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But Lawrence wasn’t so indirect.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Toni scowled at him, and swatted him too, but Torr had expected as much or worse and wasn’t fussed.

“Finishing an ice cream cone. Coming to look at the new furniture. Which is spectacular, by the way. Gives the space a warm, man-cave kind of feel.” The deep wood tones reminded him of a lodge in winter.

“No, it’s not like a man cave,” Charlotte said, walking up to one of the leather loveseats. “Cozy. But sophisticated too. I love it.”

“Thanks,” Toni said. The only one at ease with the situation, she sank into the sofa and patted the empty seat next to her for Charlotte to join. “Come test it out with me.”

Code for Come talk to me.

She did, looking up at him as she lowered herself onto the soft leather. Winking, he walked toward the bar, listening to the ladies’ conversation. He shouldn’t listen in but he couldn't help himself.

“Love the casual look,” Toni said. “And nice shirt.”

“Thanks,” Charlotte responded, lowering her voice. “It’s Torr’s.”

Chuckling to himself—she’d clearly forgotten about his hearing—he sat down next to his sister at the bar. Laria was looking at him with only slightly less surprise than Lawrence. No, despite knowing how he’d spent his weekend, neither of them had expected him to enter the bar arm in arm with a human, Toni’s friend, eating an ice cream cone.

“Unbelievable,” Lawrence muttered as he walked behind the bar.

His brother placed a drink in front of him none too gently, then crossed his arms and gave him a look he’d mastered over the centuries. Only Torr hadn’t earned it this time.

Well, not completely.

“I haven’t kidnapped her—”

“Obviously she is a willing party,” Lawrence interrupted. “That’s not the point, and you know it. You’ll be here for, what, a few more weeks? Unless—”

“Duty calls. I know as well as anyone—”

“She’s not the kind of woman to toy with.”

“What kind of woman, exactly, should one toy with?” Laria shot back at Lawrence.

“You know what I mean.”

“But thanks for giving him a hard time on my behalf.” Torr smiled at his sister.

“Don’t be an asshole, Torr. She deserves better,” Laria said.

So much for his ally.

“I’m not being an asshole. Not this time.” He grabbed the whiskey.

No one looked convinced.

“I like her,” he insisted.

Laria rolled her eyes. “Well, that’s painfully obvious. Also not the point.”

“I’m so glad I came tonight—”

“And we’re so glad you came too.”

Finally, a friendly voice. He turned on his stool to look at Toni, who’d come to stand behind him, but his eyes had another agenda—they wanted only Charlotte, who stood beside her. He had the impulse to pick her up, carry her back to her apartment, and pretend their weekend together wasn’t nearly at an end.