Duke leans back in his chair. “I don’t think so. My sister, London, is going through a pretty nasty divorce. It’s almost final, but they are trying to work out custody of my niece. Mom is helping with Bristol while London gets settled in a new job.”
I arch my brow. “Bristol? Wow, your family really sticks to that British tradition.”
“We call her Byrdie.”
“Cute. Well, I’m sorry for her and your sister. Where does London live?”
“Brooklyn Heights.”
I set my fork down. “I live on the Upper East Side. Allie lives in Brooklyn Heights, though. Have you been to visit your sister there?”
Have I passed him somehow on my way to visit Allie? As soon as that thought enters my mind, I delete it. Duke is not the sort of man you see in passing and forget.
“I’ve been to see her a few times.”
“And what did you think of New York?”
“It has certainly qualities I don’t mind. Love the little bodegas and markets, Central Park is nice, but there’s too much stimulation there for me. I feel like I’m always checking for enemy fire over my shoulder with all the sights and sounds. I needa slower pace.”
This hits me harder than it should. Maybe with a sister in New York, Duke might be willing to spend more time there. Like maybe if I let myself have a summer romance with him, it might not have to end.
Damn it, Roxanne. Shake it off and finish your eggs.
“Thank you again for breakfast.”
Duke clears my plate. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. In truth, I thought if you had a good meal to start your day, it would soften the blow when I tell you what’s happening tomorrow.”
My stomach twists. “What? What’s happening tomorrow?”
He’s silent for a beat as he loads my dish and starts to clean up. Then he dries his hands and leans on the kitchen island. “Our summer camp out with the residents … in the woods.”
My blood turns to ice. “Noooo. No.”
Before I can spiral further, Duke grabs the keys and ushers me outside. A few minutes later, we’re rumbling down the path toward Emerald Lodge in his golf cart.
“Listen, if you really don’t think you can handle it?—”
“Oh no.” I climb out of the cart, turn, and wag my finger at him. “Don’t you start that nonsense again.”
“What nonsense?” Duke asks.
“The nonsense of telling me I can’t handle something knowing I’ll get pissed and accept your challenge and then next thing I know, I’m being thrown headfirst into freezing whitewater. You challenge me to do this camp out, even though it terrifies me, and I’ll end up wrestling a bear or having to rotisserie cook a squirrel or something.”
Duke tosses his head back and laughs. “Bear wrestling only happens before they hibernate, so you’re safe.”
“I don’t need to camp, thank you.” I turn to leave, but I feel a tug on my arm. His gentle, but commanding touch instantly fires my fight-or-flirt reflex.
“Roxanne, it’s part of the program. Ten residents sign upat a time. Stedman and Millie are leading. It’s two nights, not far from here. We take the Razors out as far as we can, hike in, sleep under stars, have group meals, a campfire circle, the whole thing is very therapeutic.”
“You’ve actually just described the seventh circle of hell for me.”
“It’s not just about tents and sleeping bags. Being outside reminds some of the vets what calm feels like. Sometimes it’s easier to talk around a fire than in a circle of folding chairs.”
My shoulders relax. “Stop, stop doing that with your eyes and your … your mouth.”
“Um, what about my mouth?” A smirk plays on his lips. “Didn’t realize it had such an effect on you.”
“Never mind.”
