Federal agents joined Jules at her parents’ house. Tabitha and Abigail were at each other’s throats, Margot and Sloane huddled in her father’s office, and a gaggle of attorneys held court in the living room. Some crafted messaging for Sloane to use for public statements on the fire and Mason, while others threw themselves into the business side of her house burning to the ground.
Jules needed to make sure that everyone who worked on the property—housekeepers, chefs, assistants—was financially taken care of until she figured out where she might live.
Her mom settled onto the couch beside her. “You’ve had a crappy go of it lately. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
That hadn’t occurred to her. Sloane had probably explained to her that the pictures with Rhys were staged. Mom didn’t know the half of what happened on St. Barts before she’d hidden in Virginia. But despite all the absurdity, it hadn’t been crappy. She’d fallen in love. “Don’t be.”
“You can stay here as long as you like.”
The offer would always be on the table. Jules’s real estate portfolio would easily absorb her business operations, and she could sleep anywhere. But she wanted to be in Granite Creek. How had that happened? Virginia wasn’t a possibility, but it was the first place she thought of—Rhys’s bed; his silly dog that demanded attention first thing in the morning; the small town that didn’t seem to care who she was. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Tabitha crossed the room with Abigail trailing behind her, telling their cousin to give Jules and Mom space. It didn’t work. Tabitha knelt in front of Jules. “How are you?”
“Numb.” Jules finger-combed her hair into a bun. “In shock. I don’t know. It’s been…”Too much.She was done. This was the final straw. She didn’t have it in her to fight for something that had long ago lost its luster. “I’m tired.”
“You can stay with me,” Tabitha offered.
Behind her, Abigail rolled her eyes so hard Jules worried she might fall on top of Tabitha.
“That’s nice of you to offer,” Jules said. “But—”
“She’ll stay with me if she’s not staying with Mom and Dad,” Abigail said with her hands on her hips.
“It’s just an offer,” Tabitha snapped. “Ease up, Abs.”
“Are you hungry?” Mom asked, trying to change the subject with all the subtlety of a linebacker shouting defensive moves. “When’s the last time you ate?”
More than food, she wanted to sleep. “I’m going to take a nap.”
“There are so many people here. Honestly, I can just take you with me,” Tabitha offered.
“Sloane,” Abigail called. “Grab Tabitha before I—”
“Abigail.” Mom crossed her arms. “Enough.”
Rhys joined them, his gaze bouncing between Tabitha and Abigail as though he might have to send them to separate corners. He raised his eyebrows. “All good?”
“Jules is exhausted,” Abigail said. “Will you take her upstairs?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“I loved the pictures of you,” Mom added as Jules stood. “I just loved sticking it to Mason. The little fucker.”
Until today, Jules had been almost defending him. Now she didn’t know what to do. And what about Olivia? She might have ruined their friendship to be with Mason, but she would never get on board with burning down a house or orchestrating the craziness from the honeymoon.
Rhys rested his hand on the small of Jules’s back and led her out of the room.
“I should tell my parents what really happened with Mason. It might help them understand why he did this.”
“Ifhe did it,” Rhys replied.
They weren’t supposed to talk about the investigation with anyone. But they could with each other. “You’re so sure he didn’t do it.”
Rhys raised his shoulders.
“Then who?”
He shrugged again.
