came back,” Cal answered before Jess could. “He has no other friends.”
“He has me.” I grinned.
“Yeah, but you’re a girl.”
“Your point?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Married men need a trustworthy male friend to be able to complain about their wives. Ouch.” Cal chuckled. “Jess just hit me.”
“You deserved it.” She stole the phone back, still giggling. “We’re thinking of coming back next week. But we should all come back here. The islands are stunning, and the diving is amazing.”
“I’ve never been diving.” I couldn’t tear my eyes off Sully as he ran his fingers through his unruly dark hair, the ends once again sun-bleached from swimming in salt and living in sunshine.
How was that creature mine? How was his huge diamond on my finger and his marriage vows locked around my heart, binding us for eternity?
It honestly didn’t seem possible. Especially considering I was sprawled, relaxed and happy, on the very same couch where Sully had sat and commanded I sit on his two fingers after force-feeding me libido-brutalising elixir when we first met.
Sully suddenly sat up, clicking the mouse and skimming something on his computer screen. Pika squawked and spied his opportunity to rip off a laptop key and toss it to the ground.
Sully looked up, catching my gaze. “Tell them we won’t be here next week.”
I sat up, interrupting Skittle’s snooze. She yawned and fluffed up her feathers, tickling my neck. “Wait. Why?”
“What is it? What’s going on?” Jess asked.
“Apparently, we won’t be here next week,” I said, still looking at Sully for more information.
He cocked his head, a half-smile on his face. The fact that he was smiling hinted the reason we weren’t going to be here was a good thing. At least nothing urgent or unfortunate was dragging us away from our sanctuary.
“I’ll call you later and fill you in.” I stood from the couch and made my way to Sully’s side.
Pika flew to my shoulder to head bump Skittles while Sully looped his arm around my hips, pulling me into him and typing one-handed with the other.
“Okay, be safe, you two.” Jess blew kisses down the phone. “Speak to you soon.”
“Can I speak to Sinclair super quick?” Cal asked, once again commandeering the phone from his wife. “Just so I don’t have to worry about his ass?”
“Sure.” Passing the phone to Sully, I mouthed, “It’s Cal.”
Sully rolled his eyes, taking the cell. “Yes, we’re leaving. Yes, everything is fine. Yes, we’ll be back in a few days. And no, there’s nothing to panic about.”
Cal muttered something that I couldn’t hear, making Sully chuckle. “All you need to concern yourself with is keeping Jessica happy. Which for you might be hard, seeing as you’re so disagreeable and all.”
Cal’s voice rose, but I still couldn’t catch the male banter. Ever since Sully allowed the lines to blur from long-time employee and sometimes confidant to partners and best friends, he and Cal entered word wars that sometimes lasted for months with quips and slurs.
Jess and I stayed out of it.
After all, male bickering was a sport I had no business in understanding, just like Sully and Cal would never appreciate the silent looks Jess and I indulged in that could hold entire conversations and normally ended in knowing nods or conspiratorial giggles.
“We’re going to England,” Sully said, “to visit a friend.”
Cal’s questions fired back, and Sully answered good-naturedly, “I’m taking my wife and going to a ball, if you must know. A masquerade.”
While Sully nodded and listened to whatever Cal regaled, I skimmed the email on his screen.
From [email protected]
Subject: An invitation
Hello, Sullivan,
My wife and I are hosting a masquerade this weekend and would like to extend an invitation. I’m aware it’s short notice, and I’m also aware this is not your scene. However, I’m still waiting to meet the new Mrs Sinclair, and I think it’s high time we catch up in person instead of online, don’t you?
Nila already has a gown in mind that would be perfect for Eleanor, and you are welcome to stay in any of our guest suites at Hawksridge Hall for however long you see fit.
Be a pleasure to host you.
Think about it.
The masquerade starts at 19:00 on Saturday.
Jethro
Sully laughed. “Yeah, yeah. We’ll stay in touch. See ya.” He hung up and squeezed me close. “So? Fancy going to a dance?”
“Where?”
“In an ancient castle where a bunch of scandalous events and history happened.”
I smiled as Pika and Skittles fluttered from my shoulder to the bird feeder outside, chasing away the flock of resident