“Oh yeah, you’re right. This trip already sounds better.”
“Want me to text Ellie and see if he’ll meet you for dinner? I mean, it’s kind of perfect that the timing’s matched up.”
Ellie... there’s only one Ellie I know and that’s Dave Toney’s Ellie. Dave Toney is one of our business partners. Ellie and Lottie have grown close. Which means... Derek must be Derek Toney, Dave’s younger brother.
Is Lottie trying to fix Kelsey up with Derek?
“Might be nice to have something to do at night,” Kelsey says.
Well, Jesus fuck, I’ll be there. It’s not like you’re going to be banished to an island all alone.
Then again, why would she consider me a decent companion? Theobnoxious asshole.
“I’ll set it up,” Lottie says. “Ellie was telling me that Derek is a total foodie. I’ll bet he takes you somewhere that will blow your mind.”
“Which means I need to pack some dresses for a date or two,” Kelsey says with excitement.
Fucking... great.
Just what I need, to stay in the penthouse for two weeks while Kelsey goes out on dates withDerek.
This is going to be a fucking fantastic trip.
ChapterNine
KELSEY
Meant to Be Podcast
Rowan and Bonnie
Kelsey:Welcome, listener, to theMeant to Be Podcast, where we talk to madly-in-love couples about the way they met. Rowan and Bonnie, thank you so much for joining me today. Please, tell us how you met.
Bonnie:I was in a towel, and he was a voyeur in my kitchen, waiting to catch a glimpse.
Rowan:Jesus. That’s not what happened.
Bonnie:Were you or were you not in my kitchen uninvited?
Rowan:I was in me maw’s house. She neglected to tell me two lasses were renting the cottage.
Bonnie:Still, you were there and I was in a towel. I tried to shoo him away with a broom, but he wouldn’t leave.
Kelsey:A broom, always a good weapon.
Bonnie:Not for a stubborn Scot.
Rowan:Want to talk about stubborn? Shall we talk about your laundry list of stubbornness?
Bonnie:Not necessary, dear. Back to the story—of course I thought he was attractive, I mean, look at him, how could you not? But, man, was he grumpy.
Kelsey:What were you doing in Scotland?
Bonnie:Oh, my friend and I took a job with Rowan’s mom. They needed someone to watch over their coffee shop, and housing was included. We both needed a change of scenery, so we jumped on the idea. We were hired. But I wasn’t prepared for the kind of repairs the coffee shop needed, nor the challenging glare from Rowan with every step I took.
Kelsey:So, you two were enemies to lovers, then.
Rowan:Aye. Very much enemies.
