His face tells me the offer is earnest, but I still hesitate, waiting for the catch.
“Look,”—he roughly runs his free hand through his perfectly styled hair, and it annoys me when the action doesn’t mess it up— “I’ve known Macsen since I was eighteen. We built our business together and, the truth is, its success is mostly down to him. He doesn’t make mistakes, Ellis. So, you see I have to believe that what he’s doing here, and I don’t just mean with you, isn’t a huge mistake.”
“Regardless.” I shrug. “You still don’t like it.”
“I don’t have to like it. It’s his life, not mine. But I do have to support him in his decision. Otherwise, what kind of prick would that make me?”
“A selfish one.”
He laughs ruefully, and I get the full force of his good looks and charm, making me understand why Iris hasn’t stopped talking about him for the last few days. The girl is besotted.
“Yeah, I am that.” He nods to the card in his hand. “But not when it comes to Macs. So, take this, please. There may come a day when you need it.”
“I saw your crush earlier.”
It’s early into the evening service, right before the rush. Iris had the day off, so I’m surprised when she calls in on her way home from a day of shopping, piles of bags surrounding her as she sips a gin and tonic on the terrace.
“Old man Sheppard?” she asks, eyes sparkling. “Or that city beefcake with the smouldering eyes and the tight butt.”
“The second one.”
“Yeah, he told me he called by.”
“You’ve seen him? I thought he was leaving today?”
“He is. In fact, he’s probably on the M4 heading out of here as we speak.” She pulls her hair back from her neck and drapes it over her shoulder. “We had a late lunch together. He’s invited me to stay with him for a visit.”
What the hell?
“You don’t know the guy!”
Iris smirks, and that look is enough to tell me at some point over the last few days she’s gotten to know him.
“Jesus Christ, woman. You move faster than a lioness on a hunt.”
Her smirk turns into a wide, leering grin, and she casually lifts a hand, curls her fingers, and blows her nails.
“What can I say? When I see something I want, there’s no point playing shy girl.”
“Are you going to stay with him?”
She picks up her drink, takes a long sip and admits, “Nope. There’s no future in it. Why drag it out?” Her face sobers and she asks, “Have you told Macsen Rex came to see you?”
“No. I haven’t seen him yet, but I have got a favour to ask.”
With an eye roll, she leans back in her chair, acts bored and says, “Yes, I’ll cover for you.”
“You don’t even know when I need you yet.”
She shrugs. “Does it matter? It’s not like I have plans, so you may as well go and get some.”
“Don’t pout, Iris. It’s unbecoming.” She glares at me, and I laugh. “You obviously got some recently. It’s not like you’re on a dry spell.”
She looks away and rolls the now empty glass through her hands, and realisation dawns.
“Oh, Rex didn’t put out, did he?”
She ignores my question.
“Damn, that man has finally earned a little respect from me. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who could say no to Iris Probert’s charms.”
She huffs, places the empty glass on the table and leans her elbows on the surface to prop her chin in her hands.
“He was the perfect gentleman.”
“And there’s something wrong with that?”
“I don’t want to marry him, Ell. I wanted to shag him. He acted like he needed to preserve my modesty when all I wanted was a hard and fast—”
“Do not finish that sentence. I don’t need to hear all the dirty details.”
“—pounding.”
“You had to do it, didn’t you?”
When she giggles, I can’t hold back a smile. Seeing Iris even a little bit down makes everything wrong.
“Of course.” She smirks, and all is right with the world. “So, when are you taking Macsen out again?”
“Tomorrow. He wants to go to the little art gallery on the corner by the east beach. They have some show on for an up and coming local artist.”
“Ocean Wilde.”
“That’s the guy. Do you know him?”
“No, but he’s gotten quite a buzz. Apparently, he’s always lived here, but no one knows who he is. He uses a pseudonym. His stuff is supposed to be really good, though.”
Huh. Shows how up to date I am with local news. Then again, since Macsen came to town, my attention has been elsewhere.
“So, is tomorrow okay? Only, I haven’t seen much of Macs with Rex here and—”
“You’ve missed him.”
This is where I’d typically brush her off. But not this time.
“Yes.” One simple truth.
“Then, Cinders,” she says while standing with a flourish. “You must go to the ball.”
I drag her into a side hug, ruffling her hair in the way I know she claims to hate but secretly loves.
“Dramatic much?”
“Dahling.” Her voice takes on a strange accent that makes her sound like an extra from a bad Z-list movie. “I live for the drama.” She wiggles out of my hold, spins on the spot, does a little curtsey, and adds, “Especially as I never thought I’d see the day my big cousin fell in love.”
“Don’t be daft.” I laugh awkwardly. “I never said anything about love, I said I missed him, that’s all.” I shrug, backing away ready to get out of here.
“You didn’t have to. Look at you, ready to run.” Iris chuckles with glee. “On your way past Tal, tell him I’ll have another one.” She holds up her glass, and I bow at her command.
“Yes, your majesty. Anything else?”
“No, nothing.” She looks over my shoulder. “Oh, hi, Macsen. I didn’t see you there.”
I can feel my face drop, while Iris grins maniacally at me. My head snaps around, wondering how much of our conversation he heard, only to find nobody there.
“You little—” I grab the towel from over my shoulder, twisting it around my hands ready to—SNAP.
“Ow! There’s no need for violence,” she half-screams, half-giggles when my weapon of mass destruction strikes the side of her thigh with a thwack.
Pleased with myself, I fling the towel back over my shoulder, pointing a finger at her in warning, a smug smile on my face.
“That’s what you get for teasing me about Macs and being in love.”
Her eyes flit from my face to once more stare over my shoulder.
“Oh, hi, Macsen. I didn’t see you there.”
“Nice try,” I smirk. “But not this time.”
I turn and immediately stop dead. Stood in the large open doorway, eyes locked on mine, wearing a smile that warms me from the inside out, is Macsen.
I think I might kill my cousin. Especially when she doesn’t even try to contain her evil cackle.