apart. A mere second later, the door swung open, and my wife barged in. She stopped short and stared from August to me.
Panic clawed at me, but a glance in August’s direction showed how composed he was. I took a deep breath, trying to equal August’s calm veneer.
Faith and I needed to have words later. She’d failed twice today in alerting me of a visitor.
“Hi, honey.” She stepped farther into the room, her eyes fixed on August. “You’re one of Declan’s sons-in-law, right?”
“That’s right. I’m Auggie.”
She held out her hand. The predatory look in her eyes bothered me more than it should.
“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.” I frowned at the way she smiled at August, blinking her long eyelashes at him. She was flirting with him, and normally I wouldn’t care, but…this was August. I was up for sharing a baby with Poppy, but I wasn’t willing to share the same man.
He was mine. So not mine. Yes, he was. The conflicting thoughts rolling through my mind didn’t help at all.
Which was true, and which was the lie?
“Call me Poppy.” She giggled. “I didn’t know you were so friendly with Charles.”
“Actually, I just came by to drop off something for Declan. I should go.”
“Well, it was nice meeting you.”
“Same.” August nodded at me. “Charles, I’ll see you around.”
Now why did that sound more like a promise than anything else?
He closed the door behind him, and I returned my attention to Poppy, who smiled at me.
I sighed. “For the last time, nothing is going on between us.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t say anything. You can have your boy toy if I can have other men. Maybe we could even share?”
Over my dead body. I didn’t want her anywhere near August.
“Don’t be twisted. That’s my son’s son-in-law you’re talking about. Leave him alone.”
“Well, it’s not like we’re family. And I think he might be interested. No harm in a little flirting.”
“I said to leave him alone, Poppy,” I snapped, heat rising in my face at how possessive I was acting. “August is off-limits. It might be through marriage, but we’re family. Now let’s go to your appointment.”
Chapter 26
Auggie
“You don’t have to go right away, you know,” Dad said, entering the guest bedroom where I’d been staying for the past two and a half weeks. Lucky, who had kept by their side since they arrived a couple of hours ago, trotted in after Dad.
The little traitor acted like he was starved for attention when we both knew differently.
“I know, Dad, and thanks, but I’ve been getting too used to this rich lifestyle. Now I need to remind myself that it’s yours and not mine.”
I was, of course, teasing him, but Dad’s face turned red. He probably would never be completely at ease with the money he’d married into. It was good to know money wouldn’t change him from being the wonderful father and overall kind man he was.
He was positively glowing with a tan from his honeymoon. He looked happier than I’d ever seen him, like he didn’t have a care in the world. Knowing how tough things had been for him, raising three kids, I couldn’t be happier for him.
“Hey, I’m still broke.” He sat on the bed. An expensive looking platinum bracelet flashed from his wrist. “My husband’s the one with the money.”
“But you’ll be famous one day with your book.”
He chuckled uncertainly. “Honestly, I want to give it a rest, but Declan insists I keep writing and contacting agents.”
“Why don’t you let him help you?” Even as I asked the question, I already knew the answer. Like father like son.
“Because I want the satisfaction of knowing I’m good enough to be wanted as a talent without my husband’s interference.”
“You say that a lot.” I zipped up my suitcase.
“Say what?”
“My husband.” I mimicked his voice to the best of my ability.
He laughed. “It’s just so…so…” He shrugged, and I walked over to the bed and sat beside him.
“So magical?”
“There seem to be some magical qualities to our romance, right?”
“No magic, Dad. Just Declan recognizing that you’re the best. How was Greece?”
“Beautiful.” He lit up with whatever memory he was thinking of. “So was Amsterdam. Of course the first couple of days, we barely left our resort.”
I laughed when he looked horrified at his confession. “Don’t worry, Dad. I get it. It was your honeymoon.”
“It was truly beautiful. Now I want all my children to have their own Declan.”
“What?” My laugh intensified. “A handsome, wealthy businessman with his private jet?”