I shook my head and spoke into the phone. “Mom, Dad, I’m going to go now. Don’t come here, not yet. I’m spending the holidays with my fiancé.”
“Don’t—”
Disconnecting the phone, I didn’t hear the rest of their reply.
Van’s lips curled into a grin. “I like hearing that word from you.” He reached for my hand. “Are you okay? What did your parents say?”
I let out a sigh and laid my phone on a nearby table. “They were shocked.” I reached for him with my other hand and looked down at where we were touching. It wasn’t as dramatic as last night on the dining room table, and yet the simple comfort at having my hands in his brought a smile to my face.
Van squeezed my hands. “That’s understandable.”
“Dad doesn’t trust that you’ll help.”
“He’s a smart man.”
My eyes opened wider. “You promised.”
Van snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me flush to his chest. “He’s smart because I’m the last man he or Butler should trust.” His green stare met mine. “I’ll prove them wrong, Julia. For you, I’ll help save your family’s company, but you should know that when I’m done, the Butlers will no longer be major or minor stockholders.”
I stared up at him. “What’s your connection with the Butlers?”
“It was a long time ago. It involved Logan first.”
“Logan? You mean Uncle Logan?”
Technically, he was Skylar’s uncle, but using the aunt or uncle moniker was something we did interchangeably for one another’s relatives since we were young.
Van scoffed. “That’s him. Marlin became involved. You can say that I hold grudges.”
Julia
Van’s gaze shimmered with the gold flecks. “If you want to go home to your parents for the holidays, I wouldn’t stop you. You aren’t being held here against your will.”
I grinned, looking down at his arm around me. “I am being held, it’s not against my will, and I like it.” I shrugged. “Chicago is the last place I want to be. As far as the holidays, you don’t so much as have a wreath on your door. I get the feeling you’re not too into celebrating.”
“I’ve lived alone a long time. There’s not a lot of festivity when you’re by yourself.” He took my hand and led me to the soft leather sofa. “I’ve already attended the obligatory parties. And I hosted the one for the Sherman and Madison executives and office staff.”
“Here in your home?”
Wouldn’t he want decorations if he did that?
“No,” Van said, “at a restaurant in Ashland.”
I leaned my head against his shoulder. “This was supposed to be a special time, a week before my wedding.” I scoffed. “I had three days and two nights booked downtown at the Conrad with my bridesmaids.”
“Including...?”
“I only had two, despite my mother wanting an entire court.” I sighed. “If you’re asking if Beth was included, the answer is yes, as my maid of honor, she was.” I gave that some thought. “I suppose she wouldn’t have been drinking.”
“Have you spoken to Beth?”
I shook my head. “Mom said she had.” My stomach twisted. “I’ve spoken to Vicki, the other bridesmaid. When it comes to Beth, I don’t wish her ill; I just can’t talk to her yet. Talking to Skylar at the hotel was enough.”
Van’s fingers gently ran through the length of my hair. “I’ve said it before, Butler’s an ass.”
“We had a house being built. It wasn’t done.” I sighed. “I imagined hosting large gatherings there.”
Van reached for my chin, pulling my eyes to his. “I’m sorry.”