“I’m afraid it’s true. If this gets out, it will ruin you,” Seychelle said. “We think we can minimize the damage to your reputation if we move fast. Lana can take Tessa now to a safe place. You can get her things to Inez at the store, and it will simply look as if you were rescuing her from a bad situation.”
Tessa shook her head. “Brandon said no one else will want me.”
The older women looked horrified again. It was impossible not to be aware of it. Lana made a move to stand, but Seychelle signaled her to wait.
“You misunderstood him, didn’t she, Brandon? He would never mean that,” Seychelle said. Brandon had to give Tessa his permission or Tessa wouldn’t go. She was still too far under his spell.
Brandon felt those golden notes weighing on him, pushing on his need to cooperate. At the same time, he always counted on the goodwill of the older women in Sea Haven, and they were looking to him to do the right thing as well. He gave Tessa his best smile. “Honey, everyone would want you. You’re a wonderful girl and you’re going to go far in this world.” He pushed his most persuasive tone into his voice. “Go with Lana like a good girl and cooperate with her. She wants you to do well. All of us do.”
Tessa nearly leapt out of her seat. Lana rose smoothly and took the girl’s hand. Seychelle didn’t allow triumph to show on her face as the two left the Floating Hat together. She was certain Tessa was going to end up at Blythe and Czar’s home. It didn’t matter as long as she was safe.
She turned her attention back to Brandon, giving him a smile. “We were all so worried when we found out her age.”
Brandon leaned toward her, all charm. “I appreciate you caring enough to be concerned.”
“It was very disconcerting,” Inez said. “Really, Brandon, how could you not realize her age when she lived with you for months?”
Doris frowned. “She looks so young too. I thought Seychelle looked young, but that girl looks like a baby. You need to be far more careful in the future, Brandon.”
He scowled and got up, shoving back his chair, but his eyes were on Seychelle. Steady. Refusing to look away. “I’ll get her things and bring them to the store, Inez. I’m glad to be done with her. She was difficult.”
“She was a child,” Rebecca pointed out.
Brandon’s eyes narrowed on Seychelle. Grew dark and stormy. “This is twice now you’ve chosen to interfere. Do you think I’m going to let you get away with it?” He hissed the question at her, low and mean. This time his tone was heavy with pure copper, pushing the notes down so they dropped into her mind like weights.
She maintained eye contact. “You do what you have to do, Brandon.” Her notes were pure gold, sliding into his mind, pouring over it and surrounding it, coating it and covering it completely until the notes were lifted and carried away, drifting toward the ceiling.
He swore at her, crouching down so he could stare directly into her eyes. “This isn’t over.”
“I think it is,” Savage said. “Back off now.” He stepped between Seychelle and Brandon, breaking the eye contact between them, his crotch practically wedged in Brandon’s face, his motorcycle boots inches from his legs. His voice was low, barely heard, but it carried enough menace to send shivers down Seychelle’s spine.
Brandon nearly fell over trying to get on his feet. Swearing, he stormed out.
Savage took Lana’s chair, his thigh brushing Seychelle’s. “Hi, ladies, I thought I’d join my fiancée for tea this afternoon. As always, when she’s away from me, she gets herself in a little bit of trouble.”
“Fake fiancée,” Seychelle corrected. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she took it out automatically, glancing down at it. You are in such trouble.
That’s a shocker. It took a hot minute to type that reply back when she really wanted to laugh. He looked so relaxed and at ease sitting there with the women around him. He was dressed in his jeans and boots, his tight tee and vest with his colors, looking hotter than hell. How did he do that? So sexy. And he’d left his meeting to come see her. To reassure her. He also hadn’t left her alone the way she needed. Maybe she should just kick him under the table.
“Ah yes, you did forget something this morning when you left so fast with Lana, didn’t you, baby?” Savage said. He picked up her left hand and displayed her bare finger to the women at the table. “Looks a little naked to me. What do you think, Inez?”
“Definitely naked,” Inez agreed.
Seychelle tried to pull her hand away. “Don’t encourage him.” He was up to something. She wasn’t going to like it, she could tell. This was retaliation. Big-time.