Dangers of Love (The Scottish Billionaires #5) - M. S. Parker Page 0,65

trying to figure out how far along she was. They could figure out a lot of things that way. Like when she and I had started sleeping together, which might lead them to asking about how we’d met.

I was pretty sure the reason no one had asked about how long we’d been dating was because they’d all realized that things were moving fast. After all, I’d been with them on Thanksgiving and hadn’t mentioned that I was dating anyone.

“Have you picked a date for the wedding?” Paris asked. Her face lit up. “Carson can totally design your dress! He’s amazing!”

“Carson?” Aline glanced at me, the question barely loud enough for me to hear.

“Cory’s twin,” I said. “He’s a designer in New York.”

“I’ve already told him that he’s designing mine, but that’ll be far, far in the future, if ever,” Paris continued. “He’d love to do yours, I’m sure. And he’d do it for a good price too.”

“Paris.” Maggie put her hand on Paris’s arm. “Let’s stick with Christmas and save the wedding planning collaboration for later, all right?”

For a moment, I thought I saw something strange on Maggie’s face, an emotion or something like that, but when I tried to focus on it, it was gone. I told myself to remember to come back to it later, ask one of the others if something was going on with her, but even if I forgot, I had complete faith that someone would figure it out. A family this big, secrets didn’t last for long.

“Sorry.” Paris grinned at Aline. “I can get carried away sometimes. Just ask your fiancé. I’m sure he can find some great stories to tell about the shit we used to get into growing up.”

“Language.” Mom said it with the same exasperated tone she always used when she wished we’d lay off the curses but wasn’t going to make a big deal about it.

That was how she’d always been. She didn’t like us swearing, but as long as it wasn’t directed at someone seriously or disrespectfully, she’d just give us that same warning. For her and Da, it’d always been about respect. The one time I’d really gotten my ass busted had been the only time in my life I’d called one of my sisters a bitch. I couldn’t remember which one or the circumstances, but I sure remembered the punishment.

Mom had arranged for me to spend two months cleaning kennels at a local animal shelter. She’d said I needed to learn what a real bitch was.

Since then, there’d only been one woman I’d ever used that word for, and that had been Alec’s ex-wife, Keli. There had been enough extenuating circumstances that if Mom had known about them, she probably would’ve said it herself.

“So, Aline, since my son is clearly neglecting the good manners he was taught as a child, how about you tell us a little about yourself?” The warmth in Mom’s voice was genuine, but so was the slight reprimand she directed specifically at me.

And it was all rightly on me. Aline may have been a little hesitant to talk about the pregnancy, but my family should’ve at least known about her. We might not have been dating long, but Alec had realized how important she was to me when I’d talked to him. The rest of them should’ve known it too.

“Um, well, I’m from L.A.,” Aline began. “And, like I said, I graduated from Stanford. My sister did at the same time too. Her name’s Freedom, and there’s just the two of us and our parents.”

Aline may have looked calm and composed, but my leg was pressed against hers, and I could feel her shaking. I didn’t know if it was fear, anxiety, or just the result of adrenaline from working herself up, but she needed me to take over.

“Aline has a master’s degree in elementary education,” I said. “She plans to be a teacher.”

“Master’s?” Cory was clearly impressed. “You barely look old enough to have a Bachelor’s.”

“I know I look younger than that,” Aline said with a laugh. “It’s okay.”

“She’s a genius.” I smiled at her, aware of the looks my family was shooting my way.

I hadn’t smiled this much in a long time, and now they knew the reason why. It was her. After spending almost a full year spinning in circles, I had my focus again.

I had a future and a purpose.

Thirty-Two

Aline

The video call had been…interesting.

I’d enjoyed meeting Eoin’s family, even though it had been a little overwhelming at first, but