Scandal and the Runaway Bride (Heirs to an Empire 1)

Charlotte glared at Gabi. “I can’t believe this. Isn’t it bad enough you jilted Stephen?”

Gabi glanced at Will, her faced tense with apology and anxiety. “I’m going to put some pants on. I’ll be back.” Her gaze told him she didn’t expect him to handle this alone, though he was more than prepared to.

“I’ll get us all some coffee,” he said, and then looked at his twin. “You’d better sit down.”

To his surprise, she did, but not before she dropped the bag of pastries on his counter, her lips pursed in a judgmental knot. He’d wanted to do this on his own time, when they were ready, when they’d figured out exactly how they wanted to handle his family. For heaven’s sake, they’d only just said I love you to each other.

He hadn’t been ready to fall in love. He certainly wasn’t ready to deal with the family fallout.

He poured coffee, fixed Charlotte’s and Gabi’s the way he knew they liked, and as he took the mugs to the dining table, Gabi came out of the bedroom dressed in yoga pants and still in his T-shirt. He liked that she hadn’t changed. In some way, keeping his shirt on seemed like maintaining ownership of their relationship. Not hiding away, when it would be so easy to.

He sat down with his own mug, looked Charlotte in the eye and said, “Yes. Gabi and I are together. We weren’t going to tell anyone yet because it’s new to us, too. But I’m not going to lie to you, Charlotte, and pretend this is something it’s not.”

Charlotte looked at Gabi and scowled. “So you left one brother for another. Nice.”

Gabi curled her hands around her mug and met Charlotte’s gaze. “I never should have agreed to marry Stephen. We were never in love, Charlotte. We made a big mistake, getting engaged.”

“How convenient for you.”

Gabi laughed a little. “Trust me, this is anything but convenient.” Then she looked at Will. “Your brother was sent in to do damage control and...it just happened. Despite both of us saying it couldn’t and shouldn’t.” She smiled a little,

and Will reached over and put his hand over hers.

“Oh, yuck.” Charlotte was not convinced. “And you, doing this to your own brother. I’m disgusted with you.”

“It isn’t what it seems, Charlotte.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you should ask Stephen about his relationship with Gabi. I love my brother. God, you know I do.” He held her gaze and knew she understood. She knew what Stephen had done for him. “You know I would never hurt him. But what am I supposed to do, throw away the best thing that’s ever happened to me because it’s messy?”

“Will.” Gabi’s voice was soft and full of amazement, and he tore his eyes from Charlotte and looked at her instead.

“It’s true,” he admitted. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”

“Me, either.”

Charlotte made a sound of disgust and stood. “Ugh, I can’t do this. Gabriella, I liked you when Stephen brought you home. But since then you’ve left him at the altar, caused a PR disaster, apparently seduced my other brother, and now you’re both creating another scandal. I don’t understand you.”

“I know it looks that way,” Gabi replied, “but you’ve only got part of the story. It’s not my place to reveal Stephen’s secrets. And you’re quite right that I’m not innocent in all this. Let me just say that not marrying Stephen was my attempt to make things right, not cause trouble. And falling for Will was pure accident.”

“That makes no sense at all.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. The truth is, Will and I haven’t had a chance to figure out how we wanted to tell your family. So I’m saying less than I might otherwise, out of respect for both your brothers.”

Charlotte stared at Will, and looked angrier than he could ever remember. “If you think I’m keeping your dirty little secret, you’re sadly mistaken.”

“I don’t expect you to. Hoped you might, but don’t expect it.”

“Don’t try to guilt me, Will.”

“I’m not.”

“And you.” She stared at Gabi. “If you think this is another way to get your hands on Pemberton money, forget it. Maman will never allow it.”

“That’s enough, Charlotte.” Will stood now. Anger he understood. Of course Charlotte wouldn’t understand, especially when appearances were so damning. But he also wouldn’t stand for Gabi being abused.

“It’s okay, Will. It’s no more than I expected.”