The Hudsons: Max, Bella and Devlin. Maureen Child

shoed her back to Max’s side. Dana desperately wanted to take his hand, but didn’t know if the gesture would be welcomed.

      “No little man tonight?” she asked Cece.

      Cece and Jack both smiled at the reference to their son—the son Jack hadn’t known about until he’d tracked Cece down to ask her to write the script.

      Cece shook her head. “We left Theo at home. This would be too late an evening for him.”

      “Good point.” Dana had seen Theo only a few times, but he looked exactly like his black-haired, blue-eyed daddy, and he was completely precious. An old familiar ache squeezed her chest. Way back when, she’d believed she’d have several children of her own by the time she reached twenty-eight. “Let me know if you ever need a babysitter.”

      Cece grinned mischievously. “Don’t make that offer lightly. I know your number.”

      Bella, her eyes brimming with excitement, shifted on her heels. “So is everything ready for the sixtieth anniversary bash and the movie preview?”

      Jack nodded. “My staff has everything under control.”

      Bella looked at Dana. “I can’t wait to see the first cut to see if I did Lillian proud. I mean, I saw the dailies, but…”

      Dana touched her arm. “Bella, from what I’ve seen so far, you have nothing to be worried about. And once Max works his magic…”

      Bella gave her a quick hug. “The three of us, you, me and Cece, are going to have to do some serious shopping. Oh, and we should probably include Valerie. I want a drop-dead gorgeous dress for this.”

      David rolled his eyes. “Shopping. That’s one topic guaranteed to run any man away.” He excused himself and went to his mother’s side.

      Max’s gaze followed him and then he turned to Jack once David was out of earshot. “Is everyone behaving tonight?”

      “Yes. Your father and mine are keeping it civil. For a change.”

      David Hudson did not get along well with his older brother or his brother’s wife. There was a tension between them that Dana hadn’t figured out yet despite the numerous interactions between David and Max. As director and producer they worked closely together.

      Max scanned their little gathering. “Hannah said there was going to be a celebration. Anybody know what’s going on?”

      Jack shook his head. “No clue. Cece and I have no news. You?”

      Dana tensed and waited, holding her breath, but Max shook his head. “Not me.”

      Her hopes sank like lead. She’d waited so long for it to happen that she really wanted to share the news that they were a couple. It was practically bubbling inside her.

      Dev joined them with Valerie trailing behind. “I can answer your question.” Dev turned to the room and used his key to tap on his glass. “May I have everyone’s attention?”

      He waited until the room fell silent. “Valerie and I eloped yesterday.”

      Gasps and surprised grunts filled the room. After a startled moment, Sabrina and Markus made their way across the room. Sabrina hugged her son and then her new daughter-in-law. Markus shook Dev’s hand and then briefly embraced Valerie.

      “Valerie, darling, welcome to the family,” Sabrina said, and then turned her hurt eyes on Dev. “I wish you’d let me arrange your wedding. Your father and I would have enjoyed sharing such a special moment.”

      Dev shrugged. “We didn’t want fanfare.”

      “A wedding on the estate grounds would have been nice,” Lillian added.

      “Oh, that’s a lovely idea,” Valerie gushed, but then seemed to regret her words. “But Dev and I couldn’t wait.”

      Dana thought Valerie looked as if she would have liked some pageantry.

      “Are you pregnant?” Bella asked bluntly, but not unkindly.

      Valerie’s cheeks turned crimson. She dipped her chin. “No. Oh, no. That’s not what I meant.”

      An awkward silence descended. Dana moved forward to hug Valerie and break up the uncomfortable moment. “Congratulations. Perhaps I could arrange a belated bridal shower for you?”

      Valerie’s eyes filled with gratitude. “That would be nice, Dana. Although I’m sure we won’t require any wedding presents. Dev tells me he’d like to live here in his suite of rooms.”

      “Every woman needs gifts. Sexy lingerie, for example,” Bella said with a wicked smile that made Valerie blush more.

      “I’ll call next week and we’ll work out the details.” Dana stepped aside and let others offer their good wishes.

      She glanced at Max and found his narrowed eyes focused on her. What was he thinking? From his forbidding expression she’d bet he wasn’t remotely interested in following in his brother’s footsteps to the altar.

      All she had to do was find a way to change his mind, because there was nothing she’d like more than to marry Max on the grounds of Hudson Manor and begin her own fairy-tale romance.