Much Ado About You

Poppy smiled like she thought he was adorable and thankfully turned to leave. Only she did a double take toward the fireplace. “Oh, I wondered where you were, you sweet darling.” She moved toward Shadow, who sat up at her arrival and bussed into her petting hand.

For some reason her touching Shadow was almost as infuriating as her kissing Roane!

She kissed Roane.

Okay, it was on the cheek, but it was more than just a peck.

There was invitation in that kiss.

And he blushed!

I couldn’t look at him, I was so mad.

Which was unfair. I knew that. I never said I was rational every day.

This woman knew Shadow. Roane had obviously spent some time with her, and he had never mentioned her even once to me. His supposed friend.

As soon as Poppy disappeared into the other dining room, Caro cleared her throat and shot Roane a questioning look. “She’s a little full on.”

“Aye.” He side-eyed me. “But she’s just a harmless flirt.”

I scoffed inwardly and avoided his gaze by looking over to make sure Shadow was all right. He was back to sleeping. The traitor. He’d licked Poppy like he was happy to see her. “She seemed pretty familiar with Shadow.”

“She bought his affection.” Roane’s voice held amusement, which brought my gaze back to his. “Gives him a biscuit every time she sees him.”

“It must be often enough for her to carry biscuits in her pocket on the off chance of seeing him.”

Something lit up in Roane’s dark eyes as he stared at me. “She has a dog too. Hence the steady supply of biscuits.”

Realizing I was not hiding my suspicious jealousy one bit, I felt my cheeks grow heated. “Oh.”

He grinned at me. That sexy grin. “Aye. Oh.”

The bastard was pleased I was jealous!

I narrowed my eyes, which only made his grin widen.

Looking to Caro for help, I found none. She too looked inordinately pleased by my obvious covetousness of Roane and Shadow.

Feeling uncomfortably hot, I huffed in exasperation and yelled across the dining room toward the bar, “Milly, can we get served, please!”

She startled at my voice but then smirked at my tone. “Aye, keep your knickers on!”

The patrons chuckled at what they assumed was banter, and I tried to let the feeling of being an insider here soften the embarrassment I felt about being so obviously territorial of Roane.

It didn’t.

I could feel his searching gaze burning into me, and I longed for the night to be over.

* * *

• • •

Hours later, with dinner service finished, many of the tourists had dispersed and those who stayed were there to drink or socialize. Our table had expanded to Viola, Dex, and a number of the locals. Milly would join us in between serving drinks.

Conversation flew up and down the tables, but thankfully no one mentioned Caro’s big move. They did mention how blown away they were by her baking talents and succeeded in pleasing but embarrassing the poor woman into muteness.

It was getting late, and Caro looked a little pale and tired. I was just about to suggest she and I leave, when Roane’s gaze moved toward the bar. The sudden tightness in his jaw made me look up, half expecting to see Helena there.

Annoyance flooded me at the sight of Poppy and her blond companion walking toward us.

Hadn’t they left already?

Earlier, Roane had thankfully not interrogated me about my reaction, and I’d managed to let the whole incident go by the time dessert arrived.

Now she was back.

Some of the men’s eyes followed her swaying hips, and I didn’t blame them. Little black dress or body-contouring yoga pants, the woman would look hot. Poppy oozed sex appeal.

And she’d set her sights on Roane.

Yippee.

“Roane, you remember Kylie.” She gestured to her blond companion as she drew to a stop beside him.

Roane gave Kylie that same thin-lipped smile he’d given Poppy. “Hi.”

“Hi again.”

“So”—Poppy dropped her hand to Roane’s shoulder—“room for two more?”

He flicked me an apologetic look before he shrugged. “Of course.”

My gut churned.

I really hoped it was his inability to be rude that had led to that invitation.

Then, to my shock, Poppy and the blonde grabbed two chairs and placed them between me and Roane. Poppy’s was shoved right up against him, and the blonde hit her chair leg off mine and stared down at me when I didn’t budge. “Do you mind?”

Disbelieving, I shifted my chair to the left to make room for her, and when she sat down, she turned her back to me, her elbow on the table, effectively blocking me out of any conversation with Roane.

He was too busy with Poppy to notice, considering her face was inches from his as she murmured to him in a low voice about . . . whatever!

Caro was frowning at the entire situation. Sensing my attention, she looked at me and made a face.