Page 141 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

A note on the pillow.

Went for a run. Didn’t want to wake you. There’s coffee downstairs.

I smiled and stretched, feeling deliciously sore in all the right places. Sand from last night was still in my hair. My dress was draped over a chair, looking like it had been through a war. Evidence everywhere that last night had been very, very real.

I checked my phone and gasped when I saw it was almost eleven. I’d slept through the entire morning.

I showered quickly, washing out the last of the beach, and threw on casual clothes. Leggings and an oversized sweater I’d packed for the trip home. My hair went up in a messy bun. Minimal makeup. I looked exactly like someone who’d been up until three in the morning having the best night of her life.

When I got downstairs, the house was transformed. The chaos from yesterday was completely gone. The place was spotless. Like a cleaning crew had descended in the night and erased all evidence of the wedding. I’d seen them on the patio but damn. Like the mice from Cinderella scurrying about and righting everything.

Voices drifted from the patio. I followed them and found the bridal party scattered across the outdoor furniture. Some on lounge chairs, some at the big table, all of them looking relaxed and happy and slightly hungover.

Someone had set up a breakfast buffet. And not just pastries and coffee. This was a full spread. Omelet station, waffle bar, fresh fruit carved into elaborate shapes, at least six different types of juice.

Because of course there was. These were Bancrofts. They weren’t basic bitches settling for a cheap yogurt cup and a carton of OJ.

I grabbed a plate and started loading it up. I was starving. Beach sex apparently worked up quite an appetite. I was reaching for a croissant when a voice behind me said, “Morning, Cleo.”

I turned. Finn was standing there with a cup of coffee, looking entirely too awake for someone who’d been up as late as I had. Maybe later. And sporting one hell of a hickey on his neck like a badge of honor.

“Morning,” I said. “Might want to put a cold spoon on that. It looks painful.”

He winked. “It is.” He picked up a strawberry from the fruit display, examining it like it held the secrets of the universe. “Sleep well?”

“Fine.”

“I’m sure.” He popped the strawberry in his mouth. “Listen, I wanted to talk to you about my brother.”

My stomach dropped. “Okay?”

“Cash is an ass.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“He’s a Bancroft. We’re all asses in our own special ways.” Finn popped a grape into his mouth. “Cash specifically? He’s impulsive when he thinks he’s being rational. He’s reckless when he thinks he’s being careful. And he has a bad habit of choosing business over everything else when he gets stressed.”

I set down my plate. “What are you doing?”

“Just making sure you know what you’re signing up for.” He shrugged. “If you’re cool with all that. The chaos, the family drama, the occasional public scandal. Then hey, welcome to the family. You’ll have a shit ton of sisters-in-law. You’ll have babies. You can build that whole nuclear family thing. Maybe get a fancy closet. Luxury mom car. Cash is pretty good at gift giving.”

He was testing me. I could see it in his eyes, The way he was watching for my reaction, waiting to see if I’d crack.

“You won’t scare me off,” I said.

“No?” He grabbed another strawberry. “Do you know our father is married to our aunt? We have brother cousins.”

“I am aware.”

“And we’ve got some pretty colorful characters in the family.”

“Have you met me?”

He grinned. “I mean colorful as in a few drunks, guys that like to get rowdy, one of our cousins that is not a brother cousin, just straight cousin. Actually, maybe he’s a second cousin? Our uncle banged his mom? Does that make him a cousin? Anyway, he owns a casino. Shady dude, but a good dude.”

I didn’t know Finn, but I did. I knew his type. I could read people and I wasn’t picking up on any malice.

“Whatever this is?” I gestured between us. “It won’t work. I know exactly who Cash is. The good parts and the complicated parts. And I’m not going anywhere.”