“I was surprised when she suggested it, but the more she talked about it, the more it makes sense.” He looks at Eli. “Whatever she decides to do with her money isn’t our concern.”

“I don’t give a fuck about the money,” Eli replies and shoves his hand through his hair. “You’re right. You should do it.”

“But?”

“But it’ll take you away,” he replies and looks at me with soft whiskey eyes. Eli and I have always been close. “You’ll be gone, starting these new stores, and we won’t see you often.”

“God, you sound like a girl,” Beau says, disgusted.

“Fuck you,” Eli replies, still holding my gaze. “But you should do this. I’ll help you in any way I can.”

I grin and clap my hands. “I’m doing this!”

“You’re so doing this,” Van says just as Eli’s phone beeps with an incoming call from his assistant.

“Mr. Boudreaux, your one o’clock is here.”

“Thank you.”

“I should go anyway.” I stand and settle my handbag on my shoulder. “Thanks, guys. Your support means the world to me.”

“Let’s go to lunch,” Van says. “We can talk about making a trip to Miami soon. I’d love to come with you to scout out possible locations.”

“Oh, I would love that! Let’s do it.”

We wave goodbye to our brothers and walk out of Eli’s office, and I’m suddenly face to face with Simon Danbury.

At first I think my eyes are playing tricks on me, but Van says, “Simon.” She nods her head and continues to walk, but I pause. Simon is in New Orleans.

At my brother’s office.

His amazing blue eyes blaze as his gaze rakes over me, as if he’s been starving for me, and when they meet mine again, I simply smirk and follow Van to the elevator where she’s holding it for me.

***

“Simon’s in town,” I mutter for the fiftieth time as we walk down to The Odyssey. “I don’t need food. I need to drink my lunch.”

“Agreed,” Van says as she holds the door for me and follows me into the dark bar. Callie and Adam are standing at the end of the bar, looking at an iPad.

“Hi, Callie,” I say with a wave. “I have a thousand dollars and I need to get drunk.”

Callie’s lips purse as she watches us belly up to the bar.

“Well, your money’s no good here, but I can get you good and drunk.”

“Fantastic.”

She pours us all, including herself, a shot of tequila. We clink glasses and swig them back.

“Another,” I say.

“So what are we celebrating?” Callie asks as she pours more liquor.

“Simon’s in town,” Van says.

“Are we happy about that?” Callie asks before chugging back another shot.

“Fuck no,” I reply, wrinkling my nose. “I don’t know why he’s here. He’s at Eli’s office.”

Callie laughs long and hard. “Well, he’s in for a fun afternoon because Declan was just headed that way for their Krav Maga session.”

“Oh God, they’re going to kill Simon,” I say. “I wanna watch.”

“Easy, tiger,” Van says.

“What? Maybe they’ll let me help.”

“They’re not going to kill him,” Callie says, but her voice isn’t completely certain.

“Some brothers they are,” I mutter. The alcohol is already clouding my head, and I don’t feel the knot of despair in my stomach anymore. Which is good because the knot of despair sucks.

“Oh! Declan just texted me and asked if you’re with me,” Callie says, staring at her phone. “What should I tell him?”

“Here.” I motion for her to hand me the phone and then I dial Declan’s number with it. “Don’t you dare tell Simon where I am.”

“I don’t know where you are,” he replies. I can hear the others in the background.

“I’m obviously with your wife, Einstein, I’m on her phone.” I roll my eyes and shake my head.

“Look, Simon wants to see you.”

“No.”

“He has some things to say.”

“He should have said them a month ago,” I reply and close one eye while I stare in the bottom of my empty shot glass. “I don’t want to hear his smarmy, sexy, dumb British voice.”

“Are you drunk?” Declan asks and then laughs. “That was fast.”

“I didn’t eat today. I mean it, Declan Boudreaux, don’t you tell him where I am. Or I’ll beat you up.”

“Right.”

“Tell him I won’t have sex with him,” Callie says, but then shakes her head and says, “No. Scratch that. Sex is too good.”

“Ew.” I wrinkle my nose at her. “Declan, I don’t want to know about your sex life.”

“I wasn’t telling you about my sex life. Is Callie drinking too?”

“My sisters are loyal! Of course they’re drinking with me. Callie is my sister by marriage,” I inform him, as if he didn’t know.

“I was there,” he reminds me. “Say goodbye, Charly.”

“Goodbye Charly.” I hand the phone back to Callie. “He won’t tell.”

“He’s so going to tell,” Van says. “Maybe he realizes how badly he screwed up.”

“Declan screwed up?” I ask in surprise.

“No, Simon,” Callie says with a laugh. “No more tequila for you.”