Audrey’s eyes flicked to the others before she cleared her throat. “Right. So. Emotional repressionandmurder guilt. This is going great.”
All of their eyes were comically wide. I could only blame myself for this.
Carina rubbed her belly again and winced. “So do you want her because you feel guilty and you want to play heroand right your wrongs orrrrrr...” She sat up about as much as her round belly would allow. “Do you actually have feelings for her, because I would love to know when those developed? You haven’t been home for very long.”
Yes, this was all my fault, and I was regretting it greatly. Was there a way to get them to leave now? Was there a way to convince them this was everything I needed and push them out the door? I doubted it. They wanted the bottom of this thing, and they weren’t going to stop till they got there.
“I met her at a local lodge near my cabin a few months ago,” I stared down at my hands in my lap. “I didn’t know who she wasreally.When I took the job, I didn’t know it was her father. I probably wouldn’t have touched the file if I’d known, but then again, the grannies can be convincing and frightening.”
“You’re in some deep shit if the grannies are involved,” Audrey leaned back with a fit of giggles, and I hated this interaction even more.
Carina patted my knee. “When do we get to meet her?”
“Oh, she’s super pretty!” Audrey chimed in.
Carina’s eyes went wider. She looked like a Disney Princess. They all did. Poppy would fit right in. I closed my eyes and let out a breath. I could not go there. “You met her!?”
Audrey shook her head. “No, big bad Irish mafia kicked us out before I had the chance.”
“Thank God for that,” I said into my hands.
“So what do you need from us?” Scarlett picked up hermug and took a sip out of it. I didn’t have much time before Don and Poppy returned from visiting her brothers.
Audrey smiled like she had won the lottery. “He wants our help turning him into Prince Charming!”
What happened next was like a horror movie. They all drew closer to me as they laughed maniacally.
Maybe I imagined the laughing, but I swore there was entirely too much emotion as they tackled me and said, “Team: get Ivan a wife!”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Poppy
Another day,another date, and another public kiss. At this point, I was wondering if I was seeing it the way I wanted to, or if I was actually ignoring all of the signs that pointed to this being a public launch. Donovan was, of course, on his best behavior because I, of course, needed to look blissfully in love if this was all about thepublic launch.
Unfortunately, I was still meeting with my brothers weekly, though I wasn’t exactly sure why. I was on my best behavior,as well. There was no need for them to constantly dangle Jane over my head like they did every time.
I leaned over and struggled with my heels again. I hated wearing heels, but tonight was some kind of fundraiser, and therefore, I needed to wear something Donovan’s personal shopper had picked out for me. The dress was a complete knockout. It was tight enough to show off my curvy, athletic figure, but modest enough to not bring the wrong kind ofattention my way, especially since I would be on Donovan’s arm.
With a growl of frustration, I tossed the shoe at the door just as it was opening. I winced as Ivan caught it easily. One of his brows lifted on his forehead. “I can come back in a few minutes, but if I do, you will be late.”
I gritted my teeth. “It’s the stupid heels. Something is wrong with the buckle. What’s the point of spending so much money on these things if they are so difficult to put on?”
In a few quick strides, Ivan knelt down in front of me, and I swore my breath caught in the back of my throat. “May I?”
I could barely manage a nod.
His fingers brushed the soft skin above my heel as he fastened the buckle, and I forgot how to breathe. It was the lightest touch, but it felt like something far more dangerous.
“Better?” His voice was low, a rasp that slid down my spine like smoke.
I nodded, but the sound that left my throat was almost a moan. “Yes.”
He didn’t move right away. His thumb lingered against my ankle, tracing slow circles, like he wasn’t aware he was doing it. My pulse thundered in my ears.
“You’ll be late,” he murmured finally, but he still didn’t stand.
“I know,” I whispered back, even though neither of us moved.
