His hands go up in mock innocence. “Would I do such a thing?”
I bolt out of my seat and stand over him and Troy. “Out. Both of you. I’m not your wife. I’m not even your girlfriend. I’m an arranged fiancée and I owe you nothing.”
I’m proud of my little speech, which was delivered with just the right amount of ferocity.
A car door slams outside, followed by two more. My roommates are home.
Edmund stands smoothly, and Troy follows suit. Finally, they’re listening.
I march to the door and open it for them. Edmund steps out, but I stop Troy with a hand on his chest.
“Thanks for today,” I whisper.
“Anytime, Dani.”
Standing on tiptoes, I still can’t reach his mouth with mine. I grip his shoulders to tug him toward me, then press my lips to his.
He groans into my kiss, his arms banding around my waist to tug me closer.
A wolf whistle from one of my roommates reminds me that we have more than just Edmund as an audience. I pull back out of the kiss. “See you later?”
He nods and cups my cheek. When he steps away, I notice Edmund hesitating on the walkway.
“Bye.” I give Edmund a sarcastic finger wave. My mom would disapprove of such a rude send-off, and the thought makes me smile.
My roommates all scramble into the house, going on about the human remains found at the lake, and all the speculation surrounding who the remains could belong to. Blessedly, they don’t ask about my kiss with Troy. Maybe they didn’t see clearly what was happening, or they thought I was kissing Edmund.
I feel separate from their chatter—I’m too focused on the men outside.
Edmund’s green eyes never leave mine as the door closes after my roommates, blocking Troy and Edmund from my view.
11
Troy
“Manchester.” Caleb sits next to me at the bar. The bartender—a relatively new guy since our last one was poached by the Vorsongs—brings him a beer.
Ernest’s is a quiet bar in the business area of Salding. Dark wood, low but tasteful lighting, artsy paintings on the wall. It’s popular with the Layton family and the guys like me and Caleb who work for them. I should’ve known I wouldn’t get a lot of peace here.
I nod at him. “Morraine.”
He makes a show of looking around the dark-paneled room. “Where’s your guy?”
“Working.” I don’t let on that Edmund’s in Mirarosa, checking out Caleb’s security measures. Again.
“Ah.” If Caleb bothered that I’m not more forthcoming, he doesn’t show it. “He seems really into the Aseyev girl.”
Hell. Now we’re gossiping? “What makes you say that?”
“He nearly killed his cousins at the engagement party.”
I snort. “They probably deserved it.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Caleb doesn’t sound convinced. “You guys sharing her?”
“Fuck you, mind your own business.”
“So you are.” He smirks and catches the eye of a black-haired woman sitting on the other end of the bar. “Or you were. And you like her, too. That sucks, man. Edmund never struck me as the kind of guy to share his favorite toys for very long.”
