force this spring,” Evan was saying as Grace laughed. “I’m shocked you had time to make it.”
“Evan,” Grace said when I came to stand next to her. “This is Chris. My husband.”
Evan scowled at me. “The one who tricked you?”
“He didn’t trick her!” a plump dark-haired woman said, coming up and kissing Grace on each cheek. I thought I recognized her then remembered it was Ivy, the wedding planner for Marriage in a Minute.
“Hubba hubba, girlfriend! I like your dress, even though you didn’t pick the one I wanted.”
“Can’t go wrong with black,” Grace said. “I was just introducing Evan to Chris.”
“We’ve met before,” I said quickly.
“Have we?” Evan said, squinting at me.
“Your magazine is giving my hedge fund the award.”
“Is that right?” Evan said, leveling his gaze at me.
“He’s just messing with you! Chris and Grace were screwed over by the Svenssons,” Ivy said to Evan, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning against him.
“Did I hear someone say they were screwed over by the Svenssons?” an elegant older woman said dryly. “Quelle surprise.”
Shit. Nancy Holbrook. I had been trying for years to manage even part of the Holbrook Foundation’s endowment.
“Mrs. Holbrook,” I began. “It’s so nice to—”
“Hi, Nancy,” Grace chirped, leaning in to exchange an air-kiss. The older woman enveloped her in a warm hug.
“How are you, Grace? You girls couldn’t convince Mark and Brea to come to this event?”
“Brea is busy with another dress. And I’m shocked I’m here, to be honest,” Grace told her with a laugh while I reeled.
“I do have work to do, but Chris begged me to come with him. I’m behind on my photos.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t stay home and take photos of him, to be honest.” Nancy looked me up and down.
“He is good-looking,” Grace remarked with a laugh. “But he’s picking up an award.”
“Men do like their trophies!” Grace and Nancy laughed like old friends.
“Is this your new wife?” Horace boomed. “Your grandfather would be so proud! What a catch. Chris really found someone out of his league, didn’t he, Nancy?”
“Grace, this is Horace, a good friend of my grandfather’s,” I began.
“I know Grace! She fetched me snacks at that gawd-awful wedding my brother made that speech at. You didn’t tell me you two were married.” Horace lightly punched me on the arm.
“Oh, Barney’s girl’s wedding. I missed it unfortunately, though I did see the pictures. Very nice,” Nancy said. “I assume those were your work, Grace?”
“I tried,” she said. “Chris was there distracting me.”
Nancy gave me an assessing look. “You’re Darren’s grandson. I just put two and two together.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “I run a hedge fund now.”
Grace laughed. “Run is a generous term. He sleeps all day and is out all night.”
I forced my expression to remain pleasant. Fuck, what was Grace doing? She was going to ruin me!
But she continued smiling up at me and reached up on her toes to kiss my cheek.
“I’m working on him. He’ll be up at five and in the office by eight here in a couple weeks. I’ve almost broken him of his snooze-button habit.”
Nancy laughed. “We are looking for a better return on our endowment,” she said to Grace. “You let me know when you have Chris in ship-shape, and we’ll all have drinks.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Nancy gave me an approving nod.
“Come,” she said to Grace and Ivy. “A dear friend of mine is on her fourth marriage. I need you two to talk her out of forcing us all to travel to the middle of the Australian outback for some sort of horrid Wiccan desert situation.”
Horace puffed out his chest after they left.
“Your grandfather would be so proud!” he said, giving me a slight shake. “Good for you! What a find; Grace is fantastic! It’s gratifying to see you take your life and your business seriously. And, well, if Nancy Holbrook is interested in your hedge fund, then I am too!” He shook my hand. “We’ll talk!”
I had other people on my list to catch up with, but first I needed to go jump up and down like a five-year-old on Christmas morning. I scooted outside through tall glass doors to the French-style garden off of the grand ballroom. After looking around, I jumped up and down and gave a whoop.
“Yes! Yes!” I rubbed my hands together. “God damn, Grace is fantastic. Maybe I won’t actually divorce her.”