“Thanks,” she breathed. “Where is this wine you were speaking of?”
Brandon turned to hang the jackets on the coat rack in the corner. “Right this way.” He led the way down a wide-open corridor. The floors were made of dark hardwood, the ceiling so high you could jump on a trampoline in this place. There were brown beams in the ceiling and paintings on the walls, all of them splashed with colors and made up of random things like houses, planes, and boats. No family pictures, though.
“Lora,” Cane hissed as she met at his side. “Have some class, will you? You already aren’t supposed to be here.”
“Class?” Lora laughed. “What the hell is that?”
“I’m not kidding,” he mumbled.
“Neither am I. Never heard of it.”
I couldn’t help laughing.
“Don’t encourage her,” Cane said in my ear.
I pressed my lips, but my smile couldn’t be contained. We finally made it to a foyer. A black piano was in the corner, right in front of a large bay window. There was a man at the keyboard playing a sweet, welcoming melody.
“Wow…this man went all out for this dinner, didn’t he?” Lora looked all around.
“I’m sure he isn’t the one who set this up,” Cane said, slightly agitated.
“What do you mean?”
“Cane!” A voice chimed to our right, and we all looked to find it. Of course it was Eden. And of course she looked very pretty. She wore a halter-top black dress that hugged every curve her body. Her hair was dark, straight, and sleek, and her makeup looked like it’d been done professionally. If she’d hired a butler and a pianist, I’m sure she’d hired a makeup artist too. She strutted toward us in her high heels, focused solely on Cane.
Cane stood where he was.
“I’m so glad you made it!” She was still chipper, still ignoring her other guests.
“Eden, you remember my fiancée Kandy.” Cane draped an arm around my shoulder.
“Of course how could I forget her fresh, youthful face?” Her smile was forced as she met my eyes and then extended her arm, offering a hand. “I didn’t get to formally introduce myself.”
“That’s okay,” I said evenly. “No formalities for me.”
Lora cracked up at that one. “Oh, boy.”
Eden looked from me to Lora, narrowing her eyes. “I’m sorry…who are you?”
“Oh, I’m Cane’s sister. I was informed the guy who owned this place was rich, and I didn’t know what I wanted for dinner, so I just tagged along. I’m certain there will be plenty of food.” Brandon walked around Eden with a tray of wine glasses, offering one to Lora. Saved by the butler.
“Thank you, Brandon,” Lora said.
Brandon offered one to Cane, me, and Eden, but Eden didn’t take one. I grabbed mine, but didn’t sip.
“Well, anyway,” Eden sighed. “Dinner will be right this way.” She turned and walked back down the hallway she came from. We followed after her, Cane’s hand dropping to grab mine. Eden’s walk had far more hip swaying than necessary—just another desperate attempt to grab attention.
“Damn, that bitch is desperate,” Lora snickered over her glass of wine. I grinned. I was glad Lora came. She lightened the mood, and had no filter whatsoever. I also could tell she’d already gotten under Eden’s skin.
Eden rounded a corner, and we were met with a large dining table surrounded by six seats and topped with fresh, steaming food of all sorts. A man was standing in the corner with a cellphone pressed to his ear. He had brown skin and dark brown eyes, his head bald and a graying beard. He looked to be in his sixties.
“Dad, your guests are here.” Eden met up to him, and the man looked over his shoulder. He wrapped up his call and then turned to look at us with a warm smile.
“Mr. Cane!” he bellowed, raising his hands in the air. “I am so honored to have you here!”
“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Miller.” Cane released me to shake his hand.
“And I see you brought two lovely women with you,” he noted, looking between me and Lora. “Which one is the fiancée?”
“She is.” Cane gestured for me to come closer with a cock of his head. “Kandy, this is Gerald Miller. Gerald, Kandy.” Cane looked at Lora, who was sipping her wine. “That wild thing over there is my sister,” he teased.
“Whatever, dude.” Lora lowered her glass and shook Mr. Miller’s hand after he’d gripped mine.
“Well, I’m happy to have you all here. I’m sorry Mrs. Miller can’t join us tonight. She’s in Dallas, visiting her sister, but on the other hand, the food was just finished by my chef, who makes terrific soul food. Come on”—he lifted a hand toward the table—“Sit. Let’s eat.”
For the most part, dinner wasn’t too bad. Mr. Miller was a nice guy, but I did notice Eden trying to give Cane seductive eyes. She would cut her eyes at me, here and there, when she thought no one else would notice.