“I think you’re confusing you with me,” he retorts, pressing his elbow to the tabletop.
“Oh, but Olly helped out recently.” Eve reaches for her wineglass.
Matt chuckles. “No way.”
“Olly?” A smile hovers on Fin’s mouth, his gaze darting between Eve and me.
“I know he doesn’t like being called that, but we all have our crosses to bear.” She puts the glass to her mouth but doesn’t immediately drink, her eyes sparkling a little maliciously. “About the sanctuary, he did say I should take a photograph because you wouldn’t believe him.”
“No, don’t say there aren’t photographs,” wails Fin. “Proof, or he paid you to say that.”
Despite Fin’s protests, I’m not sure photographic evidence would be enough. They’d no doubt accuse me of doctoring any images, dubious that I’d haul huge bags of kibble from one end of the property to the other, then shovel shit—literally—ruining a pair of handmade Italian oxfords in the process. All at the behest of an elderly woman in Wellington boots and a cardigan, who would’ve given Mussolini a run for his money. But I did what was needed. The trip to Nora’s wasn’t a waste.
“Veterinarians don’t lie.” Eve’s answer is a mixture of shock, mock offense, and disbelief. “Haven’t you heard of the vows we take?” she asks, her brown eyes wide and solemn. Only I see the mischief in them.
“There has to be an angle,” Matt puts in. “Oliver never does anything without there being something in it for him.”
“Oh, there was an angle all right,” she mutters under her breath.
“Yes, I was trying to impress you, darling.” I press my hand over hers, applying a tiny bit of pressure.
“You shouldn’t have.” Though her voice is soft, her eyes hold an entirely different tone.No, really. You shouldn’t have.
Chapter 20
OLIVER
A Little Bird Told Us ...
news that makes a Little Bird’s heartandwings flutter.
Evelyn Fairfax, our poor Pulse Tok bride and virtuous doggy doctor, is sitting in a swanky Kensington restaurant right now with none other than Fin DeWitt, the handsome darling of London’s gossip columns.
Get you some, girl! If a Little Bird needed a broad shoulder to lean on, party-boy Fin’s would be top of the list!
Check out the pics. She looks so happy!
#Finlyn
Don’t mind me. I’m just trying out a new ship
I slam my phone down, screen first, the grainy images of Fin and Eve lighting an inexplicable fire in my guts.Fucking ridiculous.My reaction is ridiculous! Four people dined at this table—I shouldn’t be angered by some strategically cropped bullshit of an image.
Yet I am. In fact, I’m seething.
“You okay there?”
I slide Fin a glare. “Perfectly.”Darling of the gossip columns. Broad-shouldered darling. What does that make me—chopped fucking liver?
“I like her.” Matt’s voice pulls me from my brooding.
It’s true that the meal, and the meeting, went better than I could’ve imagined, with my friends and my ... and Eve getting along like a house on fire.
A fast-burning, short-lived fire, scheduled to last what’s left of our three months.Not that she won’t leave her mark. I’m sure we’ll all find ourselves a little scorched.And Eve, by my use of her.
“I feel bad she didn’t order dessert before she left.”
My lips hitch. When the waiter arrived to take our order, Eve seemed to be staring at the menu as though committing it to memory.Or considering licking it.I’d declined pudding in favor of coffees, Fin and Matt opting to do the same. But still Eve’s head didn’t lift.
