I tilted my head, meeting his eyes.
“Do you want me to go?” I hated asking it, but if he needed me to leave, I would. I couldn’t help but wonder if Luch had told them about me. It would be unfair of him, to share my secret with his family without giving me a chance to explain more deeply about healers, and indecision warred. Judging from the looks they were giving us, I was already persona non gratis.
“Kind of, yeah.” Luch gripped my arm when I jolted, surprised by his response. “They’re … they’re really difficult, Faelan. I don’t want to expose you to them.”
“Have you told them about?—”
“About what?” I looked up to see his father at our side. The man had appeared instantly, with barely a sound, and the fine hairs on the back of my neck rose as he looked down at me, disdain clear in his features.
“About our date tonight?” I answered smoothly, refusing to cow before this man. I’d had my fair share of experience standing up to difficult people before, and I called on every ounce of my experience to meet Luch’s father’s eyes directly. I smiled. “I’m Dr. Faelan Fletcher, and you are?”
“This is my father, Richard Carmichael.” I noticed Luch didn’t address him as a doctor, and when a muscle ticked in his father’s jaw, I realized he’d done so on purpose.
“A doctor? Isn’t that nice. What is your specialty?”
And just like that, we were down to business.
“Animals.” I smiled politely when Richard’s gaze flicked to Luch’s face. “I’m a veterinarian.”
“Is that right?” Something flashed in his face and then smoothed out. “You must be the reason we haven’t heard much from Luch lately. We took it upon ourselves to come down here and make sure he was doing well.”
“Dad, I’m fine. As you well know because I talk to you often.”
Richard completely ignored Luch, instead turning to gesture to the four men hovering behind him.
“His brothers. Lupin, Mark, Andrew, and Ian.”
Each man nodded briefly at me, but none of them spoke when introduced. I swear they looked like they were bodyguards, ready to crack their knuckles and beat someone up.What the hell is going on?Luch said they’d ambushed him, but given Luch was a grown man, why did these men look as though they were protecting him? I now doubted Luch had told them aboutwhatI was, so why on earth were they almost champing at the bit?
“Carmichael?” the hostess called, breaking the tension, and Luch once more turned to me.
“We have a date. So we’ll just be enjoying ourselves without you,” Luch said.
“I’ve taken care to adjust the reservation. We’ll all be sitting together.” Richard turned and followed the hostess into the hall and I couldn’t do anything else other than fall into line. I could only imagine how this must look, me trailing after this line of hulking men. Movement flashed in the corner of my eye, and I flicked my eyes to thecorner of the room to see Brice hovering in the corner. I raised a finger, acknowledging him, and then pointed to the kitchen.
I hoped he’d get my message that I needed help.
I wasn’t sure what that help was.
But whatever was about to go down wouldn’t be good.
We all politely listened as the waiter read off the specials for the evening, but I was too distracted to take in anything he was saying. The tension at the table was so thick, I was surprised icicles didn’t form from the ceiling. Around us, the restaurant flowed, and snatches of laughter and snippets of conversations drifted to me.
“Faelan?” Luch nudged me and I realized the waiter was looking at me, his pen raised on his pad.
“Oh, I’m sorry. A Sauvignon Blanc, please.” I looked at Luch. “Has anyone ordered food?”
“We didn’t open our menus yet.” Luch gave me a pained look, and I realized that I was revealing how distracted I was. Forcing myself to focus, I unfolded my napkin and smoothed it in my lap and looked at the silent men sitting across from me. Was I meant to carry the conversation here? Uncertain of my footing, I waited.
“Ms. Fletcher—” Richard tapped a finger on the table.
“Doctor.” I didn’t care if I was being rude.
Richard raised an eyebrow at me but then continued. “We feel you’re the reason that Luch isn’t coming home.”
“Dad, this is ludicrous. I’m an adult with my own life. You can’t come here, with whatever this is?—”
“An intervention,” Richard supplied and Luch sat back in his chair, aghast.
