Page 136 of In Love and Revenge

Something cold tightens around my windpipe.

Of course she hasn’t found a client with that name.

Because Larkhay isn’t a client.

It’s a place.

And I know exactly where to find out more.

‘Hey. Didn’t know you were dropping by.’ Dom gives me a wide smile as he opens the front door to his townhouse.

‘Would you have been home if you knew I was coming?’ I grit.

He laughs and ushers me inside. I follow him to the rear of the house and into the large, bright open-plan kitchen and living area that spans the width of the property.

‘Drink?’ he asks, opening the fridge and grabbing a soda.

‘Not for me.’

I look around the room, my eyes settling on a sideboard with a picture of him and his wife on their wedding day.

‘Twenty-five years,’ he comments.

‘Congratulations,’ I reply without enthusiasm.

He slurps the soda from the can, leaning back against the counter.

‘How are things?’ he asks.

‘Things are good,’ I reply. ‘How about you? You been out to the cottage recently?’

He pushes a hand back through his silvery hair, his eyes crinkling with a smile. ‘Nah, not as much as I’d like. We’re renting it out as an Airbnb.’

‘Really? Since when?’

He shrugs. ‘Few months.’

‘Is that so?’ I murmur. ‘You never told me that.’

He chuckles. ‘I know you didn’t come over here to talk about holiday homes. What’s eating you, Rafe?’

‘Actually, I did want to talk holiday homes. When did you last go there?’ I ask.

Dom’s brows hitch with intrigue. ‘Is this about that hot little blonde you were with last time I saw you?’

I clench my fists at the way his eyes gleam. ‘Aurora.’

‘Aurora,’ he purrs. ‘How old is she?’

‘Twenty-five.’

Dom chuckles. ‘You lucky bastard.’ He puts his soda down and holds his hands out. ‘Sure. As soon as the guests are gone, the place is yours. Have some time away from the city with her. Get the champagne out in the hot tub after dark. Must be the bubbles that makes the girls horny. Always works.’ He winks.

‘Even when they’re not your wife, eh? What happens at Larkhay stays at Larkhay,’ I say.

He grins like I made a joke. ‘Exactly. Aurora will love it there.’

‘Did Ella?’