When Romance Prevails (The Dark Horse Trilogy Book 3) by Cynthia Dane Page A

around the table.
    “Not yet, anyway.” Hunter didn’t seem to care when his parents glared at him.
    “No, it’s not as grand as a wedding, but we did want to announce something special.” Kerri smiled at her boyfriend, one hand going on his shoulder as she attempted to contain her excitement. “We’ve decided to take a trip together. Italy. Next month.”
    The only one not shifting in their seats was Brenda, whose face lit up as she finally heard those magic words. “At least you’re telling us this time,” Ronnie mumbled.
    “It’ll be good to get away for a while. In a more… conventional manner.”
    Raymond leaned forward, his snarl about to bite Hunter’s face off. “You respect my daughter, son. You don’t do a damn thing that…”
    “Raymond.” Brenda pushed him back into his seat. “They’re adults, dear. Or did you forget? Hunter’s a good boy.”
    “That’s right!” The silverware on the table jangled when Terrence slammed his fist on it. Ronnie jumped beside him, but Brenda looked as if she were used to these kinds of outbursts. “My son does right by every woman he dates. Damnit, Mitchell, not every young pair of kids dating has to be bad.”
    Everyone stared at him as if he were drunk. Hunter broke the silence by saying, “This lunch could be going a lot worse.”
    It neither got worse nor better. Brenda tried to steer the conversation toward how lovely Italy was any time of the year, while Raymond grumbled into his wine glass; Terrence looked around the dining hall as if he would never be back again, and Ronnie spun a knife in the table whilst staring down her ex-husband. These people need help. The Mitchells and Halls, together at last. Maybe they could get a discount on group therapy.
    The doorbell rang a final time near the end of lunch. The Mitchells looked up and then at one another. “Are we expecting someone?” Brenda asked. When Raymond shook his head, it fell to Kerri to get up and see who it was. Hunter came with her.
    “Ah, if it isn’t Romeo and Juliet.” Joshua Payne took off his sunglasses the moment Kerri opened the front door. “Still alive, I see. I do love a new spin on an old tale.”
    “Who is it?” Raymond called from the dining room.
    “Tell your father that when he gets the chance, I would love to step in and take a look around.” A car pulled up the driveway, full of Mrs. Payne and the little Paynelings. Both boys pointed excitedly at the Governor’s Mansion. “I was supposed to come by to scope things out tomorrow, but I’m afraid I have a … thing.”
    Kerri was worried her father would be irate at the interruption. Instead he appeared pleased to get the hell away from Terrence and distract himself with anyone else – even if that was his replacement. The Halls remained in the dining room while Brenda got up to show the Paynes around the estate. Both Payne boys dashed into the living area to stare at the flat screen TV that once delivered quite a few shocking stories.
    “And how is my favorite couple faring?” Joshua asked while his sons raved about the video games they were going to hook up to this TV. “Glad to see you’re still together. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the reason things finally quiet down around here.”
    In politics, that was never possible. “We’re going to Italy,” Hunter said. “Ever been?”
    “No, I can’t say I have. And I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Except here.”
    Both he and Hunter shared one of those knowing smiles men liked to flash each other. Kerri scoffed, but said nothing.
    “I was afraid that what happened with your fathers would do you two more harm than good, but I see that I was wrong.”
    Now Hunter dropped his smile. “What do you mean?”
    “Oh, nothing in particular. I wouldn’t want to imply something.” Joshua turned to wave at his sons in the living room. “After all, I’m just a dark horse that charged from the back of the pack to win the race.”
    Hunter took an