The Heir by Joanne Rock

Author:Joanne Rock
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-11-06T14:23:24+00:00

* * *

A few minutes later, Nicole stood alone in the front foyer of Miles Rivera’s huge house on the ranch property, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the horseshoe-shaped driveway illuminated solely by landscape lights. She heard someone coming up the stairs from the billiards room and tensed.

She wasn’t ready to talk to Desmond.

But the light tap of high heels on the tile floor made her turn around.

Chiara Campagna strode toward her, so beautiful she looked like her own personal filter followed her around at all times. With her perfect skin, rosebud lips and sheet of long, dark hair, she had fairy-tale princess beauty. Add in the flawless fit of her gold gown, the tasteful—and no doubt hugely expensive—accessories like the red-bottom shoes, sapphire cocktail ring and a bag by one of France’s most coveted designers, and it was easy to see why the woman turned heads everywhere she went. And why her Instagram following rivaled the biggest celebrities in the world. Nicole couldn’t help feeling underdressed by comparison.

Even so, Chiara and all of the other women at the small dinner party had welcomed her warmly. Chiara in particular had shown real interest in Matthew, asking about his childhood and his school program, demonstrating an earnest desire to know more about the boy. By contrast, her kindness had brought into stark relief how little Desmond had wanted to know about Nicole’s nephew. The realization had been the first of two unhappy epiphanies over the course of the evening.

The way Desmond and his friends had hidden their dead friend’s life and achievements rather than celebrate them put into perspective why it had been so damned hard to learn more about Matthew’s connection to Mesa Falls. It was beginning to become clear to her now, however. Who could doubt Zach Eldridge had fathered her sister’s son?

As Chiara drew nearer, Nicole refocused her thoughts.

“I hope I didn’t offend you with my remarks,” Nicole offered with an apologetic smile. “You’ve been nothing but kind to me.”

Chiara took Nicole’s hand and squeezed it briefly before letting go. “On the contrary, you asked the same kind of hard questions I’ve been putting forward to Miles for weeks.”

Perhaps she didn’t conceal her surprise very well, because Chiara continued.

“Trust me, I want answers as much as you do about Zach.” A flash of pain streaked through the woman’s eyes before she blinked, and the hurt was gone again. “And I think Miles and his partners—Desmond included—all want that, too. But they’re torn and confused about what their next move should be.”

“Then why have they conspired to hide Zach’s life from the world?” Nicole had never seen a reference to him, making her question how the group would welcome his son. “If Mesa Falls is really their way of honoring Zach, where is the plaque in the lobby? Why no mention of him in the mission statement? They say they care, but it’s like he never existed.”

Chiara leaned a shoulder on the pane of glass overlooking the front yard, her golden gown reflecting the glow from a wrought iron chandelier in the foyer.

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