Billionaire Wolf's MateDate - Serena Meadows Page 0,18

should see the plans I have for the house,” Betty said, clapping her hands in excitement again. “We just have to get...” her words died away. “Oh, dear, I’ve just been rambling and you’re dead on your feet. I’ll just get out of here and let you take a nap. I’ll come and wake you in a few hours and we can find something for you to wear for dinner.”

Janice sighed with relief when the door closed behind Betty and immediately collapsed onto the bed, her face buried in the bedspread, a sense of disappointment washing over her. She wasn’t sure what she expected, but it wasn’t a run-down house, a disapproving father, and an annoying stepmother, or a party where she’d be the center of attention.

Chapter Eight

***Reggie***

Reggie handed the reins to the groom who’d appeared as soon as he rode into the barnyard, wishing he could rub the horse down himself but knowing that it was impossible. “Thanks, Charlie. Make sure she gets a little extra in her bucket tonight; we covered a lot of ground today,” he said.

“I’ll take good care of her, sir,” Charlie said, his eyes glued to the ground.

Reggie wanted to sigh. Everywhere he went, the staff treated him like he was royalty, bowing and curtsying, looking at the ground when he talked to them. It was wearing on his nerves, not to mention making him feel uncomfortable, but he knew that trying to change it would only make the staff uncomfortable and possibly get them in trouble. So, he’d been putting up with it all day, but he wished, not for the first time, that his brother was still alive.

But there was also a little voice whispering to him that he was right where he was supposed to be, echoing Trevor’s words from the night before, and sparking a small flame of hope. Forcing himself to ignore it, he headed for the house. The problems of the clan weren’t his main concern; Janice was. No matter what was happening in the clan, he had to stop the wedding, had to find a way to stop his father from getting the marriage contract reinstated before he was forced to openly defy the council.

There was no doubt in his mind that the moment the council voted in his father’s favor, he would see that they were married, and they’d be stuck with each other forever. The thought made a thrill wash over him, but he pushed it away, knowing that the last thing he wanted to do, was to be forced to marry a woman who didn’t want him. Every day would be pure torture: wanting Janice but knowing that she didn’t want him would kill him little by little.

The only problem was that he wasn’t sure he was strong enough to disobey the council; the will of the clan was powerful, and if the council had their support, it would be nearly impossible to resist. Heart sinking at the thought, he searched desperately for a way out, then realized that there was one thing he could do that might change his father’s mind.

Determined to talk to him right away, he doubled his pace, heading for the front door even though it felt strange to him. But just as he topped the rise and the house came into view, he saw the long line of luxury cars lined up on the tree-lined drive. Quickly changing directions, he headed for the kitchen door, not ready to interact with his father’s guests, but found that entrance just as crowded.

Pushing his way through the staff and delivery drivers dashing around the yard, he stepped into the kitchen to find it just as crazy. Maids dressed in black skirts and white shirts were carrying tray after tray of food out of the big double doors to the dining room; both of the huge ranges were covered with steaming pots, and the ovens were stuffed to capacity.

Orchestrating it all was their long time cook, shouting instructions from a chair, her eyes roaming the room for anyone not following her instructions. When they finally fell on him, a smile broke out on her face, and she nimbly jumped off the chair and fought her way through the commotion.

“Mr. Reggie,” she said when she finally got to him. “I should chase you out of here, but I’m too glad to see you.”

“Hi, Bernice,” he said, giving her a hug. “I should have come down sooner, but everyone’s been acting so strange, I was