Ellie’s breath hitched, and I coughed to cover a laugh.
“You think I’d attack Cade?Me?” She looked between me and her slender pale arms. “What could I possibly do to him?”
“That’s exactly what a hit man would say to avoid suspicion.”
Ellie gaped at him. “Ahit man?”
I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples, while Mac hummed again. “Just know I’m onto you.”
“Mac,” I warned, opening my eyes to glare at him. “You’re not helping.”
Ellie’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly.
Whiskey leapt from his bag onto the lounger, making Mac flinch. “What’s he doing?”
The cat rubbed his furry cheek against Mac’s hairy foot, and Ellie frowned like he’d personally betrayed her.
“He’s saying hello,” she grumbled, crossing her arms. “He must like you.”
My gaze narrowed at the furball as he crawled over Mac’s ankles. “I thought you said he takes a while to warm up to strangers?”
Ellie twisted her engagement ring around her finger and avoided looking at me. “I guess Mac just has a way with animals.”
Mac snorted. “Hate to break it to you, but I can’t keep a goldfish alive for longer than a day. No matter how many times I’ve tried, they die. All of them.”
We both stared at him. Just how many goldfish had he gone through?
“Cade and Ellie, get your asses over here!” Harrison called from the table. “Time to eat.”
Ellie went to pick up her furball, but he darted away, up to the top of Mac’s lounger—and my bodyguard froze. “What’s he doing?”
She winced. “Um, he’s definitely taken a liking to you. If you walk to the table, he’ll probably follow. Hopefully.”
Mac snorted. “I don’t want any part of that couples retreat. This drink is my breakfast.”
“Oh.” Ellie chewed on her lip. “Is it okay if Whiskey hangs out here with you while we eat, then?”
Mac eyed the cat dubiously. “Will he behave himself?”
“Absolutely,” she promised. “You don’t even need to keep an eye on him, but I can put him in our room if you don’t want him around.”
Mac took a swig of his drink before answering.
“He’s fine,” he said, pulling a small paperback out. The cover looked like a spy thriller, and my brows rose.
“Come on.” I took Ellie’s elbow and steered her toward the table, leaning down to remind her, “Sit next to me and try to talk less this time.”
She smiled tightly. “You really give the sweetest pep talks, cuddle muffin.”
I shot her a warning look.
The table was quiet, and we found two seats next to each other. Fletcher and Candace both looked hungover—reclining in their chairs, eyes closed, and sipping Bloody Marys while not talking to anyone. Piper and Madison sat with Dr. Lovejoy between them, excitedly drilling her with questions. Vlad stayed off to the side, nursing a clear drink and drumming his fingers against the table.
I was watching Ellie take her time studying and selecting not one, buttwochocolate croissants from the pastries tray in front of her when Harrison slid into the seat on my left.
He nudged my side and moved closer to whisper. “You knocked her up, didn’t you?”
My head snapped around to him. “What?”
