“Stop fidgeting with your sweater,” Hugh whispered as they walked up the long drive to his family’s mansion. “They should be happy at this news. It’s exactly what they wanted, remember?”

“It’s not that,” she muttered. “Is your sister here? Devin?”

“Why are you worried about her?”

Blair’s brow rose as her lips screwed up to the side. “You know she’s never liked me.”

“She doesn’t like anyone except Dad,” he corrected. “Besides, she gets no say in what comes next. Only we do, remember? We’re going to get through this.”

“What if your mom pushes? You know she will.”

He sighed and stopped them so he could stare into her eyes. “I do, but I also know that my future wife is one of the strongest people I know. My mother is second to you. Anything you want, I’ll make sure you get. She does not get a final say in anything involving our lives.”

“Promise?”

He held up his pinky and she grinned. “Promise.” She wrapped hers around his and he kissed them with a wink.

Tonight would be a challenge, and he expected Blair to be nervous, but this was more than nerves. She was close to full blown panic over how their families would react. Or specifically, what his mom would do. She wanted this marriage for her election, but she would have to understand they wanted this marriage out of love.

He didn’t tell Blair, but he had a backup plan. If they were pushed too far, they would disappear for a week and elope. His lips twitched with amusement, picturing his mother’s face when they came back and were hitched. No cameras, no press, nothing but two rings and a marriage certificate. He would keep the plan to himself for now. Telling Blair would only make her want to skip ten spaces and pass through go without attempting a wedding with their families and friends first.

After he rang the doorbell, Blair ran her fingers over the short beard he’d decided not to shave off that morning. “You really do look great with a beard.”

“You only like what it does to you.”

He gave her body a long look, and though she wore an oversized sweater, he knew every inch of that body and didn’t have to see her naked to know what lay beneath her clothes. Beard burns covered her breasts and thighs, marks of his affection as her nail marks trailed down his back and biceps. They were quite adventurous in bed, adventurous and fierce, fierce lovers.

By the time the front door opened, Blair’s cheeks were three shades of red and she shuffled her feet, rubbing her thighs together.

“Hugh, why on earth did you ring the doorbell?” Bridget scolded with a smile. “Come in, both of you. We’ve waited for nearly half an hour.”

“Sorry we’re late,” Hugh offered, stepping inside.

“My fault. I had to swing by the house and pick up fresh clothes. I wasn’t able to do laundry at Jesse’s all week.”

She had told everyone she was staying with her friend and no one questioned her. Hugh said he was busy catching up on school work, which was partially true. His parents were strict rationalists. If they found out Blair and he spent the week having crazy sex, they would kick him out of the house. For a moment, he considered dropping that bomb and getting out of this situation, but the grief they would give Blair over it stopped him. She didn’t deserve to deal with their shit.

“Drinks have been poured,” Bridget went on, ignoring Blair’s apology. “I see you two are better acquainted this week.” She motioned to their clasped hands.

“Yes, we spent some time this weekend catching up,” Hugh explained, following his mother into the lounge where the rest of his family and Jean waited for them. “Good evening, everyone.”

“This better be good,” Devin grumbled from the couch. “I skipped a very important dinner with my colleagues this evening.”

“I didn’t ask that you be here,” Hugh pointed out. “Feel free to leave.” Secretly, he yelled at her to get her ass out of the house, but she glowered at him and stayed put. “We’ve asked you here this evening because Blair and I have had a chance to talk, and we agree that a marriage would be a wonderful way to celebrate this year.”

Blair held up her left hand, showing off the ring he’d bought her, and smiled. Jean was the first across the room to hug and kiss her daughter. “It’s beautiful. You have wonderful taste, Hugh.”

“I like to think so,” he said, but he wasn’t staring at the ring.

Kella rushed over and embraced them both. Devin remained on the couch as Bridget and Kenneth walked over and the latter shook his hand while Bridget placed an airy peck on Blair’s cheek.

“I’m glad you’ve seen reason,” she told Blair.

“Me?” She frowned, looking to Hugh. “I believe we both needed to see reason.”

“And to be clear, Mom,” Hugh added, “we’re doing this for ourselves. Not for you and your political career. We’re getting married because we love each other. That being said,” he went on when Bridget looked ready to interrupt, “we will be in charge of our own wedding.”

