother and sister-in-law who were still standing there like deer in the headlights.

"Wait a fucking minute." Blake held his hand up finally. "Leilani is joining us? In the Hamptons?"

God, she wanted to curl up and die right now.

"Blake," Bella said softly, shooting her a careful look.

"Yup. She's my date," Jacob replied.

"Date? This isn't going to a club. Or even out for dinner. This is a family weekend for the whole family."

"And Lani," Jacob said, smiling down at her.

She glared back.

"Sorry, Blake," Leilani said.

"Don't apologize for these two eggheads," Bella said. "And you're welcome to join us."

"Neither of you thought it would be a good idea to tell me? Leilani works for me, for goodness sakes." Blake snapped, staring between them.

Ouch.

"I didn't think it was my place to say anything. Sorry Blake. And I messaged Jacob." She nudged his arm. "I don't need to come if it's going to cause problems. It's fine."

"You do need to come. We had an agreement. And I want you there," Jacob said, shifting her heavy bag to his other hand. "Wow, you know it's only three nights?"

"I didn't know what the dress code was, so I packed...a lot." She blushed.

Jacob leaned into her ear. "Naked mostly."

"Okay, I'm out." Blake threw up his hands.

Bella winked as Leilani felt her face burn red.

––––––––

NINETY MINUTES LATER, after an incredibly exciting flight in her first helicopter, the four of them landed on the lawn of the most beautiful house she'd ever seen in her life.

It was majestic.

"Welcome to the Hamptons," Jacob said, pulling off his headset and reaching for hers.

"Are we staying here?" Leilani asked, then had her answer when Hunter Dufort stepped out of the large French doors at the front of the house.

"It's gorgeous," Bella said, climbing off the chopper into the arms of Blake, who'd jumped down first.

He treated her like she was a piece of china, which I suppose she was in his mind now that she was carrying his child.

What must that feel like? To be married to a man you love and be pregnant. She could only imagine and hope that one day she'd be so lucky.

Her mom was unlikely to be around to see it, but there was nothing more she could do.

Leilani wondered if she was doing the right thing by being here. Was Amy right in her reaction? Even her mom?

Instead of flying in helicopters to mansions in the Hamptons, she should be at home swiping on Tinder, looking to meet someone she could spend her life with. Or she could do that next weekend.

Having a long weekend away from her mom, and giving both of them a break, seemed like a good idea. All they seemed to do was fight these days.

So, she was going to take the weekend to relax and enjoy her time with Jacob.

Of course, she liked him.

A lot.

But if she kept her head and just treated this like a fun escape where they could enjoy one another—on their own this time—then Leilani would take it.

Especially knowing her mom was cared for by the nurse she'd met before leaving for work this morning.

"Damn, this place is incredible," Jacob said after taking her hand and running them across the lawn away from the moving chopper blades. With his hands on hips now, he glanced around and out across the ocean in front of them. "Wonder if there's any real estate available nearby."

Leilani blinked.

Wow, she could never imagine being so rich you could just chopper privately to a destination and then go, huh, I might buy it.

What couldn't Jacob buy with all his money?

Her.

Well, there was that.

"Hey guys," Hunter said, shaking his cousins' hands and kissing Bella. "Addy and the girls are inside."

"So are the mocktails." Bella whooped.

"Fancy seeing you here," Hunter winked and kissed Leilani's cheek.

"Yeah, just tagging along." She blushed.

"Hands off." Jacob teased, tugging her under his arm.

"Hey, I'm taken." Hunter laughed.

"Not what I heard." Blake snorted.

"Jesus, not you, too. I thought I had at least another hour before it started. Until Harper and Daniel arrive, anyway." Hunter shook his head.

Seeing her confusion, he added. "I haven't proposed to my girl, Addy, yet, and the entire family is losing their fucking minds."

"Do you want to?" Leilani asked, tilting her head.

"The better question is, do I love her? Yes. Does she love me? Yes. Are we committed to one another? Yes." Hunter said, as they walked up inside the house. "Do we need rings and another fucking wedding in this family? No."

"Oh. Well, fair enough," she said. "You do have a point."

"I knew I liked you." Hunter winked.

"You made it." Fletcher walked over with a glass of beer in his hand. "Welcome to my humble home."

Humble?

On whose planet?

Not hers.

"Dick." Hunter laughed when he saw her reaction.

"Thanks for inviting us." Jacob shook his hand. "So glad you kept this place in the family. It's stunning. Any properties being listed nearby?"

"I did hear of one. I can message my realtor if you like?" Fletcher replied.

Jacob nodded.

"Really?" Leilani asked before she could stop the word from falling out. "And hi, Fletcher, thank you for having me."

"You're welcome. I hope you have fun. Head upstairs, through that door into the lobby. You'll find name tags on your door."

Cute.

"Courtesy of my wife, who is thrilled everyone is here."

"Jacob!" A woman came flying across the room with a baby on her hip. "You did come."

Two little girls chased each other, giggling. Almost tripping the woman over.

"Hey, Liv." Jacob let his arm fall from Leilani and hugged her and the baby. "And Baxter. Yes, and I brought a date. This is Lani. This is Fletcher"s wife, Olivia."

A date.

Not a friend.

"So nice to meet you, Lani," Olivia said.

"It's Leilani or Lani, but you can choose." She smiled.

"I like Lani," Olivia said. "Drop your bags and head back down for cocktails. Or mocktails if you're expecting."

Jacob choked, patting his chest.

"No." Leilani laughed, slapping his arm. "Cocktails are great."

Behind them, the chopper lifted into the air.

"Come on." Jacob slid his arm behind her again, his hand patting her bottom. "Let's go find our room."