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He scratches the back of his neck, like he’s remembering something mildly worrisome.

“Well, I kind of borrowed a car. Without getting express permission. And the guy wasn’t happy about it. Especially not when it ended up in the East River. My uncle’s trying to calm things down, but he thinks I should lie low for a while. Stay out of trouble. Said it would be good for me to come here and learn some business skills. Especially since he has money invested.”

My jaw tightens. For fuck’s sake, Vin. I’m coming to the conclusion the guy really hates me.

“The thing is,” I say. “We’re really busy here right now. I’m working my ass off, all while being a newlywed. My wife… she’s kind of intense.”

“I thought you said you weren’t married.”

I exhale through my nose. “I said there’s no missus in the way you meant it. It’s very… complicated.”

He blinks. “Wait… so youaremarried?”

I rake a hand through my hair, then lean forward, elbows on the table, giving him my best this-stays-between-us look. “Look. Yes, we’re married. But this isn’t public knowledge. You’re not supposed to know. No one is. Not my friends. Not my business partners. And definitely not her brothers.”

“Her brothers?” He lifts a brow.

“Yeah.” I let out a dry laugh. “Those big, overprotective guys sitting around the camp fire. If they found out, let’s say more than two teeth would be lost by the end of the night.”

Bennett’s eyes go wide. He’s practically salivating. “So it’s a secret marriage?” he asks. “Like Romeo and Juliet?”

The kid knows his Shakespeare? Okay, I’ll go with it.

“Exactly like that,” I say, lowering my voice, letting a note of awe creep in. “Only without the dying.Hopefully.”

Bennett leans forward, completely enthralled. “You married in secret because… you’re not supposed to be together?”

I nod, slow and deliberate. “I’m so in love with her. My heart aches when we’re not together. It kills me, seriously. She’s beautiful, she’s funny, she makes the best damn coffee you’ll ever drink. And if they pull us apart… I don’t know what I’ll do.” I let my voice break a little. “I can’t live without her, man.”

Bennett makes a soft noise, like I punched him in the heart with a bouquet of roses.

I lean in closer. “Our marriage is supposed to be a secret. Nobody on this island knows about it. And we have to keep it that way. At least until I prove myself to her family.” Screw it, I’m going all in. “Or until she gets pregnant.”

His mouth falls open. “That’s… that’s unbelievable.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Is it?”Damn.

“Oh no.” He shakes his head. “I don’t mean I don’t believe you, I just mean… you know, the last woman I met on Tinder turned out to be a guy from Wisconsin named Graham.” He shakes his head. “I thought romance was dead, but maybe it isn’t.” He actually looks happy for me.

I try not to wince.

“Here’s the thing, Bennett,” I say, serious again. “You weren’t supposed to know. But now that you do…” I glance toward the window like someone might be listening. “We could really usesomeone on our side. Someone smart. Loyal.Quiet. To be our Friar Laurence.”

“Friar Laurence?” he frowns. “Who plays him in the movie?”

“The old guy. Big nose, looks like a priest.”

“Ah yeah. The one who helps them hide it.”

I catch his eye. “Exactly.”

“And you want me to be your Friar Laurence?” His voice lifts with excitement.

“Yes.” I nod solemnly. “Only with no poisons.”

He beams like he can’t believe his luck. “I’m your guy.” He punches his hand against his chest.

I don’t move my gaze from his. “But you have to make a blood oath,” I tell him. “That nobody on the island finds out. If they do, it’d be pretty easy to know it was you who told. And I’d hate to call your uncle and tell him you’ve messed up here, too.”