Built Over Time (The Middleton Hotels Series Book 4) by C.M. Steele

Author:C.M. Steele [Steele, C.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-23T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Harper

I could barely walk as we exited the car at his parents’ house. Bryce worked my body to the point of pleasurable pain. I had my favorite heels on and yet, I couldn’t stay steady. My nerves were shot. I had no clue how I was going to make it through dinner. The Middleton name was synonymous with wealth and class. For years, my mother talked about the three brothers and how it was a pity they were all happily married. She seemed to be rooting for a divorce or for one of the wives to die. I hadn’t mentioned it to Bryce yet, but I didn’t want a big wedding or for my mother to be there. In fact, I didn’t want any of my family there.

The door opened before we made it up the steps. I plastered an uncomfortable smile on my face. His mother smiled genuinely at me. It did nothing to soothe my emotions. It only made me feel like a fraud. Not because of my feelings for Bryce, because those were as real as they come, but for the family I brought along in my genes. I hated my mother and did everything I could to avoid speaking to her. If it wasn’t for my need to see Bryce, I wouldn’t have visited her at all. Her latest husband had the bankroll to help me get a nice place in Reese until I could pay it back.

The life I was living to get here was fake. I took a job I was overqualified for and had a place that wasn’t me. All for a chance to see Bryce and hope he remembered me. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, even though I was embarrassed of who my mother was and her general need for more.

“Welcome, Harper,” she said, pulling me in for a hug and into the house. Damn, the woman was strong. Bryce followed behind, closing the door and chuckling.

“Mom, you can let her go,” Bryce muttered.

She blushed as she unhooked herself from me. “Sorry, I’m just so excited.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Middleton,” I replied, sheepishly ducking my head as Bryce hauled me to his side.

“Goodness’ sake, let them come in, woman. I’m glad it’s not snowing,” his dad said, coming into the room with a jovial presence. This family was more welcoming than I deserved. “Hello, Harper.”

“Hello, Mr. Middleton,” I replied back. “And actually, I would have found the greeting to be warm in the middle of the winter.”

“See, Jacob,” his mom snipped and scrunched her nose at him.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. See what you’re going to have to deal with?” he told Bryce.

“I’m going to feel bad for the men who marry my sisters,” Bryce teased.

“True, but let’s not allow the food to get cold. I’m hungry and I’m sure you both have managed to work up an appetite,” he said with a suggestive wink. He took Mrs. Middleton’s hand and led us into their small dining room. This house wasn’t the place of millionaires or even billionaires.

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