Loving the CEO (Whitley Brothers #7)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tory

Catching up with Leo’s mom was even more fun than I’d anticipated. I went out and about Boston with her during her stay. I couldn’t get over how warm and welcoming she was. We reminisced about everything, and I learned a thing or two about Leo when he was growing up.

She was the polar opposite of my own mother. Aside from the care package she’d sent me, she’d messaged once more, after reading an article about Leo.

Mom: I read that he did amount to something.

Tory: He’s a good man, Mom. He’s taking good care of me.

Mom: I’m happy to hear that.

I called her a few times, but she didn’t pick up. We ended up playing phone tag or mostly texting. All in all, I knew she simply needed time.

Which was why I was stunned to find an email from her in my inbox one sunny afternoon, as I was preparing to change my outfit. Leo and I were going to Jeannie and Abe Whitley’s house.

Hi Tory,

After seven years of searching, I finally found the perfect place to be a B&B for us .

My eyes bulged. I was honestly shocked that she'd still been searching, especially after what had happened. Then again, I’d never truly told her to stop searching.

I scrolled through the rest of the email and looked at the property. The price wasn’t listed, but the house was stunning. It had five bedrooms—perfect for two people to manage, or even one person could handle it—and was in pretty good shape. But the thought of working with Mom was even less appealing than before.

This was your dream for years, though, Tory , a voice said at the back of my mind.

After the photos, my mom had continued the email.

I can set up a day for us to look at it. The sooner the better, or someone will snap it up for sure.

I agreed with her. It truly was an exquisite property, even as a family home.

I replied quickly. I didn't have much time before Leo and I were supposed to leave.

Thanks, Mom. I’ll look it over and get back to you.

I was pacing my studio up and down, trying to process the email.

Oh, come on, Tory, get your shit together. You’re about to spend an amazing evening with Leo and his family.

At 6:00 p.m. on the dot, Leo knocked at the door. I opened it, drinking him in. The knots in my shoulders disappeared just because I was looking at this sexy-as-hell man.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

"No, sorry. Right, I'll grab my things," I said nervously. "I'd intended to change, but I forgot. Do you mind if I change quickly now?"

"Tory," he said, stepping in and closing the door, "is something wrong?"

"Well, not exactly. I've..." I sighed. "You know what? I won't change because then we’ll be late. Let's just go to the dinner, and we'll chat later."

"Fuck the dinner. "

I pouted. "We don't want to be late."

"Tory, you’re worrying me now. What's wrong?"

I took a deep breath, letting it out with a loud exhale. "Mom found this amazing property in New Orleans that could work as a B&B."

"For you two to run?"

"Yeah, that was... well, I mean, that was the original plan for a long time.”

“Right. And you want to go see it?” His voice had an edge to it.

“It would be really impolite not to, considering she found it. And it does look good. I just...”

“What?” Leo asked, eyes trained on me.

“I’m not sure if it’s what I want anymore.”

“How much time do you have to decide?”

“Not a lot. The way properties are being snatched up, I know this will be gone in a matter of weeks, maybe even days.”

“I can put out feelers and find out if anyone else is interested.”

“That’s not necessary, but thanks.”

Leo said nothing for a brief second. I tried to read his expression, but I couldn’t, and it was bothering me.

“What’s your instinct telling you?” His voice was unusually tight.

“Oh, Leo, my instinct’s been confused for a long while. What do you think?” I really wanted to know his opinion.

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “It’s not my place to give my opinion.”

“But I’m asking for it,” I insisted.

“Tory.” He stepped closer to me. “I support you no matter what you decide. First and foremost, I’ll always be your best friend.”

That made me melt, but I was also a tiny bit sad. Why couldn’t he just say, “Hell no! I’m not going to let you go to New Orleans. You’re staying here with me” ?

But it was good to know that he was in my corner no matter what.

“So, I guess we’re going?” I asked.

“Sure. If you’re ready.”

I looked down at myself. I was wearing nice jeans and a shirt. It wasn’t exactly business, but it wasn’t too casual either. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

I thought about that email all the way to the Dorchester neighborhood. Part of me figured that maybe I’d misread it. I was very tempted to take out my phone just to double-check, but I didn’t want to read it with Leo next to me. I wasn’t sure what to make of his reaction.

We stopped in front of a green house with white shutters. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. I looked around in wonder. “This is so pretty!”

