Man about Town: A Cinderella Story … with Blackmail (Gentlemen, Inc. Book 4) by Thea Dawson

Author:Thea Dawson [Dawson, Thea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-09T05:00:00+00:00

16

MARCUS

I retrieve my carry-on and my suitcase from downstairs and deposit them in the bedroom that was mine growing up. It’s another spare room now, any sign that it once belonged to a rebellious teenage boy carefully erased. The rock band posters have disappeared, and the walls are now painted a decorous shade of pale green. The carpet is beige, the bed linens white with dark green trim. I pull my suitcase onto the bed and begin unpacking.

Twenty minutes later, I retrieve Alex. She’s changed into her red knit dress and a pair of pumps.

“You look very respectable,” I tell her.

She gives me a once over. I’m wearing khaki pants and a grey cashmere sweater. “You clean up pretty good yourself, Hollingsworth. Let’s do this thing.”

Together, we head downstairs and run into Janet just outside the living room.

“Marcus!” Her sweet, lined face breaks out into a wide smile, and she gives me a hug. “Welcome home! We’ve missed you. Aw, look at you—so tan! The west coast must be agreeing with you.”

I smile down at her. She’s short and plump and reminds me of a robin, curious, lively, and good-natured. She began working for my parents when I was four, so I’ve known her almost my entire life.

“Thanks, Janet. It’s nice to be back.” I actually mean it, a little, this time.

“I’m just bringing your mother a sherry. Can I get you something? A beer, maybe? Or a cocktail?” She looks expectantly at Alex.

“I’ll, um, have a sherry as well. Thanks.” Alex’s voice is quiet, and although she’s putting on a brave face, I can tell she’s nervous.

For the first time, I wonder if I should have looked for a different solution. It would have been simple enough to have Jacques drop her off at her friend’s house. The only thing worse than Alex Intimidated would be Alex Kissing Ass, and I pray she’s not going to try to impress my parents by imitating whatever they do.

“A beer would be great. Thank you, Janet.”

Janet gives my arm a little squeeze and disappears into the back toward the kitchen.

I step into the living room and take a seat on the couch. Alex sits beside me, looking unusually prim. Mom, trim and elegant, her blond hair expertly colored to cover up the grey in a way that looks perfectly natural, sits in an overstuffed armchair across from us, looking exactly like the society wife that she is. She’s in her mid-fifties, but she could pass for at least ten years younger. Today, she’s wearing a powder blue suit that suggests she had lunch with someone important this afternoon. It’s probably not a coincidence that her suit coordinates perfectly with the upholstery.

Mom puts her phone down on an antique side table next to her sherry. “Your father just texted. He’ll be home in about twenty minutes. Spencer and Laura should be here any minute. I’m looking forward to having my whole family at the dinner table for once.” She gives me a meaningful look.

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