Owen’s grip tightened on his glass. “Stop theorizing.”
“Am I wrong?”
“You’re asking questions that could get people killed.” Owen’s voice turned dangerously cold. “Focus on the present, not the past. Some secrets are meant to stay buried.”
“And what about Iris? She deserves to know what she’s walked into.”
“She deserves to be safe. They both do.” Owen met Felix’s eyes steadily. “That’s all that matters now.”
Felix leaned forward. “She doesn’t trust you, you know. Can’t say I blame her.”
“I know.”
“Do you? Because you’re doing a poor job of changing that.” Felix signaled for another round. “I’ve just come from your house. She looks exhausted. Beautiful, but exhausted. Like she’s carrying the world on her shoulders.”
The casual mention of Iris’s beauty sent an unexpected spike of… something through Owen. He took a larger swallow of his brandy than intended.
“She’s adjusting to motherhood,” he said carefully.
“She’s drowning.” Felix’s usual humor had vanished entirely. “And you’re letting her because you’re too scared to get close enough to throw her a line.”
“You don’t understand?—”
“Then explain it. Because all I see is my cousin falling apart while her husband plays chess with investments and ignores what is going on in his home.”
Owen set down his glass with excessive care. “What would you have me do? Pretend I’m capable of being what she needs?”
“I’d have you try. God knows you can’t do worse than remaining absent.”
They drank in silence for a moment. Around them, other gentlemen conducted quiet business. Their low murmurs provided cover for difficult conversations.
“Can I ask you something?” Felix said suddenly. “Something inappropriate?”
“Could I stop you?”
“Probably not.” Felix grinned briefly. “Have you bedded her?”
Owen choked on his brandy. “That’s none of your business.”
“So that’s a no.” Felix nodded sagely.
“Halston—”
“Felix. We’re drinking together. Christian names are appropriate.” He studied Owen with disconcerting shrewdness. “You want her, though. Iris.”
It wasn’t a question.
Owen thought of last night’s kiss, the sweet taste of her, and the way she’d melted against him. His hands tightened around his glass.
“What I want is irrelevant.”
“Christ, you’re exhausting.” Felix shook his head. “Do you know what she said to me today? That her instincts are compromised. You’ve got her so twisted up that she doesn’t know which way is up.”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
“No? Then what was your intention when you kissed her?”
Owen went very still. “She told you?”
