so beastly to me? Does she really just not like me?”
“What she didn’t like was you flirting with her girlfriend.”
“Flirting with— I wasn’t flirting with Mila!” I cried.
“From the many rants I had to listen to, you were sharing desserts, taking her out scuba diving, skipping off to the bar every other night, walking around linked at the hip, and putting on shoes that made her tingly.”
My jaw sank with every word.
“Lilah wasn’t a big fan of you publicly doing with her girlfriend all the things she wanted to do.”
“Why did she single me out? Mila has lots of friends who were doing the same.”
“It’s the curse of our kind, babe, which I tried to explain to her. A siren smiles in your direction and you think they’re trying to light your loins on fire. She didn’t trust you with her girlfriend after you stole her fiancé.”
“I don’t even know what to say to that,” I mumbled.
Preston shrugged, smiling down at me. “It all worked out, didn’t it? They have each other. And I have you.”
“Did it?” I asked. “What if she can’t stop him, Preston? Her father promised to cut her off and rip your legacy from you. What is she going to do to save you now that she couldn’t do before?”
“That is something me, my mom, and our army of lawyers will figure out tomorrow,” he said. Preston nipped my nose right back. “Today, I have nothing standing in the way of being with you. An apartment in the middle of our schools. You and me coming back to the cove for Christmas. Going on a backpacking trip to the fashion and art capitals of the world. Today we get to do what we couldn’t. Plan our future together.”
I closed my eyes, seeing that future play out in sharp, clear focus, and I wanted it so badly it made my knees weak.
“But we can’t,” I whispered. “Why do you guys keep doing this to me? Teasing me with a life I can’t have.”
“Because we will have it, Belle. I know you’ve been given every reason to despair and none to hope. But that’s why you fell for the three of us. We’ve got more than enough for you. It’s okay that you can’t see our future, love. Because I can, and I won’t stop until I make it yours.”
My cheeks were wet. Preston kissed them, taking my tears onto himself. It seemed like I fell for them, so they could crack my tough-girl exterior. “I can see it, Preston. That’s why it hurts so much.”
“Mal won’t have you, Belle.”
Leaning back, I hung off his shoulder. “You will?”
“No, you will. Your life, choices, and decisions will be your own and I’ll give anything to see that happen.” He winked. “You’re hopelessly in love with me, so I feel safe about being a part of that future.”
I hummed. “I confirm your chances are good. As long as you don’t lose your looks.”
“It’s cracks like those that get you spanked, baby. You know it’s coming but go for it anyway.”
Happiness burst and popped inside me as I was dipped—my squeal swallowed by hungry lips.
Preston lifted and set me on my seat. The chef’s assistant popped her head out just in time.
“Morning, Preston. Belle. What can we get you today?”
“Just scrambled eggs and toast for me, please,” I said. “With a side of fruit.”
“Make it four,” Preston added. “Nathan and Carter will be down soon.”
Slipping out of my shoes, I popped my feet on his lap and received a foot massage for my trouble. I melted in my chair, soaking in the sun.
“If you can see our future too,” Preston began, “what do our kids look like?”
“Dangerously adorable. We keep them inside for their own protection. They’ll be too stealable.”
Amusement laced his voice. “What about our home? Where do we live?”
“Carter moved from Hawk’s Bay near you guys in Ashford. Bracknell isn’t too far from there. I think we stay close by.”
“Even if your parents move to England?”
“We can split our time after all this forced-marriage nonsense is over and the real Cecilia and Tobias return.” Just like that, Preston had me talking about our future. “Both our careers will take us to Europe and around the world. We’ll stay with them when we travel.”
“I’m taking you to a ridiculous amount of art galleries.” He dug into a spot on my foot that left me boneless. “I’m building up a thick skin to weather the trashing of my favorite artists.”