The Mistaken Escort's Pleasure: A Liaison Novel (19 page)

“It’s nice to meet you,” he managed, although what he wanted to say was on the tip of his tongue.

Without a word, they darted their glances between Ellie and him, as if they were trying to put together a puzzle and they couldn’t find that one piece they needed to complete it.
 
Her mother’s lips were compressed in a thin, disapproving line, while her father scowled at them, as if they were here to play a cruel joke on him.
 
He’d just met them, and he knew that they were the most selfish people he could ever meet.

He was grateful for his loving parents, who supported him and his siblings no matter what their venture was.

A fury that he couldn’t explain overwhelmed him, and he took a deep breath in order to calm down.
 
Ellie was his, and from now on, she would never want for anything, including affection and a family.

He held out a chair for Ellie, close to him, but the farthest away from her parents.

They were glaring at her, and he wasn’t sure whether it was the news they received about her engagement, or whether it was because she’d come to the wedding.
 
He didn’t care, and he couldn’t understand their hostility.
 
Ellie could never hurt anyone, and if she did, it wasn’t because she set out to do so.
 
She put others first, and sometimes that generosity bit her on the ass, such as her friend’s betrayal, but she was stronger because of it.
 
It felt as though she’d always been in his life, gifting him with her smile, her laugh, her kiss, everything that was Ellie—his Ellie.

They hadn’t taken their eyes off their daughter, who squeezed his hand but held her head high.

“Fiancé?
 
You’re engaged?” her mother screeched.

Ellie nodded.
 
“For close to a month.”
 
She turned to him and smiled.
 
“It was love at first sight.”

The world evaporated at her smile, and for a moment, it was the two of them in the gaudily decorated room.
 
He squeezed her hand in his and gave her a smile to reassure her.

“Who would want to marry you?” her father hissed.

Ellie flinched but didn’t release her hand from his, and her smile never faltered.
 
She didn’t answer his question.
 
As he was about to tell the older man what he thought of him, a shrill voice interrupted.

“What a wonderful family reunion,” Amanda said.

The glare of hatred he turned her way made the smile slip from her face, and she stepped back to grab Tim.
 
Her husband had the sense to look ashamed for what they had done, but this was Amanda’s turn to shine, and she was going to do her best to embarrass Ellie.

Lucian stood, unable to control his anger, but a small, cool hand on his stopped him from telling the happy couple what he thought about them.
 
He sat back down, wrapping an arm around Ellie’s shoulders, and pulled her in close.

The vicious woman took his silence as capitulation, and couldn’t help spewing more vicious words.

“Did you know that Lucian here owns his own tech company?
 
He’s loaded.
 
Billions, I think.
 
I dated him at one point, but despite all the money, he has a nasty temper, and I could never marry someone like him.”

The entire reception became silent at her words, and although he had no worries about Amanda attacking him, he knew that Ellie didn’t like to be the center of attention, and that was what they were getting with Amanda’s emphatic words that carried throughout the room.

He turned toward Ellie.

She surprised him again, and burst out laughing.
 
She wiped the tears that leaked from her eyes, before she hugged her waist.
 
He couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped as her tinkling laughter surrounded him and warmed him.
 
With words that were pushed through fits of laughter, she excused herself and headed toward the restroom.

Lucian, on the other hand, wasn’t so generous.
 
The smile dropped from his face after Ellie had stepped into the hallway, and he turned toward the newlyweds.

“You were drunk on our one and only date, flirted with every man in the room, before getting sick from the amount of alcohol you consumed.
 
That was forgivable, but sleeping with Ellie’s boyfriend, and spreading rumors that you were the one who was cheated on, is pathetic.
 
I wish you the best in your marriage, but stay the hell away from Ellie, or you’ll have to deal with me.”
 
He growled the last part.

He caught the shocked look of the new groom, and maybe this time, he would be able to control his new wife’s venom.
 
Without a care about those around him, he jerked to his feet and headed to where he last spotted Ellie.

As he paced back and forth in front of the doors, his heart lurched at how hurt she must be, and he wanted to put his fist through the wall.
 
He must’ve looked like a crazy man, because those who rounded the corner and found him skulking ran the other way.
 
That brought a smile to his face, but there was no way he would leave Ellie to fend for herself.

“Mr. Cole.”

His eyes closed and he bit back the groan of disgust that threatened to escape.
 
When he opened them, he found both of Ellie’s parents in front of him, with a look he knew too well.

How the hell did Ellie turn out to be such a beautiful woman, inside and out, with these two as her parents?

“Yes.”
 
His voice was curt.

“I was wondering if what Amanda told us was true.
 
About owning your own company?” the older man asked.

“Yes,” he said.
 
At this moment, he was unsure where this conversation was headed.

The couple peered at each other, and returned their attention to him.

“Why would you even look twice at our daughter?
 
She wasted her education on a worthless profession, and she’s a very disagreeable woman.
 
Despite what you said about Amanda stealing Tim from under Ellie, I think you have it the wrong way,” the older woman said.

An anger that he’d never felt before raged throughout his body; his mind clouded, making him mute for several seconds.
 
He knew that they wouldn’t share his opinion about their daughter, but he knew that he had to try.

“First of all, Ellie is the most precious person in the world to me, so watch what you say about her.
 
Second, if you ever took the time to get to know her, you would realize what an amazing woman she is.
 
Her talent is beyond measure, and the gallery showing she had Thursday was a smashing success.
 
She is in demand now because she worked hard and didn’t allow her vision to become compromised.
 

