who stood making small talk with Vanni across the room.
Apparently, she knew something I didn’t know. “He’s going to stop touring?”
She shrugged. “He said when you roll with the Duke of Mayhem, it’s best to have a contingency plan.” She leaned closer. “Queen Maeve really wants Auggie to give up the music and take the throne. Because he’s the last eligible heir from the House of Quinn, the House of Byrne will take over if she ever steps down or dies. Apparently, it’s a whole thing.”
My eyebrows arched. “Sounds like you’ve been getting more information than I have.”
“Don’t say anything,” she said, squeezing my arm. “I know they’re not supposed to say anything. But…,” she trailed off.
“Pillow talk,” I supplied. She nodded with a grin and a slight blush. Her eyes became dreamy.
“I’m in love, Pea. I know we just met and it’s totally insane but that thing that was always missing before? It’s there now. Every time he touches me. Every time he looks my way.”
“Every time he says hello,” I said, my eyes traveling to Auggie.
“Yeah,” she said. “It’s more than the money and the title. When I’m in his arms, I feel like I’m home.” She turned to me. “I’ve seen enough movies with Mom to know that this romance has an expiration date, not a happy ending. But I’m going to ride it for all its worth until then. Some things only happen once in a lifetime.”
“And being loved by a Count is one of them.”
She giggled and got all giddy again. I envied her total abandon.
I walked her to Gav, who brightened when he saw her. He stood taller, his smile widened, the look in his eyes deepened as he scanned her face. He was just as smitten as she was. Personally, I didn’t see why they couldn’t have a happily ever after. The only complication I could see was that she’d have to move half the world away from the rest of us.
With McPhees, that’s not necessarily a complication. Mom and Dad could just find some caretaking gig in Aldayne.
None of us had lived there yet.
Best part: it was half the world away from Christopher Tyler. I touched my tummy, thinking of my little Peanut. We could live anywhere.
I handed my sister over to her new love, bending in to kiss him on the cheek to demonstrate my blessing. He was kind and funny and accomplished, but the only accomplishment that mattered to me was that he made Fern feel like the queen she was.
It had taken her 32 years to find him. I was happy for them both.
I glanced over to Auggie, who laughed heartily at something Vanni had said. I smiled to myself, wondering if I should give myself over to the same abandon as my sister. I wasn’t looking for a wedding ring or a picket fence anyway, much less a castle. But the fire was there between us.
What could it hurt to dance a little within the flame?
I walked over to where he stood. This time, it was me who said, “Hello.”
He turned towards my voice, those eyes engulfing mine. “Hello,” he said with a smile. He pulled me into the circle of their conversation.
“Giovanni, I would like to introduce Peaches McPhee. Peaches, this is Vanni.”
I took his outstretched hand. “Oh, I know Vanni,” I smiled. “I went to see Dreaming in Blue for my 20th birthday.”
“Not possible,” Vanni grinned. “I wasn’t touring yesterday.” I laughed and he bent forward to kiss my cheek. “It’s so nice to meet you, Peaches. I’ve heard a great deal about you.”
I glanced at Auggie with an arched eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
Vanni laughed. “Not from this guy. You can’t get anything out of the prince here.”
Auggie laughed as well. It was clear they had a warm, cordial relationship.
“Don’t believe everything you read on the socials,” I advised with a grin.
Auggie wrapped his arm around me, pulling me into a side hug. “Or do,” he smirked.
My heart skipped a beat. God, he made it hard to be good. Or smart.
Vanni turned to his side, where a beautiful young brunette stood. “This is Meghan Lawless. My assistant.”
I recognized her immediately. “I remember you from Vindication,” I said, referring to a hit show.
She laughed. “Oh, please. I was on that show for a minute.” She looked up at Vanni like most girls, a starry-eyed groupie. “This is what I’m doing now.”
He laughed. “She keeps me together on the road. I couldn’t do it without her.”
“And how’s your wife?”