“Do we have to go?” The spoon hovered, forgotten, in front of my lips. “It’s still way early. And there’s no school tomorrow.”
“We have church in the morning. Plus it’s a long drive and Jason will be calling at the usual time. We need to be there to answer.” Serena glanced at me. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.” I told her. “And the kids.’
“I’m sorry I can’t stay.” Sadie put the spoon back in the bowl. “Thanks so much for the pictures. I hope I get to see you again.”
“Be sure to forward the pictures to Stone,” I urged. “He’d really like that.”
Her chin lifted. “I don’t have his number.”
“I’ll give it to you.” Serena put her arm around the girl. “If you forward them to Stone, I bet he’ll give them to Sebastian, too.”
“That’s right.” Molly took that as her cue. “We can’t, of course, give out Sebastian’s private number, but—”
“Okay then,” Molly said. “I’ll think about it.”
“Dad, Dad!” Lincoln ran toward his father.
Stone seemed to have trouble believing it. “Yes, Lincoln?”
“Can I say goodbye to Morrigan?”
Stone welcomed him over. “Sure.”
Lincoln flopped down beside the dog, heedless of his dress pants. “Bye, girl. I’ll be back again soon and we’ll play more. Wait until you meet Wiley. You’re going to love him.”
Jesse was more dignified, squatting carefully and petting Morrigan’s neck and shoulders. He glanced shyly toward his dad.
“You said you’d show us how to make Wiley behave,” Jesse reminded Stone.
“Of course I will. It’s all about being consistent. Maybe your mom can bring all of you and Wiley out here again sometime?”
“Morrigan won’t eat him, will she?” asked Lincoln.
“She won’t.” Stone hid a smile. “So far, Morrigan has eaten exactly zero dogs. She might try to race him.”
“Who cares about a stupid dog.” Sadie was clearly torn between wanting to stay with me and wanting to get away from her dad, but she stood and brushed off her skirts. “You guys are just dumb.”
“Bye, Sadie. I hope you'll visit again before I leave here.”
I was not above using anything to see Stone reconnect with his kids.
She gave her dad a chilly glare. “If you’re still here when the boys come back, I might come with them.”
“Maybe I’ll see you again some time.” I stood and offered Serena my hand despite the cast. “In case I don’t see you again, it's been a real pleasure meeting your family.”
“Oh, I suspect we’ll meet again.” A small smile crept over Serena’s lips. “Welcome to the Wilder side, Mr. Keye.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Stone
Bast offered to help clean after the party, but Ariel and Taggart laughed at him and threw us out.
As dusk turned the sky violet overhead and the stars came out, Sebastian, Morrigan, and I walked back to my place.
“You've been unnaturally quiet, which is saying something. What are you thinking about?”
“You’re a chaos goblin, aren’t you?” I couldn't help smiling. “C’mon, you can tell me the truth.”
He blinked in surprise. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I've spent my entire life setting up one regrettable array of dominos after another. All it took was one push from your little goblin finger and ka-blam. Are you gonna sneak away after the last one falls?”
“No.” He stared straight ahead. “I want to see what happens next.”
I shook my head in wonder. “You're the one thing I never saw coming and Christ, if you're pushing buttons just to see if you can...”
He frowned. “No. I'm—I wouldn't do that.”
“Am I going to wake up and find out this was all some…fantasy?” I asked. “Because when I saw you during Artemis's ceremony, I was so happy. Just knowing you're near fills me with this wild joy. But I barely even know you.”
“You know me better than most people do. I think you see me and not what I want everyone to see.”
“Maybe.” I wrapped my hand around his slim pale neck.
“Are you afraid of what people will say?” he asked.
“Because I’m bi? Or because I’m acting like an old perve over a guy who looks half my age?”
“Because I’m a hot mess, complete with a notorious reputation for bad behavior, internet sex tapes, and a career that’s probably over now.” He grabbed a handful of rabbitbrush we passed and gave it a sniff. Eww. “I don’t know what’s going to happen if more tapes surface. Is this about blackmail? Will it trigger a lawsuit for breaking my NDA? Things could get uglier.”
I sighed. “Your dad's investigators already know who uploaded the video. They're working with the authorities to handle the matter quietly.”
He gasped. “You never told me. Who did it? It was Ian Drake, wasn't it?”
“No. But it was about Ian Drake.” Alastair should have told him. It wasn't right to keep him in the dark, especially since he was worried. “Apparently Drake ran his mouth about you online, and someone he fell out with decided to extort him over a secret video. Drake was the one who drugged you.”
“Jesus.” Sebastian folded at the knees. I caught him until he was steady again. “There's just never going to be an end to this, is there? Was no one going to tell me about Drake or that they were already discussing the matter with the authorities?”
“That was badly done, I know. Alastair was trying to protect you, but you're a grown man.” I met his gaze. “I give you my solemn promise. I won't keep anything from you in the future, even if your Dad wants me to.”
“Thank you.” He put his head on my shoulder. “But there are still things I can't divulge, even to you.”
“That's all right. I know you have secrets, things you don't want to talk about.”
“Whether I want to talk or not, I can't.” He licked his lips. “If I break the NDA, they can sue for the trust my Dad established with the settlement money. That's why I can't talk about…certain things. It's not that I don't want anyone to know.”
“They have you well and truly trapped. But this new case might do you a favor. It could open Pandora's box for you.”
“I still have to earn a living. Even if the new case reenforces my story, new notoriety may scuttle my image forever.” He sighed dramatically. “My only option will be some reality TV show where they lock up has-been teen idols and force them to fight to the death.”
“I'll teach you some dirty tricks, in case you have to go head to head with Shia Labeouf.”
My cabin came into view, its porchlight and windows glowing warmly amid the trees.
I opened the door for Sebastian and ushered him inside
The shower in the guest bathroom was running. Apparently, Molly wanted to give us privacy tonight. Morrigan? Not so much. She danced around our legs happily, ready for dinner.