their rooms. Dinner is in half an hour. Derek, a word.”
Shawn turned to follow the maid when a hand grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“I’ll see you shortly,” Rutledge said and gave him a brief kiss.
Or at least it was probably supposed to be a brief kiss, but Shawn found his lips clinging and parting, eager. He felt Rutledge’s surprise before Rutledge grabbed his neck and kissed him for real. The kiss seemed to go on forever.
By the time Rutledge finally pulled back, Shawn could barely breathe.
Shawn didn’t look around to see everyone’s reaction—he could well imagine it.
Grabbing the girls, he followed the maid.
His face was very warm.
Chapter 9
To say the dinner was awkward would be an understatement. It wasn’t just awkward: it was painful.
It was only ten minutes in and Shawn was already glancing at the grandfather clock on the wall.
The toxic atmosphere in the room was so thick it could be sliced. He’d never seen so much passive-aggressiveness between family members. Now Shawn was glad Emily and Bee hadn’t been allowed to eat with the adults.
The annoying part was, no one said anything outright; everything was carefully hidden behind bland smiles and polished manners. Andrew, Vivian’s husband, was the only one who seemed to be struggling to hide his dislike for his brother-in-law.
Rutledge didn’t pay Andrew much mind, though; his most cutting remarks were reserved for his father. Rutledge was rather infamous for his ruthlessness in college, but it was nothing compared to his nastiness towards his father. Shawn would have felt sorry for Joseph Rutledge if the old man wasn’t actually worse. Within the first ten minutes, Joseph had managed to insult everything from his son’s intelligence to his sexuality, his tone full of derision and contempt.
Watching them, Shawn was beginning to understand why Rutledge had left his home and hadn’t returned in fifteen years. He was also beginning to understand why Rutledge was such a control freak. His father’s personality was so domineering that he had likely developed the similar need to control everything as a defense mechanism.
“They do realize how much they’re alike, right?” Shawn murmured to Vivian, making sure that Rutledge, who sat on his other side, couldn’t hear him. Vivian seemed to be the only friendly face at the table.
She sighed. “I think that’s partly why they hate each other,” she murmured. “Though deep down, they care for one another.”
Shawn looked at the father and son sniping at each other and gave her a skeptical look.
Vivian smiled humorlessly. “I know, it’s hard to believe, but Father does care about Derek.” Her eyes became distant. “When we were kids, Father used to be very proud of him. I used to envy Derek. Things became…difficult when Father found out about Derek’s sexuality, but I’m sure he still cares. If he didn’t, he would have disowned him ages ago and cut him out of the will.” Glancing at her husband, she lowered her voice. “Andrew is really angry about it. He’s been working at the family company for years and thinks he deserves to inherit it.”
“Ah,” Shawn said. That explained Andrew’s animosity towards Rutledge.
Speaking of the man, Andrew chose that moment to turn to Shawn and ask, “So, do you work? Or does my brother-in-law pay your bills for spreading your legs for him?”
Silence dropped over the table, and Shawn felt himself flush.
He couldn’t believe Andrew had actually said that. And judging by the uncomfortable look that flashed over Andrew’s face, he couldn’t believe it, either. But then Andrew set his jaw, looking stubborn and determined: he might have regretted saying it, but he clearly wasn’t taking it back.
Shawn bit his lip, unsure what to say. Andrew’s words hit a bit too close to home. Of course no one here knew the nature of his relationship with Rutledge, but nevertheless, it made him feel embarrassed
Shawn turned to follow the maid when a hand grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“I’ll see you shortly,” Rutledge said and gave him a brief kiss.
Or at least it was probably supposed to be a brief kiss, but Shawn found his lips clinging and parting, eager. He felt Rutledge’s surprise before Rutledge grabbed his neck and kissed him for real. The kiss seemed to go on forever.
By the time Rutledge finally pulled back, Shawn could barely breathe.
Shawn didn’t look around to see everyone’s reaction—he could well imagine it.
Grabbing the girls, he followed the maid.
His face was very warm.
Chapter 9
To say the dinner was awkward would be an understatement. It wasn’t just awkward: it was painful.
It was only ten minutes in and Shawn was already glancing at the grandfather clock on the wall.
The toxic atmosphere in the room was so thick it could be sliced. He’d never seen so much passive-aggressiveness between family members. Now Shawn was glad Emily and Bee hadn’t been allowed to eat with the adults.
The annoying part was, no one said anything outright; everything was carefully hidden behind bland smiles and polished manners. Andrew, Vivian’s husband, was the only one who seemed to be struggling to hide his dislike for his brother-in-law.
Rutledge didn’t pay Andrew much mind, though; his most cutting remarks were reserved for his father. Rutledge was rather infamous for his ruthlessness in college, but it was nothing compared to his nastiness towards his father. Shawn would have felt sorry for Joseph Rutledge if the old man wasn’t actually worse. Within the first ten minutes, Joseph had managed to insult everything from his son’s intelligence to his sexuality, his tone full of derision and contempt.
Watching them, Shawn was beginning to understand why Rutledge had left his home and hadn’t returned in fifteen years. He was also beginning to understand why Rutledge was such a control freak. His father’s personality was so domineering that he had likely developed the similar need to control everything as a defense mechanism.
“They do realize how much they’re alike, right?” Shawn murmured to Vivian, making sure that Rutledge, who sat on his other side, couldn’t hear him. Vivian seemed to be the only friendly face at the table.
She sighed. “I think that’s partly why they hate each other,” she murmured. “Though deep down, they care for one another.”
Shawn looked at the father and son sniping at each other and gave her a skeptical look.
Vivian smiled humorlessly. “I know, it’s hard to believe, but Father does care about Derek.” Her eyes became distant. “When we were kids, Father used to be very proud of him. I used to envy Derek. Things became…difficult when Father found out about Derek’s sexuality, but I’m sure he still cares. If he didn’t, he would have disowned him ages ago and cut him out of the will.” Glancing at her husband, she lowered her voice. “Andrew is really angry about it. He’s been working at the family company for years and thinks he deserves to inherit it.”
“Ah,” Shawn said. That explained Andrew’s animosity towards Rutledge.
Speaking of the man, Andrew chose that moment to turn to Shawn and ask, “So, do you work? Or does my brother-in-law pay your bills for spreading your legs for him?”
Silence dropped over the table, and Shawn felt himself flush.
He couldn’t believe Andrew had actually said that. And judging by the uncomfortable look that flashed over Andrew’s face, he couldn’t believe it, either. But then Andrew set his jaw, looking stubborn and determined: he might have regretted saying it, but he clearly wasn’t taking it back.
Shawn bit his lip, unsure what to say. Andrew’s words hit a bit too close to home. Of course no one here knew the nature of his relationship with Rutledge, but nevertheless, it made him feel embarrassed
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