Page 195

“Beautiful accent,” River says, leaning closer. “Almost as if you came from Hawick or Jedburgh.”

“Bloody hell, I am from Jedburgh!” Finnian gasps, and I am shocked that the bastard researched all the way down to where Finni was from just to flirt.

“No wonder you’re this gorgeous,” River whispers and smiles.

Oh, River.

You definitely have game, I’ll give you that.

“Want help carrying those pastries?” River offers Finnian.

“Aye, thanks. I’ll fetch you a tray.”

“Wait…” River reaches out, holds Finnian’s chin, tilts it up, and swipes his thumb over Finnian’s cheek to wipe away a smudge of vanilla cream. “How passionately do you have to bake to get vanilla on your face?”

Then, in front of every Harknett and guest, the beast sucks his thumb and smiles.

Oh, dear God!

Finnian turns as red as his tarts, and I see Logan staring from the other side of the bakery.

And he does not look happy.

Huh… looks like someone isn’t as indifferent as they pretend to be.

“Damn…” Ellis chuckles next to me. “If I didn’t have Chris, I would totally fall for that.”

“Yeah, but that’s because you’re a hopeless romantic,” I point out.

“Speaking of romance, are you ready for our couples trip?”

“Me? I’ve been ready since before we planned it. Knox, though… I might have to drug him.”

Ellis’ mismatched eyes go wide. “Drug him?”

“Yeah, you know… a little chloroform here, and bam! Look at that, he just woke up in Bali.”

Ellis laughs. “Sounds like a Harknett plan. Besides, I heard you have a man who’s an expert on kidnapping.”

“Yes, Björn!” I clap, excited by this new prospect… though I would need a crane to move a kidnapped Knox. “Finni and Oliver already got kidnapped by him.”

I see River heading into the kitchen to help Finnian, patting his back along the way, and I hold out my hand. “Wait, my papers, you beast.”

Without looking away from Finnian, River hands me the folder, and I check the contents inside.

Oh, wow…

Everything is here.

“Also, Maddox sent this,” Ellis says, handing me a black folder with the Klein-Snyder logo.

“Maddox?” I open the folder, scan the paperwork, and my eyes catch the headings for Involuntary Manslaughter, Stalking, and Criminal Harassment Leading to Death. “Oh, my God, is this…”

Ellis smiles. “Yes! He’s taking the case.”

“But I thought Maddox stopped taking criminal cases years ago.”

“He has, but he’s making an exception for us.”