appeared dwarfed by her presence.
The joy on her face faded a little as she stepped back and turned to Harper. Her reserved expression took in Harper before Ethan’s mother moved to take her hand.
“So nice to meet you, Harper. In case Ethan hasn’t told you, we’re glad you could make it tonight. We look forward to getting to know you.”
Harper’s lips trembled just a little as she smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. Wentworth.”
“Please, call me Valerie. Ethan, you’re father has a glass of Scotch waiting for you.”
Valerie took Harper’s hand and led her into the room behind Ethan. Enormous glass doors were open to a patio and a gentle salt scented breeze wafted through. The ocean glittered bright blue not too far away.
“I thought we’d dine outside tonight,” Valerie said, indicating a cozy table that had been set with china and candles, just outside the door. “Dinner will be ready in about a half hour. Enough time to get to know each other. Would you like a glass of wine?”
Harper’s glance slid to Ethan. They hadn’t really talked about when they were planning to tell his parents about the baby. He met her gaze and a smile tilted the corner of his lips up.
Her pulse leapt.
“Harper isn’t much a drinker. Iced tea?” he said.
Okay, so they weren’t going to tell them yet. Harper nodded. “That would be nice. Thank you.”
Her glance kept sliding to Robert Wentworth who was watching her, a neutral expression on his face. She had expected to see blatant loathing, so at least she wasn’t a pile of smoldering ashes yet.
“Dad, this is Harper. Harper, my dad, Robert.”
The imposing man took a step forward and held out his hand. His grip was firm and warm.
“Nice to meet you. Have to say we were a bit surprised this morning. We had no idea Ethan was seeing anyone.” Robert sent a pointed glance at his son who only lifted one eyebrow and took a swallow of his drink.
Harper felt the heat climb in her cheeks. “We met recently.”
“I’m not surprised the media got a hold of this already. Given who you are. Who we are.”
She couldn’t deny what he said. Her eyes fell to the ornately colored Oriental rug covering the floor. Harper had expected that would be the first thing to come up.
“Christ, dad,” Ethan growled, coming to stand beside her. His arm slid around her waist and he pulled her against his side. “You could at least ask how we met,” Ethan said. “Pretend to be cordial for god’s sake.
“How did you meet?” his father challenged.
“We met in Tahiti, actually,” Ethan replied. “It was kind of a whirlwind romance.”
“Clearly,” his father said, and it was as if he already knew everything—as if Ethan had just told his father they’d spend the entire time fucking. The older man’s eyes were predatory and not at all kind.
Oh god. If her cheeks weren’t red before they had to be blazing now. It was a necessity to avoid making eye contact with anyone right now.
“So when did you two discuss the realities of this situation?” Robert asked. “Or did the fact that we’re engaged in a multi-million dollar legal battle with your father somehow never enter into the equation?”
He paused and Harper finally looked up, realized he was talking to her. His gaze bore into hers as if this was a test, but she didn't look away this time. She swallowed her nerves and answered.
“On the steps of the courthouse when my father was trying to get a change in venue several weeks after I got back.”
“Which was denied,” he said, lifting his glass but keeping his stare locked on hers. Was he waiting for Harper to defend her dad?
Part of her wanted to, just to spite Robert Wentworth. But the truth was, he had every right to be furious with her.
Valerie moved to the wet bar and Harper heard ice clinking into a glass.
“Yes it was denied. As it should have been.”
Harper hated that people assumed she was on her father’s side. Of course it did look that way and that’s what her parents wanted all along. A unified front. Except she was done uniting with a liar.
A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of Robert’s mouth.
Ethan ran his thumb along the underside of her ribs. The touch let her know that he was there with her. There was finally someone on her side and it felt amazing. She leaned a little closer to him.
“You’re mother was a Harpswell,