“You’ve never been to my grandparents’ house, huh?”

“No. She did invite me once, but it felt a bit weird.”

Leo nodded. “I wasn’t coming to their place all that often back then.”

As we slowly walked to the front porch, he said, “A word of warning. Gran might be pissed at everyone.”

“Why?” Jeannie Whitley always seemed like such a positive person.

“My brothers’ better halves talked her into catering again.”

“Which is a bad thing?” I was thoroughly confused.

“She insists on cooking, but honestly, considering how big the group is, it would be a feat even for someone who isn’t over ninety.”

Things started to fall into place. “You’ve used catering before?”

“Yes. She protested somewhat but seemed to come around in the end. Not sure how she’ll react this time. Just be prepared for anything.”

I nodded. “Got it.”

Before we even arrived at the front door, it opened. Nick stood on the other side. “Good, you’re here. Gran was on my case. Can you two pretend like you’re upset with each other or something? ”

“What?” I said with a laugh.

“Why?” Leo asked in a voice so serious that I was starting to think he might do it if Nick had a good reason.

“Because she was just telling me what a fabulous job she’s done with everyone else in the family. Even though she’s not taking credit for you, she does set you as an example of what it’s like to be in a happy relationship. So”—he looked from me to Leo—“can you act unhappy?”

Jeannie Whitley knew about us. Wow!

“No!” Leo replied.

“Why not?” Nick asked, as if he couldn’t possibly comprehend why his brother wasn’t helping him out.

“First, because it’s a shit idea,” Leo said.

I giggled as I added, “I’m sorry, but I do agree.”

“And second, because it would only help you out temporarily.”

Nick nodded. “That’s what I’m going for. Eventually, Gran will forget about me.”

Now I was laughing in earnest. Leo chuckled.

“This is not funny,” Nick said, glancing back and forth between us.

I snorted. “Yeah, it is. I mean, obviously, you know your grandmother better, but Jeannie Whitley wouldn’t forget something that was important to her.”

“See, even Tory knows that,” Leo said, putting an arm around my shoulders.

Nick shook his head. “Once you have a date, you don’t side with the bachelors anymore, huh?”

“Bachelor. Singular,” Leo said, clapping his shoulder. “You’re the only one left.”

My heart somersaulted. Leo almost spoke as if he saw us more than just a passing flame between friends. And yet, just half an hour ago, he’d insisted that he was first and foremost my best friend .

“You just enjoy rubbing salt in my wounds, huh?” Nick turned to me. “Tory, nothing against you. I’ve always liked you, you know that.”

“Will you eventually let us come in?” Leo asked.

Nick huffed. “I’m debating on closing the door in your face. But come in. Only because I like Tory so much.”

“How very gallant of you,” I said.

“Who else is here?” Leo asked as we went deeper inside the house.

I kept looking around with a huge smile. This place fit the Whitleys. It wasn’t overly grand, but it was spacious enough. Their voices carried throughout the house.

“Just about half the group.”

“What’s the mood?”

“You’ll be surprised,” Nick said.

“Come on, man. Give me a heads-up,” Leo said.

“No. Payback for not helping me out.”

Leo just shook his head.

“Nick can hold a grudge, huh?” I whispered.

“You have no idea.”

As we stepped into the living room, I immediately saw Spencer and Penny with Ben. Penny was sitting down, and Spencer was standing while holding Ben’s hands so he could walk. The little guy was moving very fast. Colton and Zoe were here, too, along with Cade and Meredith, who winked at me. To my surprise, she also winked at Leo.

I looked up at him. “What was that about?”

“Meredith is a bit smug because she figured stuff out the second I asked her to knock off things from your wish list.”

“I still can’t believe you did that,” I confessed in a whisper. “Or that they went along with it. ”

“Darlings, you’re here,” Jeannie said, coming up to us. She kissed my cheek first and then Leo’s. She was all smiles. “I was wondering if you two would come tonight.”

“What are you talking about?” Leo asked. “I confirmed that I’d be here.”

“Yes, but I wasn’t sure if you were actually going to bring Tory.”

Meredith hurried over to us. “It’s a rite of passage—attending the first official Whitley dinner.”

Jeannie smiled. “See, Meredith knows. The girls convinced me once again to get a company to cater this dinner, which means I can dedicate my time to the family.”

Leo looked at his grandmother incredulously.