“Son, you’re not any man marrying any woman,” Bridget said stiffly. “You are the only son of the Mayor of Louisville, who is running for governor. And Blair is a Fraser, a name tied to half the city. This will not be a small affair. Why don’t you leave the planning to me, all right?” She patted Blair’s cheek, and when her face paled, he waited for her to lash out at Bridget.

But she smiled and he let out a breath through his nose. “I’m sure you know what will be best, but all I ask is that you don’t make any decisions without one of us. Deal?”

Bridget’s smile fell slightly as she stared at Blair’s outstretched hand. “Of course, my dear, of course.” She shook her hand for a second. “This calls for some champagne. We’ll work out the details for an engagement party soon.”

“Party?” Hugh and Blair asked at the same time. “Mom, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Yes, it is. How many times do I have to tell you? We are in the public eye, and when the election draws closer, everyone will know about our lives. Besides, the people love happy affairs like this.”

“It’s fine,” Blair whispered to Hugh as Bridget walked out of the room to get the champagne.

“I don’t want a freaking party,” he grumbled, but she stood on her toes and kissed him.

“It’s one night. If we give in, it might give us a little more wiggle room when it comes to the actual wedding.”

“Hugh? Help your mother with the champagne and glasses, would you?” Kenneth said roughly, and Hugh reluctantly left Blair alone with his family. He wasn’t worried about Jean. She beamed at her daughter and wiped tears from her eyes. At least one person in this room was genuinely happy for them. Two, actually. Kella bounced on her heels as she babbled away with Blair about the wedding.

They would get through this as long as they stayed together.

* * *

Blair hugged Kella again and excused herself to use the restroom. When she exited, she ran into Devin, her face pinched and arms crossed over her chest.

“What are you playing at?” she hissed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Blair replied, standing to her full height though Devin had inches on her. “We’re getting married like our parents have planned for years.”

“You aren’t good enough for him. All you’ll do is drag him down to your level.”

“My level?” she snapped. “Your mother might by the mayor, but my family owns half the city. Watch it, Devin. I could make your life miserable.”

“Just as I could make yours miserable if you join this family.” She sneered in disgust. “I know what you two have been doing all week. Did you think no one would find out? Fucking like rabbits. This is lust, pure and simple. You’ll get out of this phase and you’ll leave my brother a wounded animal.”

Blair’s mouth fell open, shocked by her bluntness. “Two people in love can’t have sex? And for your information, this is not a phase. This was us making up after messing up in the past.”

“You’re the only who’s the screw-up,” she shot back. “You’re not good enough for our family. Mother wants him to run for mayor, and when she moves up in the world, she wants him to follow. You really think this look of yours, this attitude, is good enough for the political world?” She barked a laugh, and Blair caught herself tugging at her sweater. “You’re a mess. You always were a mess with a mouth and no notion of what hard work actually means.”

“Don’t you dare tell me I don’t know about hard work,” she said and poked Devin in the shoulder. “Get out of my way and stay out of my way.”

“This wedding will never happen,” she warned. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“And then who will your brother marry? You can’t force him to fall in love with someone else.”

“Who said anything about love? All I have to do is show him your true colors and present him with a woman better suited to his future needs as a political figure. That, my dear Blair, will never be you.”

She stalked away, leaving Blair shaken and enraged alone in the hallway. She had nothing to fear. Hugh knew the truth about who she was, knew about her secret photography career, knew about the rumors she’d spread about herself. There was nothing else for him to find out.

Unless she finds out about your backup plan. She could use it against you, a voice warned.

The backup plan was a clear indication she was ready to run away from all of this. Ready to pick up and leave without looking back. But she wanted Hugh to run with her now, right? The hallway closed in around her, and she shut her eyes as dizziness overwhelmed her. Had she eaten anything today? Why was she so hot and cold at the same time? She should be happy. She was engaged to the man she loved and they would finally start their lives together, but all she saw was Devin cackling in the background as Hugh looked at Blair in disgust and walked away with another woman.

“No,” she whispered to herself. “That won’t happen. She can’t do anything to break you up. She won’t.” She shut her eyes and reminisced about her time with Hugh. How calm he made her, centered, made her feel like she was home. He was her rock, and he would not let his sister come between them, no way in hell.

Once Blair had calmed down, she returned to the study. Hugh frowned when he spotted her and hastened to her side. “Everything all right?”

“Perfect,” she replied, forcing a smile to her face. “I’m tired, and classes start tomorrow.”

