When Chad left the room, Brent turned toward her. “What do you say? Would you like the rest of the tour?”
…
Brent took Hope to the second floor, which held four lavish bedrooms with four-poster beds and fireplaces, each with a private bath. He only allowed her a brief peek at what he called the bridal suite before quickly shutting the door.
“Wouldn’t want to spoil your anticipation of the wedding night.”
Hope tried not to think about wedding nights and Brent in the same sentence. She couldn’t wait for Jackie to get here and free her from this awkward predicament.
“Some things are best left to the imagination,” she said lightly. Which was a terrible choice of words, because they only caused her imagination to run wild—and straight into some insane fantasy world where she was the one marrying Brent and not her sister.
“What’s on the third floor?” she managed after a pause.
“Come on. I’ll show you.”
Hope followed him up a back staircase, her knees wobbling. She’d told Jackie she’d avoid being alone with Brent, and she hadn’t done a very good job of it so far. From here on out, things would change. She’d make up excuses about needing to rest before dinner, and then make it a point to only see Brent in a crowd.
She hoped he’d been joking when he’d hinted at sneaking down to the carriage house later. Maybe, as a precaution, she should lock the door.
The third floor contained an area Brent called the playroom toward the front of the house.
There were three bedrooms across the hall, and each had a dormer window facing the bay. The center room had been shared by Brent and William when they were kids. Brent was staying there now, and Hope spied his unpacked suitcase through an open closet door.
She went to the dormer window and peered out at the breathtaking view. Elsa and Margaret were having a conversation near the firepit. Each held a glass of lemonade as Elsa gestured with her free hand. It almost looked like the two women were arguing about something. It couldn’t be easy being Margaret’s daughter-in-law.
“How long have your parents been married?” she asked Brent.
“Thirty-five years. Why?”
“I was just thinking. That’s an awfully long time to be married.”
“I don’t believe it’s felt long to them.” Brent shared a soft smile, and for a moment he looked sentimental, like he admired what his parents had. “They really love each other.”
“Naturally.” Hope gave a self-conscious laugh. “Most married people do.”
“Don’t worry,” he said seriously. “It will come along for us.”
“What, love?” Hope asked, thunderstruck. She couldn’t be hearing this right. She just couldn’t. Jackie had mentioned she and Brent had been slightly estranged lately. Still, they had to have developed deep feelings for each other in spite of that, right? What kind of deal had her sister signed up for? She took a giant step backward. “Wait—wait a minute. Are you saying that you don’t love me?”
Brent raised his hands. “Whoa, Jackie… I’m so, so sorry. Really, I am. I didn’t mean that to come off as—” He stopped talking, his hands falling to his sides. “Hang on. Are you saying…? Are you in love with me?”
Hope stared at him wide-eyed, her brain churning wildly. She knew Brent and Jackie’s engagement had been rushed, but she’d assumed that was because they’d fallen head over heels for each other.
Obviously, she’d been wrong.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, because she honestly didn’t know the answer. “What matters is why we’re doing this in the first place.”
“I thought you wanted to? I mean…” He raked a hand through his hair. “You accepted my proposal.”
Jackie had never shared those details. Why had Brent even bothered to propose if they weren’t in love? What could he possibly have said?
Let’s give this a shot and see if we actually fall for each other someday?
They might have had better odds spinning the roulette wheel in Vegas.
“I’m sure I was overwhelmed,” she said, unable to hide her skepticism.
Brent hung his head. “I could have done things better, I suppose.”
She frowned, not liking where this was going. “Better than what?”
“Writing it on a cocktail napkin.”
Hope’s jaw dropped. “You proposed on a napkin?”
“Oh, right. Like you could forget the huge fight that caused. But that was only initially. We were at that charity event, and you were constantly on your phone. It was the only way I could get your attention.” He paused to study her. “We laughed about it…later?”
“I’m sure it was hilarious.” She snagged a tissue out of the box on the nightstand and dabbed at her suddenly misty eyes.
He studied her, his brow furrowed. “Wait a minute. Are you saying you don’t remember?”
Now she was in it. Time to dig herself out.
“Of course I remember. What girl wouldn’t? It was all so romantic.” She crumpled up the tissue, feeling stupidly sentimental.
She didn’t know what she’d imagined for her sister, but it hadn’t been a will-you-marry-me-on-a-napkin proposal. Jackie deserved better than that.
“You’re right, and I was wrong. So, if you want me to try again…”
Brent squared his broad shoulders, and Hope realized with horror that he was about to get down on one knee. She had to stop him.
“Wait.”
“Wait what?” he asked, looking up.
“This has gone all wrong.”
“Apparently,” Brent said with a frown. His gaze fell on her left hand. “Grandmother Margaret’s ring. You’re not wearing it.”
Uh oh. How hadn’t she thought of that? Jackie would be wearing an engagement ring. The thought that it had come from Grandmother Margaret gave her the shivers.
“Grandmother Margaret’s ring,” she said stoically. “That’s just it.”
Brent watched her expectantly as she continued.
“The woman who can’t stand me. So, what kind of great wedding juju does that bring?”
“It’s a family ring,” he said on a sigh. “Grandmother Margaret never wore it. It was given to her by Grandpa Chad’s mother. That’s an Albright diamond—very special—and the emeralds around it are flawless as well. I’m sure Grandmother never would have given it to me if she honestly didn’t approve—”