“I’m glad you found a silver lining in that,” Nick said. He was clearly not thrilled with the idea of Jeannie focusing on him. So damn adorable.

Jeannie looked at us with a mischievous smile before turning to Nick. “See, what did I tell you? Look how happy these two are.”

Nick looked so miserable that for a split second, I actually considered pretending to be on the outs with Leo. But I had no idea how to do that, so I gave up on the idea altogether.

“Gran, stop laying it on so thick,” Leo said. “Give the man some room to breathe.”

Ah, so he still had his brother’s back. That was good to know.

“Don’t you meddle in my business, young man,” Jeannie said, and I swear to God, the entire room burst out laughing. She turned around, looking at them. “What?”

“Grandmother,” Colton said, “I’m sorry, but considering how much you meddle in all our businesses, you have no right to ask that of us.”

“I suppose I can’t,” she said. “All right, since there’s quite a few of us here, I’m going to the kitchen to bring out the appetizers.”

“What?” Leo and Nick asked at the same time .

“The caterers aren’t here yet,” Meredith said.

Jeannie winked. “I made the appetizers. You didn’t think I’d do nothing, right?”

To my astonishment, no one said anything. I expected them to fight back, but clearly, I still had more to learn regarding the Whitley ways.

“I’ll come with you,” I offered.

“Lovely,” Jeannie replied.

“I’ll come too,” Leo added.

“Really, it’s not a three-person job,” Jeannie said. “It’s not even a two-person job, but I haven’t had the occasion to spend much time with Tory here.”

Leo’s eyes were instantly alert. He was pinning me with his gaze, clearly trying to wordlessly communicate something with me. But I had no idea what that was. My Leo radar was completely off today. But I wasn’t too worried.

I followed Jeannie throughout the house, and she led me into a large kitchen. She’d already laid out mini quiches on trays.

“They smell amazing,” I said.

“They’re still warm, hence why I want to bring them out. Thank you for coming to help me.”

“Sure!”

“I wasn’t lying before. I wasn’t sure if you’d show up with Leo today,” Jeannie said. “But I’m so glad you did and that you and Leo are finally seeing that you’re made for each other.”

“Oh.” I nearly dropped my tray of quiche. “Um..." I opened my mouth, but I had no idea what to tell her.

"Do you disagree?" she asked.

"Well, no," I said reluctantly. "I'm just not sure that, um..."

"That you're in it for the long haul?" To my astonishment, she winked. Was that a family thing? Did she learn it from her grandkids or the other way around? "You know how many times I've heard that from all my grandkids? They're all stubborn, that's true. They all talk big about how they do things casually and with no strings." Those would have been the exact words I’d planned to use to explain it if she pushed, but apparently it wasn't necessary. "And yet every time, it turns out they're wrong."

"Oh, Jeannie!" I was starting to figure out what Leo was trying to tell me earlier.

"I'm sorry, darling. I didn't want to put you on the spot," she said as we both worked on transferring the mini quiches to a gorgeous serving platter.

"Didn't you?" I double-checked.

She shook her head. "No. Believe it or not, I never try to give anyone a hard time. But I've been an actress my whole life. I can't help if I'm a bit flamboyant. Cade sometimes says I'm downright theatric."

"You're very expressive."

"Thank you! I'm going to borrow that word. Every time someone tells me I'm over the top, I'll just say, ‘I'm expressive.’ Yeah, I like that much better.” She sighed. “Maybe I should rein myself in today. Nick looks like he's going to bolt from the house any second now."

I laughed. "That was my impression too."

"I didn't mean to scare him away. Quite the contrary.” She looked at me intently. “You know, I do have a reason for overtly pointing out how happy couples can be.”

"Really?"

"All of the boys grew up thinking it's impossible to actually have a happy ending as a couple."

I stilled. "Because of their parents?"

"Yes. Each set of grandkids had their own trauma. For the longest time, I started to think that maybe Abe and I are an exception. But I’m so happy that my boys did open up their hearts. I always thought Leo would be the most difficult nut to crack. Well, him and Colton.”

"Interesting that you’d pair the two of them together."

"They’re the same in many ways! They each guard their heart fiercely. But Colton also had the burly exterior to pair with that to effectively keep everyone at arm's length."

"Leo isn't like that at all, but—”

"Gran, please stop scaring Tory away," Leo said, joining us in the kitchen.

I turned, giving him a half smile. "Shoo, shoo. You go back. Your gran and I were having fun."