“Ready to go home?”

She knew he wanted her to say yes and return to his apartment, but Devin’s penetrating glare from across the room made her shake her head. “I think I’ll stay with Mom, at least for a few more weeks while we work out the details. Besides, we both have schoolwork to get through and all we do is distract each other.” She made her tone light and teasing.

Hugh appeared to believe her, but she sensed he understood something had happened while she and Devin were absent from the room. “If you’re sure?”

“I am, but don’t worry, I have a key.”

“You’d better use it.” He kissed her full on the mouth, not seeming to care that their families looked on. When they came up for air, Blair wanted to curl up in his arms and stay there forever, but she needed to get home and make sure she was prepared to face her first day back. She left with Jean as Hugh walked them to the door. He held her hand until the very last second possible, and as her mom pulled out of the drive, Blair’s heartbeat pounded in her ears, a warning bell that this would not be as easy as they hoped.

* * *

Devin sipped her champagne, watching as Hugh led Blair around the dance floor for the eighth time that evening. The way they danced, so close together, so carefree, wasn’t how a couple going into politics should dance. Heaven forbid another fast song came on. They moved even closer, their bodies swaying to the rhythm as cameras captured the moment forever.

“I don’t know why you’re so upset about it,” Kella told her older sister.

“She is not suited for our brother.”

“Says you. They’re happy, really happy. What else could you ask for in a marriage that was essentially arranged when they were kids?”

Devin glowered at Kella, but instead of her little sister backing down like she was used to, Kella thrust her chin out and smiled. “Watch yourself.”

“Or what? You think you can control me? You’re not Mom or Dad.”

“No, but I seem to be the only one of their children concerned with the welfare of our family.”

“Welfare of our family? Jesus, Devin, he’s marrying his best friend, not some criminal.”

Devin shrugged. “In your opinion.”

“What is this about?”

Devin’s eyes narrowed more as she watched her brother kiss Blair in front of the flashing cameras. “She has no understanding of what life in the public eye should look like.”

“Who said Hugh even wants to be mayor?”

“He’ll do it because it’s important to our family.”

Kella burst out laughing, and several people close by glanced over curiously. “Are you on something? We’re a big name in Louisville, but being political is Mom’s dream, not his. Let him do his own shit and leave it alone.”

“Watch your mouth.”

Kella grinned wider. “Shit, fuck, tits, twat. How about that for watching my mouth?”

A few more people shook their heads in disapproval, but Kella was already winding her way through the crowd to join Blair and Hugh on the dance floor. That woman would ruin everything. She needed her family to maintain control so she could hold onto the power she had at the medical center. The Gordie name would be respected, and her brother would not wind up with a woman content with wandering through life without a plan and caring for nothing about current events.

“You don’t look very happy.”

Devin looked at the glass of champagne being offered and followed the arm to the head connected. “Justin, right? Hugh’s friend.”

“That’s me. You’re his older sister, Devin.”

“Is there something I can help you with?” She glared, waiting for him to turn tail and run, but he only grinned and planted himself beside her.

“You don’t seem too happy about his decision to marry Blair. Mind if I ask why?”

“Growing up, she always got him into trouble,” Devin explained. “She was the reason he tried to break away from our family. She nearly ruined him. For a few years, I hoped he would forget her and my parents would find someone better suited for him, but they are too attached to the Fraser name.”

“And if I told you there was someone else better suited for him?”

Devin’s brow arched. “And who might that be?”

“The daughter of the man who owns the other half of the city. Bethany. She’s here tonight. I brought her as my date, but really, she’s only interested in Hugh.” He pointed across the room, and Devin was surprised to see a gorgeous woman dressed exceptionally well in a red pants suit, her hair fixed, nails manicured, and a brilliant smile. “She only has Hugh’s best interests at heart and is even going into politics.”

“Fancy that,” Devin mused. “But it’s not me you have to convince.”

“Yes, your parents and Hugh himself, of course.” He swirled his champagne around in his glass. “I may have a way to do just that. I’m sure they wouldn’t want their son with someone prone to sleeping around. She might cheat on him, or worse, get pregnant before they are married. Who could even say if it was Hugh’s or not?”

Devin laughed darkly. “You’re going to spread rumors?”

“She started them herself when Hugh was lost and alone and slept with Bethany three years ago,” he said and Devin stopped laughing. “No one would doubt if more rumors crept up and if there was someone to give her a little push in the wrong direction.”

