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Has something to do.
Then maybe I should let Bastian come along. Is that okay with you? Or would you rather it’s just the two of us?
He hated small talk, but meeting Remy’s brother might prove to be a good distraction—like working was. At any rate, it’d probably be better than probing what he was currently feeling, which was what would happen if they went alone.
Sure, bring him. It’s kind of funny that I’m meeting him before I meet my future brother-in-law, but...
What can I say? Remy’s trying to set the world on fire. That doesn’t leave room for much else.
What does Bastian do for a living?
We’ll let him explain it to us tonight.
19
Ismay could tell that Bastian was out to show Jack a good time. Instead of letting her spend time alone with her brother, he’d insisted they all go to an expensive restaurant neither she nor Jack would’ve chosen, made a big show of picking up the check, and then coerced them into going to a different restaurant to cap off the night with a final drink—or in Jack’s case, dessert. Ismay was glad Remy’s brother was on his best behavior and seemed to be welcoming Jack to the island, but she was anxious about Bastian discovering Jack was staying with Bo. She’d had her brother meet them at the first restaurant as though he’d just walked down the street from Hotel Mariners, so if Bastian found out, she’d look pretty ridiculous.
The possibility kept Ismay from enjoying herself. But it wasn’t just that. All afternoon, she’d been uneasy about the exchange between Bo and Honey at lunch. She wanted to talk to him about what it meant that the girl in the picture had died in a house fire. With Jack at Bo’s side almost every moment, however, she hadn’t had the opportunity. She hoped they could talk later tonight, that maybe he’d meet her on the beach again.
So she laughed and talked and went through the motions of enjoying herself while Bastian reveled in the attention. He loved having an audience, did most of the talking, and didn’t seem to realize that she and Jack were growing tired of listening. Afraid he might go on all night, regaling them with story after story, she yawned and stretched before he could order yet another drink. “I think I’m ready to call it a night, Bastian. Jack must still be jet-lagged, too.”
“We can drop him by his hotel on our way back to the cottage,” Bastian said.
“Actually, we’d like to call our parents and check in with them, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to hang out with him for a bit.”
He didn’t seem happy she wasn’t planning to go back with him. He liked to be the one in charge.
Somewhat reluctantly, Bastian drained his glass, tossed some cash on the table, and stood. But he was unsteady enough she decided it wouldn’t be safe to let him drive. “Why don’t you take an Uber, and I’ll bring the Jeep?”
“Why?” he countered.
She used the app on her phone to request a ride. “You’ve had much more to drink than I have.”
“I’m fine,” he insisted, wearing a skeptical expression. “I can drive.”
“There’s no need for you to.” She showed him her phone. “Look, I’ve already called for a ride.”
She guessed he would’ve given her more of an argument but having the Uber on its way put a decisive end to the question, and she was grateful he accepted it. She didn’t want him to get belligerent and cause a scene at the restaurant as she tried to fight him for the keys.
Fortunately, he handed them over without further dispute.
“You’ll be coming back soon?” he asked as they waited on the curb for his ride.
“Pretty soon,” she replied. She wasn’t going to let him hold her to anything.
“See you when you get home.”
With any luck he’d be asleep, but she nodded and smiled as she sent him off. Then she turned to her brother. “Thank God.”
“No kidding,” Jack grumbled. “That dude’s a pompous ass. Don’t tell me Remy is anything like him.”
“No, they’re very different.” At least in most regards. Remy wasn’t a braggart, but he could be selfish—not that she wanted to get that specific.
Jack jerked his head toward the Windsors’ vehicle. “Nice move on getting the Jeep.”
She pressed the fob that would unlock the doors. “I couldn’t let him drive like that.”
“Dude thinks he can do anything,” Jack said.
