Read Online Undone, Volume 1 by Callie Harper - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Callie Harper
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big, dark guy had to
be the Montana rancher who claimed to be my father’s long-lost son.
The pretty little thing by his side looked like Miss America, all
blonde, blue-eyed and glowingly pink-cheeked.
“Declan, Kara, this
is Asher.” Gram offered me up to them. I tried to get away with
nodding my hello, but the beauty queen wasn’t having it.
“Hey! Oh my goodness!
It’s so fun to meet you!” She rushed over with enthusiasm, taking
my hand in both of hers. “This is all such a surprise, learning
about Declan’s family, and then when we found out about you! Ash
Black!” She put her hand to her chest in pantomimed shock and I had
to admit, she gave me the start of a smile.
“I love your music! I
really do. My favorite is singing along with you when I’m driving
in my truck!”
“Cool.” I had to
love it. She was just what the Kavanaugh family needed, a
truck-driving Ash Black fan. They looked around my age, Declan maybe
a few years older. He had my father’s big bear of a frame, and I
saw the Kavanaugh stubbornness written all over his face. His jaw
set, he didn’t look like he wanted to be here either. Huh. He might
be legit after all. My brother Colt had to be livid. I decided to
like them.
“You guys should come
to one of my shows. I‘ll set you up back stage.”
“What?! That’s
crazy! You’re the best!” She flew back to Declan’s side,
looking up at him adoringly. “I knew he’d be great!” she
declared.
Declan nodded at his
wife, clearly somewhat less of an Ash Black fan but just as clearly a
big fan of Kara.
“New Year’s I’m
playing Vegas. You guys should come.”
“Maybe. Thank you.”
Declan gave me a tempered thanks. OK. My new Montana half-brother.
Interesting.
Then my stepmonster
Brandi swept in, all boobs. My father hadn’t exactly broken the
mold with his second wife, opting for the 20-years-younger surgically
enhanced model. It was like buying a flashy, cherry red Porsche in
your middle age, only my father had always been more of a Bentley or
Aston Martin guy so Brandi had come as something of a surprise.
“I’m so sorry
Dominic isn’t here,” Brandi apologized to nobody in particular.
“He really wanted to come. But something came up.” They’d
gotten married about five years ago and I’d met her son, my
stepbrother Dominic, maybe twice. His glowering, dark and silent
presence made Heath look like a social party animal.
“Now that we’re all
here.” Gram drew everyone’s attention, standing fireside with
Colt. Her butler Thomas slipped me an old fashioned. Just in time.
“Let me first say, I’m very excited to see you all at tomorrow’s
Christmas party. It’s going to be spectacular. Thank you very much
to Gigi for all of her help with the arrangements.”
Starting to pass the
mantle, I got it. She’d skipped right over my stepmother, Brandi.
Gram was right, Gigi would be the one to keep up the tradition.
Nelson, our attorney,
slipped into the room, silent as the grave. He had to be in his 60s,
maybe 70s by now, but he still looked slim and spry. I caught his eye
and mouthed the words, “Did you get my message?”
He nodded briefly in
affirmation, then swiftly returned his attention to Gram. He didn’t
want to be the one caught being naughty in class. Earlier, I’d
messaged him about Anika Ivanov, requesting a standard background
check. My gut told me she was squeaky clean in every way, but we
needed to be 100% sure. Nelson’s people were the ones to do it fast
and with discretion.
Nelson took the floor
and got right to it, addressing the ramifications of an additional
beneficiary to my father’s will. His British accent made him sound
either awfully formal or a bit sarcastic. Sometimes both. Honestly, I
didn’t listen. I wasn’t inheriting anything, anyway. I was there
for Gram. But I did like seeing Brandi squirm with displeasure and I
got a kick out of watching the smoke come out of Colt’s ears. He
didn’t like this new development
be the Montana rancher who claimed to be my father’s long-lost son.
The pretty little thing by his side looked like Miss America, all
blonde, blue-eyed and glowingly pink-cheeked.
“Declan, Kara, this
is Asher.” Gram offered me up to them. I tried to get away with
nodding my hello, but the beauty queen wasn’t having it.
“Hey! Oh my goodness!
It’s so fun to meet you!” She rushed over with enthusiasm, taking
my hand in both of hers. “This is all such a surprise, learning
about Declan’s family, and then when we found out about you! Ash
Black!” She put her hand to her chest in pantomimed shock and I had
to admit, she gave me the start of a smile.
“I love your music! I
really do. My favorite is singing along with you when I’m driving
in my truck!”
“Cool.” I had to
love it. She was just what the Kavanaugh family needed, a
truck-driving Ash Black fan. They looked around my age, Declan maybe
a few years older. He had my father’s big bear of a frame, and I
saw the Kavanaugh stubbornness written all over his face. His jaw
set, he didn’t look like he wanted to be here either. Huh. He might
be legit after all. My brother Colt had to be livid. I decided to
like them.
“You guys should come
to one of my shows. I‘ll set you up back stage.”
“What?! That’s
crazy! You’re the best!” She flew back to Declan’s side,
looking up at him adoringly. “I knew he’d be great!” she
declared.
Declan nodded at his
wife, clearly somewhat less of an Ash Black fan but just as clearly a
big fan of Kara.
“New Year’s I’m
playing Vegas. You guys should come.”
“Maybe. Thank you.”
Declan gave me a tempered thanks. OK. My new Montana half-brother.
Interesting.
Then my stepmonster
Brandi swept in, all boobs. My father hadn’t exactly broken the
mold with his second wife, opting for the 20-years-younger surgically
enhanced model. It was like buying a flashy, cherry red Porsche in
your middle age, only my father had always been more of a Bentley or
Aston Martin guy so Brandi had come as something of a surprise.
“I’m so sorry
Dominic isn’t here,” Brandi apologized to nobody in particular.
“He really wanted to come. But something came up.” They’d
gotten married about five years ago and I’d met her son, my
stepbrother Dominic, maybe twice. His glowering, dark and silent
presence made Heath look like a social party animal.
“Now that we’re all
here.” Gram drew everyone’s attention, standing fireside with
Colt. Her butler Thomas slipped me an old fashioned. Just in time.
“Let me first say, I’m very excited to see you all at tomorrow’s
Christmas party. It’s going to be spectacular. Thank you very much
to Gigi for all of her help with the arrangements.”
Starting to pass the
mantle, I got it. She’d skipped right over my stepmother, Brandi.
Gram was right, Gigi would be the one to keep up the tradition.
Nelson, our attorney,
slipped into the room, silent as the grave. He had to be in his 60s,
maybe 70s by now, but he still looked slim and spry. I caught his eye
and mouthed the words, “Did you get my message?”
He nodded briefly in
affirmation, then swiftly returned his attention to Gram. He didn’t
want to be the one caught being naughty in class. Earlier, I’d
messaged him about Anika Ivanov, requesting a standard background
check. My gut told me she was squeaky clean in every way, but we
needed to be 100% sure. Nelson’s people were the ones to do it fast
and with discretion.
Nelson took the floor
and got right to it, addressing the ramifications of an additional
beneficiary to my father’s will. His British accent made him sound
either awfully formal or a bit sarcastic. Sometimes both. Honestly, I
didn’t listen. I wasn’t inheriting anything, anyway. I was there
for Gram. But I did like seeing Brandi squirm with displeasure and I
got a kick out of watching the smoke come out of Colt’s ears. He
didn’t like this new development
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