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“Do you think Kai can take me somewhere after this? I have to deal with something,” she said in a small voice.
“Of course,” I said. “I’m coming, too.”
She looked at me, her face reddening some more. “No, James. Please. You’ve seen enough. Let me handle this by myself.”
“Is it a guy?” I asked. I was suddenly, unmercifully angry.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I wish.”
“Then what?” I was surprised by the frustration in my own voice. I wanted her to stop being so stubborn, to stop holding back from me.
Audrey sighed. “It’s my mother, James. She’s just causing trouble. I need to go see her tonight.”
I was relieved it wasn’t a guy, some boyfriend I didn’t know about. I was also relieved that she’d told me. My anger eased back a bit. “Fine,” I said. “But I’m coming, too.”
* * *
For some inexplicable reason, Cole was a
t the bar waiting for us, looking like the cat who’d just swallowed the canary. “I didn’t invite you here,” I said, clapping him on the back. “But it’s nice to see you anyway.”
“Todd texted me,” Cole said. “He wants me to come to everything I can. He said he wants to make you happy.”
“Aw, that’s sweet,” I said. I inspected him further. “You’re looking smugger than usual,” I said, making sure that Audrey was tucked safely behind me. “Why’s that?”
Cole beamed at me. “That’s why.” Cole pointed to a woman hustling into the room. She was walking fast and applying lip gloss, her curls bouncing and her voluptuous chest jiggling as she went.
It was Jenny.
“Ho my frickin’ God!” Jenny shouted when she saw Audrey. She practically bowled me out of the way to get to her.
“Yay!” she yelled, grabbing Audrey into a hug and jumping up and down. “You got me my own billionaire! I’m so freaking excited!”
“Oh, Jesus.” I said to Cole. “You didn’t.”
“Yes, I did. Ho my frickin’ God, I did,” he said. He looked very pleased with himself. “I’m gonna marry this girl. She’s got a mouth like a—”
“Cole,” I said, cutting him off. “My mother is ten feet away from us. Please.”
“I don’t have to finish the sentence, anyway,” Cole said. He was watching Jenny. “You know what I mean.”
I sighed. “I can guess.” We stood and watched the girls talking excitedly to each other.
“You’re the one who told me to call her,” Cole reminded me.
“I didn’t mean for you to bring an escort to my brother’s wedding functions,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow at me. “You should talk, bro.”
I glared at him, but I didn’t mean it. “Buy me a free drink. I need one.” He motioned for the bartender. “I’m happy you’re here and that Jenny’s working out for you. But I need to protect Audrey. No one but you knows the truth. It has to stay that way.” Cole slid a martini in front of me, and I ordered some wine for Audrey.
“Of course. I promise I won’t say anything about either of them,” he said. “I wouldn’t do that to you—you know that. But I have to say, for the hired help, you’re being very protective of her.”
“She needs my protection,” I said darkly. I took a sip of my drink, and the vodka warmed me instantly. “She’s a sweet girl. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.”
“It doesn’t sound ridiculous. But what are you going to do after this is all over?”
I shrugged. “Probably nothing.”
