“It’s a salute?” Daniel sounds bemused.
“Yeah, seems like it is,” Shane says grimly.
My head swims, realization dawning. “A salute…to Casanova.”
15
SHANE
As soon as Declan approaches, I let Avery slip from my grasp. My eyes track her as she joins a line for the bathroom, but then Dec’s deep frown demands attention.
“What the hell is going on?” His disapproving tone is no surprise.
For two years, my stance on the home front was unchanged, and he backed my play every single day. Which at the beginning, when I moved in with him, was the only thing that kept me from feeling completely isolated.
“Pretty much what it looks like,” I say. My tone is mild, almost joking, though if anyone deserves a serious explanation, it’s Declan.
Movement upstairs causes my eyes to shift. To his left, Todd Bardoratch has a pit fighter who goes by the nickname Cyborg. Is the guy here on bodyguard duty, watching Bardoratch’s back? If so, I have to give Bardoratch credit for his countermove.
Dec leans closer, and light glints off his white gold designer tie bar. It retails for five grand, which I know because it was the gift I included when I paid him back the seed money he gave me to start our joint venture. The white gold complements the black and platinum silk tie he’s wearing to conform with the night’s theme.
Declan lowers his voice so he can speak without others overhearing. “I meant what’s the deal with Avery Kershaw?”
“Yeah, so did I. She’s with me tonight.”And for the foreseeable future, I add in my own head.
His brows rise. “When did the goal of staying away from her change?”
“Yesterday.”
“Because?” He’s using his chairman-of-the-board voice, which demands answers. If anyone else took that tone with me, I’d shut the conversation down in a heartbeat, by force if necessary. But Dec gets a pass.
My gaze flickers up to the purple rose guys for a second and then back to Declan. “Is your stepmother trying to set you up with Avery?” It’s my voice’s turn to use a Heyworth chairman-of-the-board tone.
A groove appears between his dark brows as they draw together in confusion. “Not that I know of. Why do you ask?”
“You don’t know a thing about it? What’s the word on the home front? Is your stepmother in touch with mine?”
“My stepmom and yours are BFFs, which I saw coming from the first time they met.” He rolls his eyes and shifts his weight. “But I’ve made it clear that Avery Kershaw is not welcome company. My dad and his wife know I don’t want her around.”
“So why would the stepmothers think matchmaking you guys would work?”
Declan frowns, leaning back defensively. “Who says they do?”
“You haven’t heard about a Moran-Heyworth ski trip?”
He looks genuinely confused. “A Heyworth-Moran ski trip? No.Myfamily is going to the house in Aspen for Christmas.” He nudges me with a fist. “You’re welcome to come, of course. I’d be glad if you did. Since it’s before the championship game, I won’t be skiing.”
I smile at Declan’s giving the Heyworth name top billing when he answers. His family always thinks about whose name is highest on the door. “Your dad uses the Aspen house more than you do these days. Probably doesn’t always give you a heads-up on who he’s invited.”
He shrugs. “I’ll check—”
“Nah, it’s all right,” I say, waving that off. “You’d never try to hook up with Avery.” I watch him closely for any flicker of doubt on that score. None comes.
His hand smooths his suit lapel. “Last I checked, neither of us would.”
I shrug.
“What are you doing, brother?” His tone is concerned now and trying to make me see sense. “You know you can’t trust her.”
