Never Say Forever

“Because Rose planned it that way,” he says with a small grin. “She wanted to fly to New York and surprise Fee.”

“But none of us wanted to spend hours trapped with a screaming snot machine.” Rhett’s words, almost muttered into his glass, earn him a flash of angry green eyes from Remy.

“Or maybe his parents didn’t want to put him through further suffering.”

Rhett snorts. “Since when have you become an expert on parenting? Oh, that’s right. Since you spent five minutes with Fee’s kid?”

“How is that going?” Remy asks, his penetrating regard now for me.

“Going?” I answer blandly. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“She’s staying in your apartment, so Rose tells me.”

“Yes, but as you can see, without me in it.”

“Except you forgot she was staying at your place.” This from Rhett with a sneer. “And turned up unexpected, right?”

“I see my mistake has been the topic of conversation. I fucked up. Forgot she was there. And if you ask Fee, I’m sure she’ll tell you I was just as surprised to see her there as she was me.” Hopefully. I add a small rueful smile as a little embellishment to my tale while doing my best to ignore the sudden tightening in my crotch. She was so pink and blonde and deliciously discomforted. And, of course, naked.

“Arrive at night, did you?” There’s a certain note in Rhett’s tone. A note I don’t particularly care for.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”

“Sort of like, who’s sleeping in my bed?” he intones in a voice deeper than his own.

“What the fuck is he talking about?” I ask, catching Remy’s gaze.

“Yes, what is it you’re trying to say, Rhett?”

“That he probably went sniffing around to see which bed she was in,” he retorts, levelling his attention on me. “Like a bear sniffing for fucking honey.”

“And the honey is . . . your business, is she?” Is that what’s eating at his crotch tonight? Does he want a taste, or has he had one? My mind trips seamlessly to Lulu and her parentage. Both he and Lu have dark hair.

A fist twists my intestines, though I force the implication away.

Remy and I didn’t start on the best of terms back when he was determined to snatch up the European construction arm of what was then my grandfather’s company. Our dealings were . . . fractious. Aggressive. But that was before I realised who my grandfather was.

If I’d known, I might’ve helped wield the axe.

Though Remy and I have buried that particular hatchet, with the help of Rose, I can’t say the same for his shadow. But I don’t give a fuck for Everett’s opinion, and I don’t care what he thinks of me. He’s the hired muscle, not a friend. All I need is for him to keep a civil tongue in his head. Or barely civil, as is usually the way with him. It may sound strange, but I’ve always liked him more for it. I fucking abhor people who are impressed with wealth, people who fawn and kowtow as though money makes a person special.

Dark hair and similar colour eyes.

Could it be? Really?

“Maybe Fee is my business.” My words pitched steely and low, and I step into him when he answers my aggression with a little of his own.

“After five minutes?” Toe to toe, we’re evenly matched. We’re both former military, and we both know how to fight.

“What if I make her my business,” I growl. “Her and the kid. Because if you can’t take care of your own fucking business, maybe someone else should.”

Everett smiles, all malice and teeth, his gaze roaming over me with contempt. “Fee’s a smart girl. She knows better than to trust some rich twat who’ll just fuck her before fucking her over.”

“You think I would put her in that position?”

“I’ve heard about you and positions. And places. And prices,” he mutters only for my ears.

“Boys, boys,” Remy interjects with an amused chuckle. “As entertaining as watching this display of testosterone is, we’re beginning to draw attention for more than our very handsome and striking appearances.”

“He fucking started it,” I growl, wondering exactly how much Everett knows. And how.

“Do you want me to say I’m putting an end to it? Just take your pissing contest elsewhere. This is a benefit to raise funds to aid the cause of stamping out violence against women, not creating it between a couple of dogs sniffing over a woman.”

Is that what this is? It’s not Lulu? Everett has a thing for Fee?

“When he tells me what business she is of his, I might just do that.” I register the weight of Remy’s hand on my shoulder before I register his words.

“Fee is family. Mine and Rose’s, and yes, even Everett’s. Understand Fee and Eloise are alone in a strange country and, as our family, we are all concerned with both their well-being.”