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To the man’s credit, he does his best to look reprimanding, but I guess I know him pretty well by now, too—because I see through his menacing act in an instant.
“No need to sweet-talk me, Kat. You already got what you wanted,” he says, but his right hand rests on the small of my back as I brush a kiss against his lips. “Go talk to Erin. But, for the love of God, be careful. We’re outnumbered at least two dozen to one tonight.”
“Your wish is my command.”
Nik grips my wrist. “I’m serious. Don’t tell her anything you wouldn’t want McGuire to know.”
“I won’t. Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I’ll be right back.”
Nik stares at me for a moment longer before letting me go.
I try to appear casual as I approach McGuire’s daughter. Erin is leaning against the terrace’s ornate balustrade, with her soft brown hair displayed over her back in long waves. She doesn’t see me approach as she stares off into the distance.
“Hi there,” I say in my most friendly tone as I lean against the railing beside her. “You’re Erin, right? Your dad was just telling me all about you. I’m Kat Devereaux.”
Erin McGuire stares at my outstretched hand, looking slightly startled and confused. After blinking her big, green eyes at me a couple of times, she takes my hand and shakes it. Her firm grip surprises me.
“Oh, hi,” she says. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure’s mine, I assure you,” I reply with a smile. “Your dad mentioned you’ve been spending most of your time here since the renovation was completed. I must say, I’m jealous. You live in a beautiful home.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you to say.” Erin’s tone and expression are thoroughly polite, but it’s clear her mind is elsewhere.
“Of course. I don’t blame you for not wanting to go back to the city. I wouldn’t want to spend my summer away from this place, either.”
The aloof beauty nods absentmindedly before giving me a polite smile. “Yeah, I think I’ll be here for a while. I can’t go back yet.” Almost as an afterthought, she sighs.
“No one would blame you for wanting to say. I’m sure there’s so much to do around these parts in the summer. Obviously, your dad’s into sailing, but what about you? What do you like to do for fun?”
“Fun?” she repeats with a frown, blinking. “I guess—I walk a lot. I mean, I take long walks by the water. Sometimes I swim, too.”
“So you’re the outdoorsy type, huh?” I smile. “Well, that sounds like a good time.”
“You’d think.” She shrugs. “I saw you earlier with Nikolai. Are you his date?”
“I think you could say that. Do you know Nik well?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. But we’ve known each other for a while. He’s a good guy.”
“I’m starting to think so, too,” I reply, and she gives me a mystified look.
“Have you been together for long? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him bring a date anywhere before.” I file that interesting tidbit of information for later.
“No, not for long. To be honest with you, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind affair.”
“Oh.” She frowns slightly, blinking at me again. Her eyes are a fascinating shade of pale green. “That’s…a little unexpected, I think. That doesn’t sound like him, but I guess you must be very special.”
Erin McGuire has the good manners and social graces of a princess, but it’s obvious she’s a little out of practice when it comes to socializing.
I laugh. “I guess I must be. Thank you. I think.”
With a shake of her head, she sighs. “I’m so sorry. That was indelicate of me. I didn’t mean to—you must forgive me.”
“Oh, no need to apologize. You didn’t insult me or anything. Besides, you do have a point. It doesn’t sound like him, does it? I guess I am special.”
For the first time tonight, she smiles. It’s the slightest, almost imperceptible twitch of her lips—but a smile, nonetheless. “Yeah. I think you are.”
“Well, that’s sweet of you to say, Erin. I’m sorry, but I have to ask—for someone who claims not to know Nik well, you seem to know a lot about what sounds like him or not. Anything I should worry about?”
