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He stretched his long body in the booth. “Don’t look so shocked. You think you’re untouchable, Andie. But you’re not.”
I scooted away on the banquette. “What’s going on with your parents?”
Will’s face smoothed over. “What do you mean?”
“They never look at each other.” A dark urge made me want to needle him. “Rose is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and Richard doesn’t seem to notice.”
Will’s green eyes moved over me until my skin prickled.
“Are you taking notes?” he asked calmly. “Is this going to be the next big exposé?”
“No. I’m just — curious.”
He flashed me a brilliant smile. “Aren’t you always. I remember your article, sweet cousin. All those years ago, after I took you to that party. You got some attention for it, didn’t you? Got people buzzing. But nothing you’ve written since has done that well. Maybe that’s why you’re here this summer.”
I squeezed my glass of wine. “So you did read it. You’ve seen my other work too.”
Will shrugged. “You sent it to me. Obviously you wanted me to. But you left out so many details.”
I flushed hot, pressing the glass to my cheek.
“You’re a good writer, Andie. You just need the right…material.” His finger trailed along my bare knee.
I pulled back. How could he toy with me so heartlessly when he’d been part of the problem?
“That’s not why I’m here,” I snapped. “I’m not going to write about you. In fact, I’ve stopped writing, period. So don’t flatter yourself.”
A slight pucker appeared between Will’s eyebrows and quickly vanished. “Then why’d you come?” He gave me a brilliant smile. “Is it your insatiable…ambition?”
Under the table, a large hand slipped beneath my dress to squeeze my thigh.
My face blazed. I gripped his wrist. “Will, we’re in public.”
“Damn right.” He nodded at the hanging velvet curtains. “But don’t worry, Andie. It’s just you and me in here.” His thumb rubbed slow circles on my inner thigh. “You know, my mom wanted to be a writer once.”
“Aunt Rose?”
“Sure. She wrote a novel, got my dad to shop it around to his connections. It was about a shallow, social-climbing woman who married a man for his money. He proceeded to fuck around with barely legal girls. She did everything she could to stay young while refusing to allow her husband in her bed. They had a perfect son who was their pride and joy. And they both lived happily ever after. Write what you know, they say.”
I tried to read his face, but his eyes were shuttered. When I stared too long, he took a swallow of bourbon.
“Well, good for her.” I folded my arms, trying to ignore his slow touches. “Did she get a cease-and-desist letter from Richard’s lawyers too?”
Will’s face went blank. “What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“No.” His gaze moved over me until I glanced away. “I don’t.”
I sipped my wine, staring into the pale gold liquid that swirled in the glass. Was it possible he was telling the truth?
“Andie, look at me,” he said softly. “Why did you ask me that?”
If Will had nothing to do with the letter, that meant Richard, or someone who worked for him, had searched for and found my article. It meant they were keeping tabs on me. Watching me. I didn’t want to think about that.
I played with my napkin, finally forcing myself to meet Will’s eyes. “It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago.” My cousin raised an eyebrow, but I jumped in before he could speak. “Did you read it? Your mom’s book?”
“Mm-hm.” His beautiful mouth relaxed into a smirk. “It was fucking terrible. But you? You’re talented.”
