Dark. Deceitful. Vengeful.
“Fancy meeting you here,” comes the oily voice.
My body goes ice cold as Brendan steps out from behind a potted ficus. He’s wearing a tux that’s slightly too big and a smile that does nothing to hide his disdain, a glass of champagne dangling from his fingertips.
What is he doing here? I haven’t seen him since that one run-in on my mother’s porch. I assumed he’d slithered on back to California.
With a malicious smile, he shoves the champagne at me.
“Sorry,” I snap. “Getting roofied isn’t on my bucket list.”
Smile unwavering, he says, “Take the drink, Dizz. Don’t make a scene.”
“Do you have an actual reason to be here, Brendan, or do I need to file a restraining order?”
Like, seriously. If it’s just the credit card shit, why hasn’t he called the cops? He’s a fucking lawyer. It’s not like he doesn’t know what strings to pull.
And how the Hell does he know Killroy?
Brendan laughs, hollow and cold. “Myactualreason, since you asked so nicely, is to bring you home.”
“Iamhome,” I say, surprised at the insistence in my voice.
Surprised that I actually mean it.
I don’t know what my future holds. What’s going to happen with the portal, with Dr. Sutherland and my lessons, with my sisters, with any of it. But for the first time in my life, I feel like I actually matter. Like I’m doing something important.
And suddenly, after twenty-odd years of running away from it, Graves Hollow is the only place I want to be.
“Look,” Brendan says, losing his barely-there patience. “You asked me to leave you alone, and I have. I gave you space. I gave you time. Why? Because I’m a good fucking guy, Lizzy. But enough is enough. I’ve been stuck in shit-ass Graves Hollow for weeks—at my own expense, mind you—and you still haven’t reached out.”
“Sounds a little desperate, if you ask me.”
“It’s called emotional maturity. I want us to figure this out together.”
“Figurewhatout?”
He smirks and gives me this look, like,aww, it’s so cute when I have to explain things to you!“Come on, Dizz. Let’s not pretend you have the first clue about selling a house and managing an inheritance. Finances are complicated.”
“I don’t know, Brendan. In my experience, when a man tells a woman something is complicated, what he’s really saying is he doesn’t want that woman to call him out on his bullshit.”
His face reddens, his energy flooding once more with that barely-restrained need to hurt me. “Quick fucking around. It’s time you come to your senses and?—”
I cut him off with a harsh laugh. “The fact that I ever let you into my bed is proof that coming to my senses isnotmy zone of genius. Fortunately, I’ve got other skills. And—brace yourself, Brendan, this might be toocomplicatedfor you to understand—noneof them require your input. So, thanks for the offer, but I’m gonna pass.”
“You willnotwalk away from me again, you stuck-up bitch.” He reaches out to grab me, but just before he makes contact, a figure sweeps into the hallway, dashing and elegant, his hair impeccable, his glasses polished to perfection.
“There you are, darling,” Dr. Sutherland says smoothly. “I’ve been looking everywhere.” He meets my eyes, and my stomach swoops, and suddenly it’s as if we’re the only two people in the entire world.
Oliver’s words whisper through my mind.
Youdorealize he’s in love with you, right?
Dr. Sutherland leans in close, lips brushing my cheek. Everything below the waist instantly bursts into flames.
“Play along,” he whispers. Then, pulling back, “I inquired about the piece you asked after. Sadly, it’s already been purchased.”
“I… right.” I blink, and breathe, and plaster on a smile. “Bummer! Guess we’ll figure something else out for the house in France.”
