But thankfully, Story comes to my rescue. “This is Ruby, and she’s not a lunatic. She’s Miles’s wife. I was at the wedding, and what a beautiful day it was too.”
The groupie’s mouth drops again. The sneer she trained on me is now being sent Story’s way. I’m expecting her to give one last argument about how she saw Miles first, but instead, she huffs loudly and stomps off down the path, slamming the gate behind her with such force that I’m amazed it doesn’t break.
Story holds out one of the coffee cups to me. “Thought you might need this.”
“Thanks.” I take it, though both of us are still staring at the gate, which is still creaking on its hinges. “Do you think I should expect more of those?”
“Probably, Miles is such a ho bag.” The words fall off her tongue before she can stop them, and she turns to me with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about your husband like that. Old habits and all that.”
“Don’t worry about it. I get it.” I shrug, but my head drops. “God, you must think I’m such a dumbass.”
“I don’t actually.”
I don’t press her for more. Instead, I take a long sip of coffee and enjoy the feeling of caffeine hitting my bloodstream. “This is so good. Thank you for bringing it. But Miles isn’t here, if you’re looking for him.”
“I came for you. Miles is up at Burlington, breaking the news of his relationship update to the duke and duchess.” She lets out a devious-sounding snicker.
“Who?”
“The duke is Miles and Hendricks’s eldest brother. He owns all this.” She waves her hands around. “Everything you see belongs to them.”
“For real?”
“Yup. And the duchess is Miles’s mother.”
“You don’t think they’ll be happy?”
“I think it will be received as well as a shit sandwich?—”
Shit.
But this is nothing more than a business transaction.
I frown, kind of confused. “Why? They don’t have to worry, it’s not like this marriage is permanent. Once the summer is over, I’ll go back to the States. They can go back to doing whatever they normally do.”
Story peers at me as she sips her coffee, her expression unreadable as she swallows.
“Hmm. Well, anyway, I’m here to take you down to the stables. Miles wanted to make sure you didn’t get lost.”
“Cool. Thank you. Can you give me five minutes while I get changed?”
“Sure.” She nods. “Take your time.”
I make it in four minutes.
I might be married to my boss, but I’m here to do a job, and the quicker I can get to it, the sooner this role-play will feel like it’s worth it.
CHAPTER 9
Miles
“You've done what?” My brother spits the words with a heavy emphasis on theWH.
It’s probably not the best time to tell him I think he’d make an excellent headmaster. The haughty, smug prick. To be fair, I also don’t recall a time I’ve seen him so angry, and I’ve made him angry plenty, red vein pulsing and everything.
Now, though, he’s alarmingly calm. White-hot instead of red.
“Lando—”