“Let me guess. You want to be said person.”

Justin sipped his drink. “I might not want her for my friend, but she is quite a beauty. I wouldn’t be opposed to swaying her to my side instead of his.”

“Leaving Bethany a chance to swoop in and save the day.” Devin considered the plan. It was simple and easy to pull off, but she would need to add pressure from her end to ensure Blair distanced herself from Hugh’s family and eventually from him. “And what if he finds out? You could lose your friend.”

“I could, but he’ll forgive me one day when he’s holding a powerful office with a sophisticated woman by his side, one who wants to bolster the Gordie name.”

Devin held out her hand and Justin shook it delicately. “Pleasure doing business with you, Justin. Why don’t you introduce me to Bethany? I feel we will become very close very soon.”

* * *

Hugh spun Blair out with one hand and Kella with the other, their happy laughter flowing across the dance floor. The night had gone better than he’d expected, but when he lifted his gaze, he realized he thought too soon.

“Hugh? What’s wrong?” Blair asked

“My sister is talking to Justin.”

“That’s not too weird, is it?”

“It is when Bethany’s here, dressed up like a younger version of my mother.”

Blair stood on her toes as they danced, trying to see over his shoulder. “I thought you didn’t invite her.”

“I didn’t. Justin must have brought her.” Jackass. His friend was really pushing his buttons with the whole marrying Blair issue, but why? Couldn’t he see Hugh was elated to be with the woman he loved? Planning their wedding?

“Why would he do that?”

He hung his head, but she lifted his chin and her look said she would call him out if he tried to lie. “He didn’t seem too thrilled when I told him we were back together.”

“What? Why not?”

“He claimed he was worried about me, but if he’s talking to Devin… stay here. I’ll see what’s going on.”

“Hugh.”

He kissed her forehead. “It’s fine. I’m going to make sure everyone is behaving themselves.”

And potentially punch Justin in the face. His friend had no right to drag Bethany into this. He was caught up speaking with a few friends of the family, and when he finally broke free, Devin stood alone.

“What are you doing?” he asked, only smiling to keep up appearances when Bridget waved at them from across the room. “You’re talking with my friend and a woman who has no right being here, so tell me the truth.”

“Or what?” Devin replied, her lips stretching into a sneer. “I was merely getting to know your friends.”

“Bethany is not my friend.”

“That’s not what she said. She’s a very charming woman. I think Mom and Dad would love to meet her—even have her on Mom’s staff when the time comes.”

“You’re mental,” he muttered. “I’m with Blair. You should be happy.”

“Happy? That woman is nothing but bad news for you—for this family.”

“Says who? You? Please. You carry yourself like you’re so great, but all you did was follow in Daddy’s footsteps.” He huffed in disbelief. “What happened to loving your siblings and being there for us?”

“I’m thinking of Mom.”

“No, you’re thinking of yourself like you always do.” He leaned in closer as he whispered, “You stay away from my so-called friends, and if you give Blair shit one time, I will find ways to make your life a living hell before I disappear from it for good. How does that fit into your plans, sis?”

She bristled. “You have no right.”

“No, you have no right to dictate my life. You always sided with our parents without thinking for yourself. When you were little, you didn’t want to go into medicine. You wanted to be a jockey, but Dad told you that wasn’t a suitable job for a Gordie. You caved. I haven’t.”

“Haven’t you?”

Hugh smiled, watching Blair and Kella dance in the middle of the floor, their heads thrown back with their giggling as they spun around and around. “Close, but no. Not anymore. Remember what I said, Devin. You’re not about to ruin my future because Mom didn’t want you to be her political partner in crime.”

Her mouth thinned. “That is not true.”

“Yeah, it is. She was worried about you being over ambitious and ruining everything. I Guess she was right.” He tipped his head to her as he waltzed back to his fiancée and little sister.

“Is everything all right?” Blair asked in his ear.

“Nothing to worry about. Justin and Bethany are apparently a thing now.”

“That’s interesting—and annoying,” she muttered.

“Hey, don’t let it ruin your night.”

“Our night,” she corrected. “And I won’t. We have the DJ for another hour, and I plan on being right here, dancing my feet off the entire time.”

He joined her, putting on a smile and ignoring Devin for the rest of the night. Whatever she planned wouldn’t stop Hugh from being with Blair. Not by a long shot.