Lilly smiles kindly. “Don’t worry, Dan’s not as charming as he thinks he is.”
“Oi,” I shout.
Rose gives me a dry look. “He’s a better liar than charmer, that’s for sure.” She says it like a joke, but her arms are crossed and her glare could curdle cream.
I can’t stop the smug smile from forming. Seems my flower has a jealous streak.
Violet snorts. “Ooh, I like her.”
“I’m Lilly,” she says, one hand on her lower back and the other resting on her bump. “Due in two months and about to eat someone if Shane doesn’t bring food back soon.”
Rose nods, taking it all in. “Congratulations. You look ready to burst.”
Lilly laughs. “Tell me about it. I can’t even see my own feet.”
Poppy pushes off the counter, examining Rose more closely. “You look familiar. Did you used to work at the London casino? The posh one in the East End?”
Rose freezes and glances back at me. My spine bristles as if I feel everything she does, her bright blue eyes widening like someone just yanked the emergency slide mid-flight and is about to spill all her secrets.
“I’d hardly call the casino posh,” I shout from the table, trying to break the tension as I unpack a few things from my bag.
Rose fiddles with the hem of her flight attendant jacket. “I’ve never worked in London.”
She’s not lying, just omitting the part where she was married to the owner.
Poppy blinks. “Oh. You must have one of those faces.”
Rose shrugs. “Apparently.”
Lilly waves a hand in the air. “Don’t worry about it, Grace. Everyone knows Poppy’s face. She was onCrimewatch TV. Made the most wanted list.”
“Really?” Rose looks at me as if for confirmation.
“My brother didn’t know what he was letting himself in for, did he, Pops?”
Rose huffs and crosses her arms over her pink blouse. “Probably after the reward money, if he’s anything like you.”
Poppy isn’t the only one watching Rose closely now, but it’s Violet who speaks next, lips curling. “So… are you and Dan…?”
Rose lets out a humourless laugh. “Definitely not.”
That one lands like a slap to my face.
“She’s just here for the view,” I say as I pull off my top and walk into my room for a clean shirt.
Buttoning up my shirt, I hear the front door click and the guys enter as I walk down the hall.
Dom’s balancing coffee trays, Shane’s carrying a brownbag as if it’s a newborn, and Kane’s got that look like he already regrets coming.
“Breakfast is here,” Shane announces. “Extra sausage, extra cheese, hash browns, and the gherkins you wanted.”
Lilly lights up. “I love you more every day.”
He presses a kiss to her forehead as she tears into the sausage muffin like a woman possessed.
Dom shoots me a quick look before nodding at Rose. “You must be the reason he ditched us last night.” He says it lightly, but there’s an edge of interest in his tone.
I clear my throat. “Yeah, last night was eventful.”
