Page 2 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

Melody had surprised me these past six months. When Austin first introduced her, I’d expected another vapid influencer, someone who saw dollar signs and Bancroft in the same breath.

Once I got to know her, I was pleasantly surprised. She saw through my brother’s bullshit with laser precision. She was not afraid to call any of us on our crap. Most people were intimidated by the Bancroft name alone, and then, when they met the small army of Bancrofts, they cowered in fear.

Not Melody. She was good for Austin.

And wherever Melody was?

I shifted in my seat, irritation spiking through me for a different reason entirely. Wherever Melody is, Cleo will be.

The thought of her sent an uncomfortable jolt through my chest, something between anticipation and dread that I refused to examine too closely.

Cleo Quinn. Melody’s assistant/best-friend/apparent force of nature. Oh, and personal bodyguard and avenger. Purple hair. Loud opinions. And always a Diet Coke in her hand like it was a security blanket or weapon. I was never quite sure which.

She confused the hell out of me.

I didn’t get confused often. My world was rational, logical. I did not understand women who looked at me like they could see straight through my armor to whatever was underneath. Women like Cleo were dangerous. She had no fucks to give and couldn’t give a shit if she alienated me or anyone like me.

The car slowed. I glanced up to see we were at the wine shop that stocked bottles worth more than the average car. I was a regular customer. It was the perfect gift for clients, dinners with my growing family, and anyone else I needed to impress.

Ten minutes and one ridiculously expensive bottle of wine later, I was back in the car.

“Straight to the address you provided now, sir?” Greg asked.

“Yes. And Greg?” I met his eyes in the rearview mirror. “Drive fast. I’ll pay for any speeding tickets.”

He suppressed a smile. “Of course, Mr. Bancroft.”

Greg drove like he was hoping for a spot on a racing team. I didn’t mind. Whatever got me there fastest. I pulled out my phone again and started going through emails.

I had no idea why Austin wanted to meet out at the Hamptons. I had shit to do. A crisis to manage. But he had insisted. And with the manners of a honey badger, he had reminded me of the Summer Situation. Capitalized. Because that woman deserved a fucking true crime documentary and that would be the title.

And now I was on the way to the beach. Yeah, me.

My phone buzzed. Austin again. WHERE ARE YOU?

I typed back: En route. ETA 30 minutes. Send a helicopter next time if you’re in a hurry.

Almost exactly thirty minutes later, Greg turned onto a private drive. I got my first look at Austin and Melody’s rental.

The Bancroft family had an estate in South Hampton. And several of my brothers and cousins owned houses as well. But Austin was renting for whatever reason. Maybe it was like trying on a pair of shoes. Would it work for them?

Austin wasn’t exaggerating about the size of the house. The place was modern, all clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows, perched on a slight rise that gave it some pretty amazing views of the beach below.

Greg pulled up to the front entrance and stopped. I hopped out of the car. Before he could offer to get my bag, I grabbed it myself, along with the wine, and waved him off. “Take the rest of the weekend, Greg. I’ll text you when I need to be picked up on Sunday.”

“Are you certain, sir? I’m happy to stay nearby.”

“I’m sure. Go spend time with your family.”

He looked genuinely pleased by this, which made me feel like an asshole for not offering more often. “Thank you, Mr. Bancroft. Enjoy your weekend.”

I watched him drive away, then turned toward the house. I wasn’t sure what the weekend was all about. I wasn’t the social Bancroft. Some of my brothers got together and hung out, but I was the guy with a stick up his ass. At least that was what they all thought.

And maybe they weren’t wrong.

The door swung open. Melody stepped out with a huge grin on her face. The woman was rarely without a smile. She was bright and bubbly, which normally I would find exhausting, but she broke you down in a hurry. She got under your skin and you just kind of had to like her.

“Cash!” She walked toward me. “I’m so glad you made it. Austin was starting to worry you’d bail.”