vitation card in her hand like

nner – Friday, 7:3

a garment bag containing a designer black dress, silver heels, and

d no c

part of

rents, play nice with their friends, and smile as if she belonged in a

eply and began

-

e was more like a

nicured gardens, marble statues, and a fountain that gushed like something out o

ick of her heels against the stone driveway. She smoothed the

it and navy tie, his hair styled perfectly, as if

he asked, off

inked her arm through his anyw

but his voice held a tightne

ered as they approache

-

l, regal-looking woman descended t

and a sharp gaze that could cut glass. Dressed in an emerald green dress an

she greeted

id, leaning in t

yes turned

st be C

nd stepped forward. "It's a plea

ile, her eyes scanning Cecilia's outfit, shoes

," Cecilia said with a sm

didn't

man with silver-streaked hair and

y son's been quiet about you,

eo warne

honest. You're a surprise,

ike a test tha

's childhood kitchen look like a shoebox. The table was set for ten, with gold-rimm

and she murmured a soft "thank you" as she sat,

arp-tongued socialite who grilled Cecilia on her "backg

r father do?" Miri

ew years ago," Ceci

said, but didn't sound s

small pharmacy,"

armac

," Cecilia

beat too long. Then Eleanor spoke

do you do,

eplied honestly. "Administrative suppor

manicured brow. "And you le

ly. "Let's just say

ilia's smart, grounded, and practical.

ply. But something softened in her eyes for j

-

d thought, especially when it came to high society. Every word she

surpri

ughed too hard at Cecilia's unfamiliarity with caviar, Leo leaned in

choked on h

leave, Eleanor walk

ight," she said q

u," Cecilia

son has never brought a woman home befo

ari

ntedly. "She comes from go

d. "I'm not trying to

cause no matter what Leo tells you

rned and disappea

il Leo returned from say

ked, noticing

they exited the

-

car, she fin

intense," s

y. "Welcome to the

y told me I'm unwo

" he said, loosening his ti

e herself. "Well, I pas

lancing at her. "You handled them be

softer now. Wa

an what you said? At the table. Ab

r a moment be

id. "At leas

ped a beat-but she d

mo

eeli

str

he made it hard