“Were you expecting company?” Royce asked as he filled a crystal goblet for Walter then prepared one for himself.
“I always take a three-hour break for a snack and a nap and I always find someone to keep me company,” Walter explained imperiously then released Royce so he could fill his plate.
“Just a drink,” Royce said when Walter offered him a plate.
“Figures. You can’t eat bread and mayonnaise and wear suits like that,” he replied then clicked his teeth. “I used to watch my figure then I realized life was too short and it wasn’t any fun being thin to please other people.”
“I agree. Not that I don’t find your figure pleasing,” Royce argued and took Walter’s plate for him. “Do you keep all the cameras for security?” He had no idea what miniature Victorian houses were worth but Walter’s collection was staggering and Royce spotted some very expensive antiques.
“Goodness, no!” Walter laughed and towed Royce around the pond to the daybed. He sprawled on his side then patted the bed in front of him. Royce set the plate down then sat. Walter reclined against Royce’s side then groaned rapturously as he wiggled closer. “I livestream,” he stated nonchalantly and Royce choked on his lemonade.
“Are we streaming now?” He asked once he recovered and Walter shook his head.
“No. Only when I’m nuuuude. I can send you a link,” he offered and Royce’s brows jumped.
“Please,” he said then sipped his lemonade. “Does that pay well?”
“Very. Audrey returns tomorrow evening. Marcy and I agree that she’s your quickest way through,” Walter stated then nibbled the frosting off his tea cake.
“You’re all awfully quick to sell him out. Are you that sure you can trust me or do you think he’s that desperate?” Royce asked and Walter chortled and dabbed at his lips.
“Marcy, Vanessa, Olivia and the rest of the ladies all think it’s romantic,” he stated then patted Royce’s chest when he became concerned. “Don’t worry, I’m the only one Marcy’s told but I already knew. Agent Bradshaw, indeed,” he said in a deep, dramatic voice then snickered. “I talked to Waites and I told him what I think about this business with the Lees. I’ve kept an eye on them and they’re lovely people. I’ve done Sally’s hair for ten years; she’s got the gentlest soul. Your name rang a bell, though, and I remember who your people are.”
“Please, I’d rather you outed me as a spy,” Royce muttered as he swiped a cake off Walter’s plate and took a petulant bite. Walter chuckled as he stroked Royce’s jaw.
“I’ve heard your older brother is even more handsome but I refuse to believe it,” he said and Royce nodded.
“I’m the black sheep and he got all the looks,” he murmured distantly. Why would a small town homosexual hairdresser know Waites and have his number?
“I told Waites that Grant Weatherly’s been left alone for too long and he’s too good of a man to go to waste. He deserves a prince and you’re not a Kennedy but you’re the next best thing,” Walter stated. Royce opened his mouth obediently as Walter offered him a raspberry. He chewed as he considered the trap closing around him and was surprised at how tempted he was by the proposition.
“What did Waites say, about you playing matchmaker?” He asked and Walter made a dismissive sound.
“He doesn’t believe you’re ready to settle down but he wished me luck. He underestimates Grant Weatherly.”
“You might be right,” Royce said.
“About what?” Walter asked and Royce frowned.
“All of it.”
“Of course, I am!” Walter laughed then patted Royce’s chest.
“Don’t make that face. You’ll turn my nap into a nightmare and I’d much rather dream about us doing something scandalous together. Tell me, has that delicious captain proposed to your brother yet?”
“How...?” Royce turned so he could stare at Walter in disbelief and he laughed softly as he set his plate on the side table then wound his arm around Royce’s neck.
“I know people, my darling,” he sang. “I think you’re going to love it here,” he predicted and Royce nodded but he couldn’t shake the suspicion that someone was up to something a bit more devious than matchmaking.
Chapter 10
“Maybe she hasn’t heard yet,” Grant told Edgar but he groaned dubiously in the back seat. Grant’s fingers tapped against the steering wheel nervously and his cheeks puffed out as Audrey ran around the bus with her duffle bag and backpack slung over her shoulder. “Here we go.” Grant got out and opened the back then grabbed the duffle bag when she swung it at him. “How was camp?” He asked as he shut the back.
“So awesome! Sorry I couldn’t message as often, the signal was so bad out there and we stayed really busy,” Audrey explained as she tossed her bag in the back seat then reached and hugged Edgar’s neck. “I missed my big moose!” She baby talked as he covered her face in kisses before she released him so she could shut the door and get into the passenger seat. “Michelle won’t be coming back in the spring because she’ll be having her baby so they asked me if I want to fill in for her for the season.”
“That’s great but you’re going to be really busy next year,” Grant pointed out. He was grateful for any topic not related to his weekend from hell.
“I will be but it’s my last season of camp before college. I definitely won’t have time after school starts so it’s the perfect time to do it since Michelle’s coming back in the fall.” Grant let Audrey ramble and bobbed his head appropriately and made encouraging sounds until they pulled into the driveway.
“If you think you’re up to it. I don’t want you going into your first year of college frazzled because you overextended yourself during the summer,” he said as he pulled her duffle bag out of the back.
“I’m sure I can handle it,” she stated and Grant smiled as he unlocked the front door.
“I know you can, Jelly Bean.” He followed her and Edgar in and dropped her bag by the stairs as she shut the door. Audrey tossed her backpack at her duffle bag then crossed her arms over her chest.
“Are you really going to make me ask about your new boyfriend?” She said then tilted forward. “The hair is so much better, though,” she whispered and Grant swore as he brushed his hand through it and twisted his fingers. Edgar sat and shut his eyes blissfully as he enjoyed the sun on his cone-free face as it shined through the window.
“I thought you said the Wi-Fi was bad out there. What did you hear?” Grant asked.
“Ha! Marcy made sure the message got to me but she was very vague. She said you’re hiding from the man of our dreams,” Audrey informed him.
“This is getting out of hand,” he groaned as his hand dragged down his face. “I don’t have a boyfriend and I don’t want you involved with him.”
“Why not? What’s going on and who is he? You told me you were going to see Aunt Marcy for a haircut and now I can’t see the man of our dreams!” She protested and he shushed her.