was coming to town.
“I am,” she nodded. “Gloria Wakefield.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Wakefield, but Lucas is not at his office right now.”
“Oh no? Where can I find him?” the woman asked sweetly.
A car honked and Emily gestured for the driver to go around the Mercedes, too.
“I’m sure he’s at his engagement party by now,” Emily said, a little surprised the woman didn’t know that. “You are coming to the party, too, aren’t you?”
“Engagement party? Why, yes, of course, I’m going,” Mrs. Wakefield replied. “I just thought we were meeting at his office first and then I’d go with him.”
“I’m headed over there myself. Why don’t you follow me?” Emily offered, thinking the elderly woman must have just gotten mixed up.
“Thank you, dear. That’s so nice of you.”
The party was in full swing when Emily arrived with Gloria Wakefield in tow. Everyone was out in the backyard with tiki torches blazing, conversation and laughter competing with the blaring country music emanating from a large black boom box.
Emily escorted Gloria from the front porch to the back of the house, and they stepped through the French doors leading to the expansive back deck. The lawn beyond the deck was set up with a ping pong table at one end and a fire pit with patio chairs at the other.
Lucas and Maggie stood on the deck, not far from the French doors, talking to Alex and Isabel.
“Look who I found?” Emily announced, watching Lucas’s face for a reaction. His mouth dropped open, then a wide smile spread across it. Maggie turned to Emily with a quizzical expression.
“You must be Maggie,” the woman said, putting her hand out. “I’m Lucas’s mother.”
At first Maggie looked stunned, but then she opened her arms and hugged the woman warmly. “Lucas, shame on you,” she scolded with a bit of a frown, then her face blossomed into a smile. “Why didn’t you tell me your momma was gonna be here?”
“Um, I, well, I wasn’t sure she could make it,” he mumbled. Emily noticed a flash of a frown and then it was gone. In its place Lucas plastered a polite smile. He stepped toward her, leaned down, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “I’m glad to see you found the place, Mother.”
“It is so nice to meet you, Mrs. Wakefield,” Maggie declared.
“Please, call me Gloria.”
“All right, Gloria.” Maggie beamed.
Maggie took Gloria’s arm and introduced her future mother-in-law to her friends, just as Fiona walked up to the group.
“Mother,” Lucas said, “this is Fiona, my assistant. She’s helping me with the Whitetail Resort project I told you about.”
“Fiona, so nice to meet you,” Gloria said, shaking Fiona’s hand.
“And this is my brother, Sully,” Maggie introduced. “He’s the mayor of Paradise Valley.”
“Well, this is an honor, Mr. Mayor,” Gloria said, taking his hand in both of hers.
“Thank you, ma’am, but I’m just a regular guy,” Sully replied, dressed down in jeans and a collared shirt. “Tonight, I’m just the brother of the bride.”
“I’m sure you and my Lucas will become great friends,” Gloria gushed.
“Like brothers,” Lucas agreed with a grin.
Sully turned to Lucas. “Say, can we talk privately?”
“All right,” he replied. “If you all will excuse us, we have a little business to discuss.”
“No, Lucas, not tonight,” Maggie pleaded.
“Just a few minutes, hon. We’ll be right back.”
Emily watched as Lucas and Sully stepped off the deck and moved to a private corner of the backyard.
~*~
“What’s up?” Lucas asked.
“I hate to do this to you, but I need that hundred thousand back,” Sully said in a low tone, glancing around.
“Why now? You’ll make twice that when you sell the condos.” Lucas’s gaze darted around, as well.
“I just got a notice today that we’re being audited in the next two weeks. I have to get that money back in the account right away.” His voice revealed his desperation, as did the beads of sweat that formed on his forehead.
“I can’t do that, Sully. Your money is being held in an escrow account. It’s not like I just have it sitting in my office or something,” Lucas replied coolly.
“I know you sold a lot of those condos this week, so I’m sure you have more than enough funds to repay what I gave you. I have to get the money back. If I don’t—I’m ruined. Do you hear me? Ruined!”
“Listen, Sully.” Lucas placed a hand on Sully’s shoulder, turning his back to the party. “I need you to use your influence to push the wealthy citizens of this town toward