Adam held her hand. “Relax, babes, you look awesome; like a debutante. Nothing to worry about.”
She threw him a smile. “Thank you.”
How did he manage to look so cool and sophisticated after having spent the last twenty minutes doing what he’d been doing? Amy could feel her own cheeks glowing with warmth. Her small hand felt secure and warm wrapped up in Adam’s fingers and she fantasised for a moment that she might be about to meet her future in-laws. Amy quickly stifled this stupid thought, knowing it would never happen. She wasn’t special to Adam. She was just a pretty face who could help him fill a bit of time in his busy life.
Adam halted on the checkerboard doorstep and pressed the gilded doorbell. Amy expected a butler or servant to answer, but actually it was a blond, handsome man with a devilish twinkle in his eyes. A younger version of Adam, with an even more cocky aura. He was wearing smart black trousers, but he’d thrown a leather jacket over his white shirt, and there was no necktie to be seen.
Adam threw his arms around his little brother. “Joseph, great to see you, kid! Hey, this is Amy.” Adam turned to where she was nervously standing on the step. “Amy, this is my little brother Joseph. He’s the youngest of us – only nineteen, but going on thirty.”
“Hello, Joseph. Lovely to meet you.”
Joseph shook her hand and grinned. “Ah, this is Amy. I’ve been hearing all about you.”
Amy refused to believe that Adam had been talking about her. These brothers were charmers and Joseph was clearly learning the ropes from his older role models.
“Well, thank you,” Amy said, remaining polite. “I like your jacket.”
“Thanks. It’s the one Marlon Brando wore in The Wild One.”
Amy ran her gaze over it. “Yes, it’s very similar, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s the actual one. Dylan got it for me for my birthday.”
Joseph grinned proudly, but Amy sensed pain behind that self-assured smile. Just like with Adam, she could see that this young man was devastated about what had happened to his eldest brother. What had Tariq done to this family? And why was he so keen to speak to her?
Adam pulled her out of her worried thoughts by tenderly draping his arm around her shoulders and leading her down the lavish hallway. The house was minimalist and modern inside, which was a contrast to the castle-like exterior. The hallway glistened with money, but somehow Amy felt reasonably relaxed. Joseph followed, chatting casually with Adam about last night’s game, but as they drew closer to the sounds of the party, the stark mood of the stuffy entrance shifted, becoming light and festive. Amy could hear music and chatter emanating from a room at the end of the hallway, and excitement flickered through her as she allowed the party mood to envelop her.
Adam opened the heavy walnut door of the grand hall, and Amy halted in the doorway. It was like the portal to another dimension. She realised that the music was being provided by a ten-piece jazz band, who’d set up in the corner of the large room, next to a place that had been reserved for dancing. Amy’s mood spiralled further upwards; she loved to dance. Maybe Adam would ask her later. She hoped so. But the dance floor was empty at the moment, because the other one-hundred-or-so guests were dotted around the hall, dressed in their finest clothing and expensive jewels, chatting and socialising. Amy’s body flushed with delight as the band’s upbeat jazz buzzed though her, mixing with her nerves from being near all these ultra-wealthy people.
But as she watched them, Amy sensed that they were having a genuinely good time. They didn’t seem pretentious, and there was no hint of the stifling vibe that she’d feared when she’d first seen the house. She relaxed a little and smiled at Adam.
“Welcome to the Quinlans’ humble home,” he said with a wink.
Amy chuckled. She loved how Adam was able to laugh at himself. Most wealthy businesspeople she’d met were so serious. It was true that his flirtiness had annoyed her when they’d first met, but actually, it was refreshing to find someone with a bit of life in them; someone who wasn’t afraid to be himself.
Adam held her hand as they walked through the crowd. Dylan noticed them and waved, then resumed his conversation with a few other men who looked as if they were probably part of this charming and handsome clan – maybe cousins.
Adam’s parents stood in the centre of the room, chatting with their guests, as if they were a king and queen holding court. They were attractive and stylish, like a couple of movie stars. His mom looked as if she’d once been a model – she was tall, slim, and beautiful. Amy guessed she’d married Quinlan Senior young, and had set about producing their six children early. She seemed happy and relaxed, though, as if being a mom and wife to a billionaire had been her dream-come-true. Quinlan Senior was rugged-looking and not as handsome as Amy had been expecting. Perhaps the children had acquired their striking good looks from the maternal line. Adam’s dad seemed stern, as though he’d had a tough life. But maybe he was just unable to cover up his devastation from losing Ivan, whereas his wife was forcing herself to play the jovial hostess.
Adam and Amy halted on the outskirts of the little group surrounding Mr and Mrs Quinlan, to wait their turn to be greeted. Adam gazed into Amy’s eyes and smiled more sincerely at her than any man ever had, making her heart squeeze with affection. He reached up and gently brushed a stray hair from her forehead.
“I’m proud to be here with you, babe. Did you see everyone staring as we walked past? They’re all wondering who you are.”
Amy blushed. “I’m sure they were just looking at you, Adam.”
He chuckled kindly. “Nah, they’ve all seen me before. But never with a woman. Not at a family function. I’m about as likely to bring a date as Dylan.”
Amy glanced over at Dylan, who was still deep in conversation with his cousins. She turned back to Adam, who leaned towards her conspiratorially. “My brother prefers the company of men.”
“Oh. He’s gay?”
Adam burst into laughter. “No! He likes to bed women. He just doesn’t enjoy their company out of the bedroom.”
“Oh. And you’re the same? That’s why everyone’s surprised to see me here?”
“I’m not as bad as Dylan. But yeah, I guess to a certain extent I didn’t really entertain the idea of a relationship. Until I met you. I don’t know what it is about you. But I’m glad you’re mine.”
Amy opened her mouth to question his dominating assumption, but it was their turn to speak to his parents. Adam ushered her forward as if they were waiting to go on a terrifying ride at Universal Studios.