Page 56 of Wicked Heat

“I am right, though,” she says.

“About what?”

“Ash. Even if you don’t take his money, you really should take the deal.”

“Aria!”

“Love you! Bye!”

And then she’s gone, leaving me standing there staring at my phone.

“Miss Bree.”

I jump a mile, then turn to find the Starks’ butler, house manager, valet, and all-around Go-To guy, standing behind me.

“Gregory. I’m so sorry to barge in. I was visiting Ash and⁠—”

I cut myself off with a shake of my head. “Honestly, he pissed me off, so I decided to come get a coffee. I should have buzzed you. Old habits.”

“Nonsense,” he says as I bend to retrieve my latte from the table. “You’re always welcome. Would you care for another?”

“Thanks.” I clear my throat as I follow him to the kitchen. “Can I ask you a question?”

He stops in front of the coffee machine and starts it brewing. “Of course.”

“Right. Thanks. So, I was wondering. What do you think of Ash?”

Gregory nods, as if organizing his thoughts. “I’ve found him to be a charming young man. Though I confess it took a bit of time to get there.”

We share a smile. Gregory’s old enough to be my grandfather, but we became friends when I was working as the Starks’ nanny.

“But you’ve known him as long as I have,” Gregory adds. “Is there a particular reason you need my judgment in addition to yours?”

Because I’m a little baby who apparently can’t make her own decisions?

True, but I decide not to tell him that part. “I guess—well, I know him, but I’m not sure I know him. I take a seat at the table. “And, well, I have a problem he’s said he can help me with.” I swallow, then look down, talking to the tabletop instead of Gregory. “The thing is, he wants something kind of major in return.”

Gregory puts the fresh latte in front of me, then settles himself across the table, his hands folded in front of him. “I see.”

Clearly, he doesn’t. Not fully. But I’m not inclined to enlighten him.

“Is he trustworthy?” I ask. “I mean, I know Damien considers him part of the family now. And I know that Ash has apologized for the chaos he dropped when he first showed up.”

“He has indeed.”

“I guess I’m wondering about his character in general. Will he keep his word? Can he keep a secret? Is he—I mean, is he a guy who keeps his promises?”

Gregory sips his coffee, then puts his cup back down, his fingertip tapping the ceramic. “I confess I was leery when he first showed up, but he has swept all my concerns away. You know about his family situation?”

I nod, then shake my head. “Sort of. I’m not sure I know all of it.” Gregory, I’m sure, does know all of it. He’s in the know about everything that touches this house. One of the perks of being both trusted and invisible.

“It’s not my place to share that with you, but I think it’s fair to say that Mr. Stone has overcome at least as much as both Damien and Ms. Nikki. And I would rank his character on par with theirs.”

“Really?” That’s high praise. “Even if he wants—” I silence myself with a firm shake of my head. The truth is, Damien wanted the same thing, didn’t he? It was a huge scandal when the secret of his early relationship with Nikki came out. The fact that Damien wanted Nikki’s portrait—nude. And he paid her enough money for the sitting to start her own business. But it wasn’t just the portrait he wanted. For the time allotted to finish the painting, he wanted her, and that meant in every way possible.

Unconventional, but it sure worked out okay.

Gregory’s brows rise as he studies my face. “Like father like son?”