Heath forced his eyes closed against the blinding temptation of Evan’s smile and let out a heavy sigh. The women were looking at him when he opened them again.
“You are so smitten,” Isabella accused with a smile.
Olivia waved a hand. “It’s been a while since I’ve been around newlyweds. I’d forgotten how painfully cute they are.”
Heath paused with the flute of wannabellini pressed to his lips. “Beg your pardon?”
Olivia squinted, as if she were using telepathic powers to gaze into his mind. A ridiculous concept, of course, but he still turned his thoughts toward summoning a kraken, just to be safe.
“You have that man wrapped around your finger, and you know it.”
“I… do? Not! I totally don’t.”
Isabella found this especially amusing. “God, yes. It’s so obvious. He tries to be such a playboy, but there’s a reason he snapped you right up when he saw you.”
What was happening?
Heath shot back the entirety of his beverage, hoping that putting his brain on ice would slow its melting. He was successful in creating an immediate headache, but the panic and confusion lingered.
“Did you ladies begin drinking without us this morning?”
He felt the sharp arch of Olivia’s eyebrow in his soul. The woman was using his own tactics against him, and it was clear who the master was.
“You don’t think your husband is crazy about you?”
He swirled the empty glass carelessly, going for nonchalance. “I mean, he married me, so obviously…”
Isabella squeezed his knee. “Honey, trust us. You have nothing to worry about with that man.”
Danger! Danger!
“No, I don’t—I mean, I wasn’t really worried. Mostly. It’s just… um.” Olivia smiled, and he tried to twist away from the topic. “Am I being billed for this conversation? I don’t know if I can afford your hourly rate, Dr. Spencer.”
Olivia leaned into the plush leather and wrapped her slim fingers around her crossed knee. “Nonsense. This is a freebie.”
“Oh. Good.”
“You two have such electric chemistry, but there’s this physical distance between you. I don’t know how you can do it. Nate and I couldn’t keep our hands off one another when we were first married.”
“You still can’t,” Isabella quipped, earning an amused glare from her aunt.
Heath cleared his throat. Where were the damn orcas? “I’m just used to being cautious. Public affection isn’t always the safest idea.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie. When out in unfamiliar public spaces, he was certainly careful, but around people with whom he felt comfortable? Safe to say that were he and Evan actuallytogether, the family would have been begging them to stop already.
“I can understand how you might be unsure, since we have only just met. I want to assure you that you are free to be yourselves here, with or without us in residence. Provided you feel comfortable doing so, of course.”
Heath added more peach to his glass and gave himself another headache as punishment for being a terrible person. He abhorred lying, especially to people who didn’t deserve it. Olivia and Isabella, and their wonderful and welcoming family most certainly didn’t, and he felt like a grifter for ingratiating himself into their happy anniversary celebration.
“I… thank you. Truly. I think I’m still just having trouble relaxing after the big day. You know how stressful weddings can be.”
The pressure mounted. He’d be a diamond by morning if he kept it up.
Isabella clasped her hands together. “Was it a big wedding? Oh! Do you have pictures? I would love to see you both all gussied up. Evan said you were dashing in a tux.”
“He is. Not as handsome as me, of course, but close.”
Heath startled as Evan dropped onto the seat next to him. He’d no idea his wannabehubby had been listening.
