“You heard that too?”
Hone full-out grinned. Yep, lethal and she’d become a victim. Heat spilled into her cheeks, and she had to focus on hiding her unease.
“Should I ring Auntie?”
“Yes, please. I’d like to book in for a week.”
“You want the carpet lifted in the other rooms?” Jack’s voice came from behind her.
Cassie whirled. “What is wrong with you two? My pulse rate is still erratic after my unexpected meeting with the sheep. I don’t need men creeping around giving me a heart attack on top of that.”
Jack lifted a dark brow. “Carpet? The other rooms?”
“Yes, please.” Cassie watched them leave, admiring the view.
A sharp nudge in her ribs jolted her from the mesmerizing sight.
“Stop ogling my man.”
“Sorry. Jack makes me nervous, but the view is fine.” She double-checked for possible eavesdroppers. “Mostly, I was gawking at Hone.”
“He’s charming, but he’s a player.” Emma’s brow furrowed. “I can tell he’s interested in playing with you, so be careful. Hewillbreak your heart.”
“Kevin already broke my heart.”
“You wrote you’d broken things off, but you never said why. I didn’t ask because I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”
“And that is why you’re my best friend. You understand when to push or hold back. I…Kevin had asked me to marry him. I was ecstatic. I decided to surprise him in his hotel room with a home-cooked meal. I walked in on him in bed with a man and a woman.”
“A couple?” Intrigue played over Emma’s features.
“A backup singer and her boyfriend roadie. The three of them were having a fine old time when I pranced into the bedroom.”
“What did you do?”
“I tipped the dinner over them. I’d like to say I did it on purpose but there were clothes everywhere. I tripped over a pair of jeans and lost my balance.”
“Oh.” Emma’s lips quirked. “What did you cook for dinner?”
“Hungarian goulash with noodles, steamed carrots and broccoli. The bright colors contrasted nicely with the white bed linens. I chucked the ring at Kevin.” Her shoulders slumped as she recalled that part. “I missed and hit the backup singer. Gave her a black eye.”
“She deserved it. Why haven’t you sacked Kevin?”
“He’s good at his job and we had a contract. All the shows were sold out. I couldn’t bail.”
“You mentioned the contract.”
“It runs out a week after my label contract. Kevin didn’t want to chain himself to me if I wasn’t a success. He was taking a chance on an unknown. I understood his caution.”
Hone listened to the rise and fall of the women’s voices as he and Jack lifted strips of carpet to reveal dusty wooden boards. Native kauri wood. Once treated and polished, they’d gleam and last for years.
“What does Cassie do for a job?” The woman made him curious, and he wanted to learn more.
Jack didn’t lift his head but continued yanking tacks from the floorboards. “Emma said she works as an assistant to a country singer.”
Hone wrinkled his nose. “Country? Broken hearts and such?”
“Yeah, I don’t get the appeal either.”
“Cassie is more intriguing by the minute.”
Jack lifted his head, his jaw clenched. “Don’t mess with her, Hone. She’s like Emma. A keeper. She’s not for a man like you.”
Hone battened down his irritation, confining himself to a jerk of his chin. He pulled out his phone to call Auntie June, the matriarch dragon of the Auckland tribe and businesswoman with property. “You know me. I don’t do permanent. I have rules.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Jack went back to ripping up tacks. “As long as you stick to your bloody rules with Cassie.”
