The Billionaire Bride He Took for Granted novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: Break the Terms

Nan reached the gate before I did.

She went down the long drive in her green cardigan, and her cane struck the gravel with every step.

I followed in a coat over the wedding dress, with Miles three steps behind.

Trenton's mother stood outside the iron bars in a cream suit.

A young man with a camera on his shoulder stood a few feet behind her.

"Estelle," she said, with a bright, nervous smile. "I'm so sorry to drop in."

"Are you," Nan said.

"We just want to get a few shots of Simone with her dress. For Saturday. Krista thought it would be sweet."

"Krista thought."

"It's a lovely gesture. And if Simone could just sign this."

She held up a sheet of paper through the bars.

"A release. It's just so the video can go out."

I looked at the camera.

The red light was on.

Nan lifted her cane and pointed it at the lens.

"This is private property," she said, clearly and slowly.

"You may bring a casserole or a warrant. You may not bring a camera."

"Estelle, please, it's for the family."

"You can tell your son that my granddaughter will see him Saturday at four o'clock. Not before."

Nan's voice dropped.

"And tell him I have been polite for eight years. I'm seventy-two. I'm running out of it."

The young man lowered the camera.

Trenton's mother's smile cracked at one corner, and she backed to her car without another word.

Nan watched it go.

"Well," she said. "That felt marvelous."

Miles stayed for dinner, and Nan did not let him leave after.

She went to bed at nine.

She stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked at me.

Then she looked at Miles, who stood very straight beside the umbrella stand.

"Good night," she said. "Walls are thick in this house. I've always been pleased about that."

She climbed the stairs without turning around.

Neither of us moved for a long time.

I said, "I think my grandmother just gave us permission."

"I think she did."

"Are you going to say no?"

He looked at me.

"I said I wouldn't touch you beyond the vows."

"The vows are Saturday."

"Simone."

"One afternoon, I said. Nothing else." I stepped closer.

"I'm very tired of the terms, Miles. I made them up. I'm breaking them."

"I need to say something first."

"Then say it."

He took a breath.

"Six years ago I wrote you a memo," he said. "I told you, in writing, not to sign that first loan."

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