Dan hits the screen again.
“Thanks, Colby. I think Eva gets the picture. I’ll fill in the blanks.”
He doesn’t wait for Colby to respond before he ends the call.
One beat.
Two.
…
Ten.
“What now?” I complain.
“I didn’t say anything.” Dan lifts a shoulder, his eyes on the road as he indicates left toward the docks on the Thames.
“Don’t do that,” I snap. “You know I hate that.”
He gets it from Mum. She is an expert on the silent treatment, wearing me down from “packing to spend the summer backpacking with Caden” in the morning to “packing gowns and heels for galas and musicals in London” by the evening, just by acting aloof all day long. I can’t stand it.
“I’ll sign whatever you want?” Dan quotes. “Is that the same strategy you apply to Mason Grant?” He spits his name with venom.
“Can you chill? I told you, Chinese wall. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
Dan mutters something unintelligible to himself as he parks at the docks. It’s been like this since he dragged me out of Devereux Hall last night. He talked my ears off until the crack of dawn. I woke up on my bed, still in my ballgown.
But even after the whole drama, I don’t regret last night.
I shouldn’t want Mason. That’s clear. ButIdo. I can’t deny it anymore. Mason’s lethal charm, the edge of danger that radiates off him as he breaks down my defense and strips my chains, feeds my darkest desires. My brain keeps waving redflags, but my body still aches for him, even with the soreness between my legs.
The further I pushed him, the more I fell into him. And now that he’s taken the last vulnerable part of me, all I’m left with is need. I don’t know what I have with Mason. But I won’t let some archaic family dispute stop me. I’m done with Grandpa and Daniel making my decisions for me under the illusion of security.
The guards in their tinted Porsche SUVs park behind us. Pouring out and buttoning their suits in an instant.
“So polite nods and smiles for lunch, too? I have to say, you totally rocked planning my visit.”
“I have a feeling you might like this one a little better.”
I look from Dan to the Etheridge yacht, which is ready to sail at the dock, my nose scrunching in suspicion. I have been on this cruiser numerous times, but that usually involved lots of family drama and almost always ended with either Dad threatening to throw Grandpa into the Thames or vice versa, ignoring any of Mum’s attempts to keep the peace. Never successfully. The only thing Dad and Grandpa have in common is Mum.
I’m not big on water. But Dan has been ready to skipper the yacht since early teens. I hope he isn’t planning to steal it to the South of France like we did on my sixteenth birthday.Is he?He better not. This impromptu long weekend has already put me behind on my studies. Caden is going to have to work overtime to catch me up as it is, I can’t afford to miss any more lectures.
My brother chuckles at my expression and motions me out.
The yacht is quiet. Too quiet. I assumed it would be crawling with more of Dan’s elite network. That’s why my ivory skirt is silk and my top a soft, pale georgette. I even let Kate accessorize me with a long-beaded necklace.
“About time.” A familiar voice comes from the top berth. Dan and I look up and find Grace, leaning over the railing,dressed in a light yellow dress, which makes her blond hair glint in the soft sunlight.
“Seriously?” I turn to Dan. “She’smy big surprise? I see her every day.”
Then a movement below the berth catches my eye. I barely have time to yelp before a blur of fur and floppy ears launches itself at me.
“Lily,” I shriek, stumbling back as our family Beagle jumps at me, paws thumping against my chest. She nearly knocks me over before burying my face in a storm of licks.
“Down, Lily!” Valerie’s voice rings from the doorway.
But Lily’s too thrilled to listen. Wet nose and tongue rub against my cheeks as I laugh through the onslaught, sinking my fingers into her fur.
