Caught in the Frame by ReGina Welling, Erin Lynn Read Free Book Online

all been taken care of.” With the subject of family no longer taking center stage, he was back to his effusive self.
    Conversation centered around the trivial, until the last delicious morsel was scraped off the last delicate plate.
    “I think it’s time to turn in. EV is almost asleep at the table. Remember, we’ve got a busy day tomorrow, ladies. I hope you’re not opposed to dinner for breakfast. Our tasting with catering starts right here at 9:00 am sharp. I’ll see you then.” Lila pulled Chloe close for one last, clingy hug before leaving the table with Javier’s protective hand at her back.
    “All right, sourpuss, what’s your deal?” EV demanded when the coast was clear. Nothing about Javier had set off any alarm bells with her.
    Nate nodded in agreement. “He seems nice enough. A little nervous about his family, but you’re not exactly making it easy on the guy, are you?”
    “I know when something is off, and there’s definitely something wonky going on with him. And I’d appreciate it if you’d both climb off of my butt. I have every right to scrutinize. It’s not like she isn’t watching you and me like a hawk. You think she would hesitate to grill you like a steak if she hadn’t seen you in diapers?” came Chloe’s irritated retort. “Trust me, she’s trying to figure out our relationship just as much as I’m trying to figure out theirs. Why do you think she stuck you in a room as far away as she could find? She wants to catch us sneaking into each other’s beds. She probably gotten Mr. Security to set up some kind of alarm on my room.”
    “All the same, let’s just put a pin in it for now. You’ve been dead set against Javier from the second Lila mentioned she was seeing someone seriously. Do you doubt that we are also good judges of character?”
    Chloe crossed her arms and refused to respond. EV hoped a good night’s sleep would calm her friend’s nerves. “I’ll let you two say goodnight. I’m heading to bed. 9:00 am, remember?”

Chapter 5
     
     
     
     
    The restaurant dining room looked entirely different in the harsh light of morning. Empty of guests—other than the three women ensconced at a table dressed with flawless white linen—the vast space echoed with quiet. Breakfast was served in another banquet room, buffet-style. As always, a team of servers and attendants milled around wherever Lila went, some more obtrusively than others.
    Even Antoine, whose list of responsibilities bordered on myriad status, skulked nearby whenever he had the time. The only person in the group who dared give Lila the side-eye was the wedding planner employed by the management whom Lila had cut out of the proceedings with surgical precision. Brides often brought in outside help, but rarely planned their own nuptials. Lila’s insistence on doing so was a slap in the face.
    Considering the speed with which she was putting this whole thing together, Chloe was amazed to see no trace of impatience or stress in her mother’s behavior. She simply moved from one laborious task to the next, confident in her decisions down to the most minute detail.
    Who are you, and what have you done with my mother? If proximity to Javier brought out this calm and collected persona, Chloe might have to change her mind about him. Clearly, he’d found some way to soothe the beast—something no one else had ever come close to doing. Chloe considered the idea, briefly. On second thought, it can’t last. Maybe she should start up a bet with EV over how long it would take for Lila to melt down.
    One of the impeccably starched and pressed waiters delivered a platter of appetizer options to the center of the table with a flourish. EV reached for a mini tart that looked like a quiche, but turned out to be filled with goat cheese and zucchini. Not exactly breakfast fare, it was, nevertheless, delicious.
    “Try one of these,” she handed one to Chloe, who rolled her eyes heavenward in appreciation at the first