Mrs. Naylor let out augh equal parts amused and exasperated. "Look at you, acting all high and mighty-aren''t you just a bad apple yourself? And you have the nerve to judge someone else? She only had one rtionship, and it''s not like she''s got a criminal record or anything!"
"And itsted seven years! That tells me she''s loyal andmitted. Now, you- can you even count your exes on both hands?"
"Honestly, rotten apple!"
She shook her head dramatically. "How did you not inherit any of your father''s and my loyalty? Were you swapped at birth?"
Healy quickly jumped in, seeing his mother get more and more carried away. "It''s not even official yet. You guys are getting way ahead of yourselves."
"Then you''d better get a move on," Chase chimed in. "I like this girl-she''s smart, ambitious, and she''s got a good head on her shoulders. That''s exactly what you need, someone to bnce you out."
Healy fell silent.
Was that a roundabout way of saying he was clueless?
For Chase,petence mattered more than anything.
Family background? That was nothing. Marry some spoiled heiress with no brains, and she''d manage to ruin the family fortune in no time.
Chase had learned that lesson from watching Wade Harcourt.
"I want to meet her too," Mrs. Naylor insisted, refusing to be left out. "Why am I the only one in this house who hasn''t?"
Healy said, "Actually, there''s an opportunitying up."
...
The opportunity Healy meant was theunch event for Naylor Automotive Group''s
new car.
As a business partner, Noreen was naturally on the guest list.
The moment she arrived at the venue, Healy came over to greet her and personally led her to her seat.
Bianca walked in just a moment after Noreen, but Healy didn''t even notice her.
A faint, mocking smile flickered across Bianca''s lips.
Ever since Healy started getting involved with Noreen, he''d only grown colder towards her. She had no doubt Noreen had been stirring the pot behind the
scenes.
Plotting hard, aren''t you?
Did Noreen really think she could just waltz into the Naylor family this way? Keep dreaming.
No way Mr. and Mrs. Naylor would ever ept her. Pure wishful thinking.
Jude Wilder and Seth arrived just then.
Jude nced around. "Bianca, why''d youe in by yourself? Didn''t want to wait for us?"
Bianca replied, "Seth said it was windy today and told me to head inside first."
Jude smirked, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Let''s go say hi to Healy," Seth suggested.
So they all headed over.
Healy had already settled Noreen and came over as the group
approached. won''t fuss over ne
guys just make yourselves at home." <fn06b2> The rightful source is FindN0vel</fn06b2>
Jude grinned. "No need to be formal with your buddies."
They barely got out a few words when Mrs. Naylor came bustling over, practically
out of breath. "Healy, where''s Noreen?"
Bianca''s eyebrows arched.
Mrs. Naylor was in such a rush this ought to be interesting.
Maybe she''d even kick Noreen out of the event right in front of everyone.
Well, probably not. The twopanies were partners, after all; she''d at least keep up appearances.
But she certainly wouldn''t be friendly.
"Mom, you''re going to scare her if you charge in like that," Healy murmured, trying to rein her in.
Mrs. Naylor tried to ster on a warm, weing smile. “Like this? Do I look friendly enough?"
"...Even scarier."
Mrs. Naylor nearly rolled her eyes. "Move aside. I''ll go introduce myself."
Noreen was flipping through the
event brochure when a well-dressed, pleasantly plump woman
approached her with a bright smile. "Miss Gilmore?"
“Hello,” Noreen replied, standing up politely to shake her hand, though she had no idea who the woman was.
"Wonderful, wonderful," Mrs. Naylor gushed, her eyes never leaving Noreen for a second. "You''re even prettier than I expected."
Jude watched the scene,pletely
puzzled. "What''s with Mrs. Naylor? Why does it look like she''s sizing up a future daughter inw? CO