“On top of being talented, she’s a great friend.
 
She worries about other people, even though it’s not her responsibility to do so.
 
She has a smile for everyone, and in her own way, makes those around her better for having known her.
 
She forgives without a thought to her own peace of mind, even when she shouldn’t, because she wants others to be happy.
 
There is not one time in our relationship where I felt anything but awe and love for the woman I’ve gotten to know, and there will never be a moment in my life when I will ever…ever…betray her.
 
You two have done nothing but treat her as an unwanted, unloved woman, and that’s your loss.
 
But I will spend the rest of my life making sure she has everything she will ever need, including me.
 
Is there anything else you wanted to add?” he asked through gritted teeth.

Quiet settled around them.
 
The clink of utensils on plates, and the occasional shout of laughter pierced through it.
 
His chest heaved with anger, but he couldn’t bring himself to walk away until they got the message.
 
Ellie shouldn’t have been discarded, and they should have never let her feel unwanted.

“You are very protective of her,” Ellie’s mother whispered.

“Yes, I’m a little ashamed that I’ve never defended my wife with such vehemence,” the older man said.

When he calmed down enough to assess the situation, he noticed that the disgusted look had left their faces, replaced by surprise.
 
If his words gave them any insight on their daughter, he would be grateful, but he wasn’t counting on it.

“Yes, I am.”

“How long have you known her?”

“It doesn’t matter.
 
We were meant for each other.
 
She’s agreed to marry me, and when we pick a date, I hope that you two will make it to the wedding.
 
But from this point on, you won’t do or say anything that will hurt her.
 
When you two have stopped blaming your daughter for whatever slights you think she caused, then maybe you could try to repair your relationship with her.
 
But I will never allow her to be hurt, by you or anyone else, do you understand?” he growled.

They both nodded, and it took him by surprise when they interlaced their fingers and stepped toward each other.
 
That was the first hint of affection between them.

“When I got pregnant, we had no idea what to do with a baby, because we were so involved in our careers and never thought about the possibility of having a child.
 
We cared about our careers, even more than each other.
 
By the time we retired, we realized how horrendously we treated Ellie, but the damage had been done.
 
It seems that whenever we do talk, the old hostilities come back, and we realize it is our fault.
 
We accepted the invitation as a way to try to make amends, but we’ve done more damage.”

Lucian shook his head, unable to wrap his head around the hostility back at the table, and now the regret they both felt.
 
“Why did you feel the need to insult her even before she sat down?”

“I have no idea,” her mother said, sounding defeated.

“We would like a chance to talk to her.
 
Do you think you can escort her back to the table, and we’ll try to explain,” Ellie’s father said.

“It depends on what Ellie wants, but I will talk to her,” he replied.

The couple nodded and shot him a look of hope, before they walked back to the assigned table.

He heard the door behind him open, and when he turned to look at her, he smiled as he watched her giggle through her hand that was clamped around her mouth.
 
Apparently, she was more amused than hurt.

“I’m sorry.
 
I couldn’t help but laughing.”

“I know, it was ridiculous,” he said.

That sobered her up.
 
“No, I meant it’s funny that Amanda believed that she had a chance of marrying you.
 
Other than the truth about your business, she has no clue who you are.
 
I think you’re the most handsome and generous man I know.”

He slid his arms around her waist and leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead.
 
This woman, his woman, was unbelievable.
 
He didn’t know how she would respond to her parents’ request, but he was about to find out.

“I had a conversation with your parents, and they would like an opportunity to talk to you.”
 
He kept his opinion to himself, not wanting to sway her one way or the other, because this was her decision to make.
 
She could interpret their words however she wanted, and he would be there for support.

“Do they want to catch up, or is it to criticize?” she asked.

“I think they want to know how you’re doing,” he answered.

She nodded, and he extended his arm toward her and smiled when she accepted.
 
They walked back into the room and returned to the seats they vacated several minutes before.
 
She glanced at him, and when he gripped her hand in his and brushed a quick kiss against her lips, she sighed and turned to her parents.

“How are you both?” she asked.

“It’s nice of you to ask, Ellie.
 
We are fine.
 
A little bored now that we’ve retired, but we’re content,” her mother said.

“I thought you were guest lecturing in England?”

“We missed Colorado, and we wanted to have the opportunity to see you once in a while,” her father said.

She stared at both of her parents, and it was obvious to everyone that she didn’t understand why they would want to see her.
 
Her eyes were wide, and he spotted the confusion in them that threatened to overwhelm her.
 
“I’m…I…” she stuttered.

“I know it’s disconcerting, coming from the two of us, but we have missed you.
 
It took us several years to realize it, but we regret how we treated you, as though you weren’t our daughter.
 
You need time, and we understand that, since we treated you so atrociously throughout your life, but we would like to try.”

Ellie wiped the tears that had started to fall and nodded emphatically.
 
“I would like that,” she whispered.
 
She squeezed his hand for reassurance, and he brought her closer to his side.

He stared at her in awe.
 
She hadn’t even hesitated—she’d given them a chance despite the years of neglect—and his chest swelled as he realized how proud he was of her.
 
He kissed the top of her head, and looked over to see tears in her parents’ eyes as well.
 
He knew that nothing would change overnight, but it was a start.

The rest of the evening was stilted, worried about stepping past a boundary that they had yet to establish, but they tried.
 
It was more than he ever thought could happen.
 
He kept her close, even when they parted.
 
Her parents weren’t used to affection of any type, but when Ellie reached for their hands and squeezed, they returned her affection.