94. Natalie

Chapter 94

Natalie

Cheeks redfrom embarrassment over seeing Jackson again, I push through the doors and enter the building.

The lobby is pristine, with high ceilings and a manned front desk.

It’s very high end and the sort of place I expected Luke to live in.

The man behind the desk smiles at me. “Mrs. Anders?”

I swallow and nod. “That’s me.”

“Mr. Wilder told me to expect you.” He tips his head toward the elevator bank. “Have a nice brunch.”

Trying not to feel awkward about the personal greeting, I thank him and move into the large alcove.

Out of sight from the front desk guy, I take an extra moment to breathe before hitting the button for the elevator.

Luke wouldn’t be sending me in here if he didn’t think I’d get along with these women.

It’s just brunch.

I remind myself again as I press the button to summon the elevator.

My attention turns back out the glass front doors to the sidewalk.

Luke’s SUV is gone, but another car is in its place. The blue sedan is parked as the driver and passenger make out.

Having recently been caught in a compromising condition—twice, if we want to include that damn video—I should probably look away.

Just as I convince myself to stop, they also stop, and the woman climbs out of the car.

And heads toward the building.

I avert my eyes, but just as the elevator dings its arrival, I hear the front doors open.

I hear a female say, “Hey, Henry. How’s your morning?”

“Going just fine,” the doorman replies. He might say more, but his voice doesn’t carry as I step into the elevator.

I can hear the woman’s footsteps, and as much as I don’t want to, I place my hand against the edge of the door, holding it open.

A pretty brunette, in an outfit similar to mine, smiles as she steps onto the elevator with me. “Thanks,” she exhales.

“No problem.” I take my hand away from the door, and they slide closed. “What floor?”

“The—” She glances at the buttons. “The same one as you, apparently.”

My smile back to her feels awkward, and I drop my eyes to study the floor.

The woman makes a humming sound in her throat. “All Sundays should start with champagne.”

My smile is more natural this time. “They really should. Probably Mondays too.”

She chuckles, and I relax a tiny bit more.

I can do small talk with strangers. And I need to remember that’s what this brunch is: small talk with strangers.

The ride is blissfully quick, and when the doors slide open, I step out.

I smile at the stranger again and plan to tell her to have a nice day, but she’s turning the same way I am.

I wish I’d waited for her to get off first because now I have to slow for my destination and wait for her to pass and…

She’s slowing too.

We look at each other, then her eyes widen. “Oh my god, it’s you!”

My own eyes widen. “Me?”

She nods. “You’re the heir—” She cuts herself off, and I feel my face blush. She was going to say heiress. As in The Hockey Player and the Heiress video.

“I’m Natalie,” I squeak, holding out my free hand. “Luke’s wife.”

She takes my hand. “Steph. Jackson’s sister.”

I swear my heart stops for a moment.

No one told me Jackson had a sister. Or that she’d be here.

He wouldn’t tell her about the Blizz thing, would he?

“Oh my god, please don’t look so scared.” Steph laughs. “Promise I’m a last-minute add-on, but it’s just me.”

“Just you?”

“Well, just me and then the other three. But I just mean that they’re always here, so Luke probably told you about them. I make it when I can. And I’m glad I did, Miss Champagne.” She grins as she knocks on the door. “For real, though, these ladies are the best. You have nothing to worry about.”

I have nothing to worry about.

The door swings open before us, and a woman about my height, with hair a little lighter than Steph’s, beams at me.

“Hi!” She holds her hand out. “I’m Katelyn.”

Katelyn.

As in Jackson Wilder’s wife.

“Hello.” My voice almost sounds even. “I’m Natalie.”

Katelyn smiles as she presses her lips together, and I know she’s thinking about it.

She’s thinking about it,and she’s trying not to laugh.

Steph keeps me from having to address the it when she throws her arms around Katelyn in an exaggerated hug. “Sister, it’s been too long.”

Katelyn laughs and hugs her back. “Maybe if you weren’t so busy working all the time, I’d see you more.”

Ending the embrace, they step into the apartment, gesturing for me to follow.

As we walk through the entryway and toward the kitchen, I try to make conversation.

“Are you married to one of the hockey players too?” I ask Steph while I take in the large, contemporary, open living space.

“No.” She shakes her head. “Just a sister to one.”

“Oh, um…” Ask normal questions. “What does your husband do? Or boyfriend… Sorry, I shouldn’t assume who he is.”

We’ve reached the kitchen now, and the scent of warm cinnamon makes my mouth water.

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” Steph says quickly.

“No, no, what are you talking about?” Katelyn narrows her eyes at me.

“I just meant the guy…” I trail off.

“Did Meghan make her coffee cake today?” Steph asks loudly, trying to change the topic but making herself sound guilty.

I look back and forth between Steph and Katelyn, biting my lip.

Two more women approach from the far side of the large island, and I suddenly feel like I said something I shouldn’t have.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” A beautiful woman with long red hair, in black leggings and a tie-dye hoodie, steps up to our little group. “Hi, I’m Meghan.” She greets me with a wide smile, then turns to face Steph. “Do you have a secret boyfriend?”

Secret boyfriend?

“What? No.” Steph’s voice is as high as mine was when I saw Jackson.

Okay, I really shouldn’t have said anything.

The redhead, Meghan, turns back to me. “Sorry, I know I’m being rude, but do you know something that would lead you to believe she is seeing someone?”

“I—”

Steph groans and tips her head back. “Would you please not interrogate the new girl? We want her to like us.”

I’m back to biting my lip.

Nothing says good first impression like outing Jackson’s sister for being in a relationship.

When the parallel hits me, that this is quite literally what happened to me and Luke with that damn video, I feel even worse.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out. “I must be mistaken.”

Steph groans some more. “No, it’s fine. I’m assuming you saw us in the car.” She sighs. “And that’s on me for being sloppy.”

“What car?” A blond in a bright blue long-sleeved wrap dress steps up, completing the circle. She lifts a hand to wave at me. “Hi.”

I lift a hand back. “Hello.”

“What was happening in the car?” Meghan moves her gaze between me and Steph.

“Kissing,” Steph says, like it’s the most boring thing in the world. “I was kissing my… man, in the car, outside the building.”

“I didn’t mean to watch.” My eyes widen. “Look.” I correct myself. “I wasn’t watching. Not like…”

The blond woman snickers. Then she holds her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. Sorry.”

At my side, Katelyn bumps me with her elbow. “Giggles over there is Izzy. She’s a financial adviser who works mainly with athletes. And she’s married to Zach Hunt.”

My brows go up.

Zach was the one in the penalty box with Luke in Vegas, and thinking of him married to this brainy, curvy blond makes me smile.

“You know I’m married to Jackson, and I work from home as a copy editor for a publisher that mostly does romance,” Katelyn tells me, and I make a note to ask her more about her job later.

Then Katelyn points to Meghan, who is still trying to get Steph to tell her more about the man in the car. “Megs has her own event-planning business. So if you have a corporate thing or something you need help with, she’s your girl. And she’s married to Ash LeBlanc, the goalie.”

Ash is the one Luke is no longer allowed to make bets with.

Meghan, overhearing, rolls her eyes. “Fair warning, our husbands become morons when they’re together.”

A laugh jumps out of me, and I slam my mouth shut.

“Is the food ready?” Steph reaches for the bottle in my hand, and I let her take it. “We brought champagne.”

I smile at Steph’s use of the word we.

Meghan side-eyes Steph. “We’re not done with this conversation.”

Steph lifts her chin. “When I’ve hidden this relationship as long as you hid yours with Ash, then you can talk shit to me.”

Katelyn snorts out a laugh. “She has you there.”