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John pulled the napkin he’d tucked into his dress shirt out and tossed it down beside his plate. The buttons over his gut looked like they were fighting for their life as he leaned back in his chair and let out an obscene groan. “Thadeus, my boy, you sure do know how to treat your guests. That lobster bisque was phenomenal.”
Next to him, Tenley disguised an amused snort with a delicate cough, and he hid his own smile behind a sip of wine. No one seemed to have noticed that neither of them had touched their food. Or, more likely, no one cared, which was fine with Knox. At least they hadn’t eaten that tainted bisque.
Thadeus was oblivious to their amusement as he preened and took credit for things he’d had absolutely nothing to do with. Pretty typical Thadeus behavior as far as Knox was concerned.
As if his thoughts had summoned the bastard’s attention, Thadeus turned to Knox as he raised his glass and tapped his knife against it. “I want to propose a toast to my stepbrother, Knox.”
The ick that crept over him at being called Thadeus’s stepbrother was instant and insidious. Knox fought off a cold shiver.
“Now, as I’m sure you all know, Knox isn’t one to stay in one place for long,” Thadeus droned on in a condescending tone he’d probably trademarked as his very own.
Other than that stint in prison, right, stepbrother dearest?
“And before he leaves for his next adventure with his lovely new friend, I wanted to make sure I had the opportunity to send him off in style. So, let’s all raise a glass to Knox, and wish him the best in…whatever is to come for him.”
Waylin was super quick to raise his glass, as was Rebecca. Only Kay had the decency to look a little confused, since he hadn’t said a single word about leaving town after dinner.
Funny how he’d wanted to escape this room and this town with a passion all night, and now that Thadeus was practically shoving him out the door, he was ready to dig in his heels and be a total mule about it.
Thadeus had never understood that about him. Here he was, putting on this whole show to prove to him that he didn’t belong here with these people, and it was having the exact opposite of the intended impact. What a narcissistic idiot.
Next to him, Tenley must’ve had the same feeling, because she raised her glass, but laid her other hand on Knox’s shoulder and said, “I’m always ready to toast my husband, but surely you’ll let us finish our dinner before you run us out of town on a rail, now won’t you, Thad?”
Her tone was so light and teasing that to a casual observer, it sounded like she was joking. But Knox knew her well enough to pick up the edge in her voice. She’d just called Thadeus out at his own dinner table, and it was glorious.
Waylin cleared his throat nervously and lowered his glass. Kay chuckled and muttered, “Hear, hear.”
Thadeus’s pasty complexion took on a decidedly ruddy glow as he clenched his jaw and said, “Of course you should feel free to stay as long as you like, Knox. This is your hometown, after all.”
“Technically, it’s his home, too,” Tenley added helpfully. “According to Luther, of course, and the fine print in his father’s will. If Knox sticks around and takes that board seat, the house is his.” Then she let out a tinkling laugh and said, “But of course, you should feel free to stay as long as you like, Thad.”
Thadeus looked like he might have a stroke. Tiffany looked like she was considering packing up and leaving that night. Kay was looking at Tenley like she was the most fascinating creature in the world. And Waylin looked…confused.
If Knox wasn’t already in love with Tenley, this moment had tipped him over to the dark side.
“I adore you,” he whispered to Tenley so quietly only she could hear him.
She patted his shoulder. “Of course you do,” she whispered back.
CHAPTER 24
After dinner, everyone retired to the parlor, drinks in hand, and promptly split up into little conversation cliques.
John and Thadeus were sitting by the fireplace, smoking foul cigars that probably cost more than Tenley’s first car and drinking whiskey like the stereotypical mediocre white men they were. Waylin and Rebecca were listening to Tiffany blather on about how the nail technician at her salon had screwed up her French manicure. Vanessa had gone home to relieve the babysitter, and Knox was brooding in the corner, staring at his phone like it held the secrets of the universe.
Tenley had made the rounds and had a good read on almost everyone there. First of all, John and Thadeus were definitely plotting something business-related, and they were super motivated to get Knox out of town. Waylin and Tiffany were 100% fucking. In fact, they’d both disappeared for about 10 minutes before dinner and when they came back, he reeked of her perfume. The fact that Thadeus hadn’t noticed was either really funny or really sad. Tenley wasn’t sure which.
She knew for a fact that Knox was ignoring everyone around him by playing Plants vs. Zombies on his new phone. She couldn’t really blame him for that.
Meanwhile, Rebecca was just a lovestruck idiot. She’d spent dinner staring at Knox with sad puppy-dog eyes. If he’d offered her a single scrap of attention or encouragement, she would’ve offered to blow him under the table. Of that, Tenley was sure. The woman would probably cry herself to sleep that night because she’d lost her last opportunity with him.
Too bad, honey. You had your chance. He’s mine now.
That thought gave her pause. She’d agreed to give this relationship thing a chance, but when had she started to think so possessively about Knox? And this was after she’d practically gone feral on Rebecca when she was apologizing to Knox. That had been completely out of character for her, especially when she was in the middle of a con.
Knox (and all the sex, if she was being honest) had her…discombobulated.
The one thing they hadn’t discussed in detail was what they were going to do when this whole thing was over. Once Knox had his money…what then? Specifically, what was going to happen with their new relationship when he didn’t need her anymore?
