Heartthrob (The Bennett Brothers 3)

“Oh, that’s true. I’ve been to an event here before, and it was done in incredible taste,” Rory adds.

“Not to

mention the location is central to all of us.” Mom takes a sip of water.

“Oh, guess what I got in the mail?” Maria digs a square envelope out of her bag. “An old friend of ours had their first grandchild. This is the birth announcement. Isn’t it beautiful? I saved it for Grace in case she’d like to use this same printing company.” She passes it to me first, and I half-heartedly skim it before handing off to my mom.

This is bizarre.

The speed and direction of their conversations are giving me whiplash. The theme music from the Twilight Zone jingles in my head.

The waitress brings our drinks and tells us the specials, seemingly speaking only to me. After I order, which are the only words I’ve spoken since everyone sat down, I glance around in confusion. They continue to chatter about nothing in particular—upcoming summer plans, newest fashions, and more socialite gossip.

Bizzy’s eyes dart from side to side, not meeting mine.

“Bizzy, dear, you have to show me the most recent picture of the kids. It’s been ages since I’ve seen them,” Mom says a little too eagerly when the waitress leaves.

“Oh, here. I have a new one from yesterday.” Bizzy hands over her phone, and my mom shrieks in delight. People around us swing their heads in our direction, and I scoot a little lower in my seat.

“Claire, have you seen this? Aren’t these babies just divine?” Mom coos and gushes, shoving the screen in my face.

As soon as I see the picture of Brayden in a little suit and Brinley in the poufy white dress, it hits me like a truck.

The display of outfits in jewel tones, the centrally located establishment that is ‘divine’, the posh baby announcement and printing company, the over the top enthusiasm, the seating arrangement with me between Mom and Maria, and this picture of the kids in formal attire.

This is a fucking ambush!

“You have got to be freaking kidding me!” I fall back in my chair and glare at Bizzy.

“Thank God you finally picked up, I was beginning to sweat. You’re losing your touch.”

“It wasn’t enough to interrogate Mathis, so you plan to waylay me?”

“Actually, sweetheart, this was all me.” Maria lays a hand on mine and squeezes. “Don’t get cross with her.”

I stare at Maria, searching her face, and can’t miss the twinkle in her eyes. Shit! I can’t get snarky with Mathis’s mom.

“Maria, why did you arrange a luncheon when we saw each other a few nights ago at Grace’s?”

“Speaking of Grace, she’s sorry she had to miss this.”

“What exactly is this?” I already know what she’s going to say, but I have to hear confirmation.

“We’d like to talk about your wedding.”

Yep, there it is. The meddling never stops.

“I’m not sure there is anything to talk about.” I wiggle my ringless finger in the air.

“From what Mathis has explained to me, that’s a formality. He said you two discussed this already and urged me to push you for planning. I thought maybe, with the five of us, we could iron out some pre-planning details today.”

“You didn’t think to give me a head’s up?” I quip at Mom.

“Mathis mentioned you were a little… um… skittish,” Maria says softly.

“Oh, he did, did he?” I fumble in my purse for my phone, and when I locate it, I hit his number.

“Baby, I’m walking to a meeting,” he greets.