I looked into his eyes. “I’m okay, baby.”

He said nothing. He just took my hand and helped me down.

He slammed my door after I cleared it, and his fingers around mine almost hurt as he forged us toward the doors to the office building. Though he did not walk fast. Wherever he was at in his head, he had a mind to me in a dress and heels.

He opened the door for me and I went from the warm Kentucky sun into the cool modulated air of a very nice foyer.

As I knew, since my sister had texted, Johnny and Izzy were there.

I then understood the dress.

Navy. Short sleeves. A sheer panel above her breasts. One above her knees. It fit her perfectly, was cute, smart and professional with a hint of sexy.

Totally Izzy.

It was the lipstick red of the soles of her shoes, the diamonds at her throat and ears and her huge engagement ring that was in your face.

Johnny was wearing a dark-blue suit, light-blue shirt, no tie.

He looked handsome.

Toby was wearing a black suit, smoke-gray shirt, no tie.

He looked hot.

The two brothers glowered at each other then Johnny moved to hit the button on the elevator.

Izzy gave big eyes to me.

I reached out and took her hand.

We held on.

Johnny returned and took his woman’s other hand then he reached out and clasped Toby around the back of the neck. Toby did the same thing to Johnny.

We were in a huddle.

It was sweet, cute and made me want to start laughing and burst out crying, both at the same time.

Man, I wished my mother could have seen that.

“You can back out or walk out, anytime,” Johnny rumbled.

“We’re fine, honey,” Izzy said softly.

Johnny scowled at her.

The elevator dinged.

We got in it.

Once we hit the attorney’s offices, it wasn’t lost on any of us our grandmother died with money. Martin, Sandberg and Deats were no slouches, my bosses had it going on. My reception desk and the area around it kicked ass. I loved working there, and not because there wasn’t a smock in sight.

But just the bouquet of fresh flowers that adorned the long thin table under the firm masthead in that reception area probably cost as much as all the flowers for Johnny and Izzy’s wedding.

After we shared we were there with the receptionist, it didn’t take long for an elegant, slim man to come out and tell us he was taking us back.

Thankfully, as he walked us back through more fresh flowers, glistening wood and glassed in offices, he stated, “We’re aware there’s been a long-standing estrangement between Mr. Aubrey and his daughters that was a result of Mr. Aubrey’s treatment of his wife who has passed.” Pause. “Truly sorry for your loss.” Pause. “We hope we’ve arranged things so this can go quickly, smoothly and as comfortably for you all as a situation like this can. To that end, Mr. Aubrey and his wife have been asked to arrive earlier and are here. They’ll be seated across the room from your party.”

I shot Iz a relieved look.

She gave it back.

The men still weren’t feeling it.

“They’ve also been asked not to approach you, unless you invite it,” the man finished.

“Obliged,” Johnny grunted.

Toby said nothing.

Ten more feet.

And it happened.

The windows to the conference room we’d be using were right at our sides.

I knew it was the room we’d be using because I looked that way.

And he was standing, tall, straight, much older.

So handsome.

Even now.

By his side was a slim, and like Sierra, willowy woman with shining brunette hair, apparently age-appropriate to him, which was a shocker, so she probably dyed that hair.

She was not in a power suit or a cute, sexy, professional dress that looked tailored for her.

She looked like a chic hippie in a pretty rosy-pink lace dress with a tiered skirt, dangly earrings and lots of necklaces and bracelets.

My mother would have worn that outfit.

If she could have afforded it.

Her eyes came to the windows and her face paled.

So his eyes came to the windows.

They hit Izzy and shifted to me.

And they filled with sorrow as his expression filled with longing.

“Oh God,” I whispered.

Iz saw it too, I knew it because I heard her whimper.

It was a wonder we didn’t get whiplash with how fast Johnny and Toby put a halt to our movement.

“Can they do this separate from him?” Johnny demanded to know.

“I’m sorry, the only stipulation Mrs. Aubrey included was that her will could not be read, or enforced, unless all three parties who stood to inherit were in attendance at the reading,” the elegant man replied.

And he did sound sorry.

“Goddamn shit,” Toby cursed under his breath.

I squeezed his hand tight. “We’re good.”

He glowered at me.

“We’re good, honey,” I lied.

“Eliza?” Johnny prompted.

“I’m okay, häschen.”

Toby looked to the elegant man, who had probably introduced himself, but I hadn’t caught it.

“Let’s get this done,” he ground out.

The man nodded and moved us to the door.

Then we were in.

“Barry, all the parties are here. Eliza and Adeline Forrester and their fiancés, Johnathon and Tobias Gamble.”

“Right,” an older, less slender, no less elegant man said.

He was positioned in the middle at the long side of the conference table with another, much younger man sitting next to him.

“Thanks, Jason,” Barry went on to our guy, getting up and coming our way, hand held out while Jason left the room. “Eliza, Adeline. Barry Frischman.”

“Sir,” Izzy said, shaking.

I just shook.

Both of us, I noticed, were avoiding looking down the table.

“Gentlemen,” he nodded to Johnny and Toby.

He got chin lifts.

“Please take your seats. This won’t take long,” he bid.

Four, rolling swivel chairs were arranged for us, crowded around the narrow end of the table.

Toby held my seat as I sat.

Johnny held Izzy’s.

They sat.

Barry turned and looked down at the young man at his side. “Please make note all parties are here, Andrew. And let’s get started.”

He also took his seat.

Toby reached out for my hand.

I held on tightly.

And I kept my eyes glued firmly to Barry Frischman.

“With sensitivity to time and circumstances, I’ll just get down to it,” Barry declared. He put on some reading glasses, picked up a piece of paper and launched in, “I, Helena June Aubrey, residing at twelve Doncaster Way, Carlisle, Kentucky, declare this to be my Will and I revoke any and all wills and codicils I previously made.”

I reached out to Izzy who was seated beside me.

We also held hands.

Tightly.

It didn’t last long.

She gave everything she had, and there was a lot, to Harlan “Harley” Aubrey, our father.

Except for two million dollars, which the estate would pay inheritance taxes on, and it would be split equally between Eliza Anne Forrester Aubrey and Adeline June Forrester Aubrey.

Our true legal names.

Mom had never been able to divorce Dad nor had she had the money to affect a name change for any of us.