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“Theo and Lane are coming up tonight,” Isla added. “It would be great to get our little group together.”
August’s heart sank. If the guys were bunking in the suite too, there was no way she could ask to crash. Maybe if she circled back to the reception area today, they might be able to sort something out.
“That sounds great,” August replied with forced cheer, not wanting to stress her friend out.
“And bring you friend’s brother, too. Keaton, right? I’d love to meet him outside all this chaos.”
Before August could respond, Isla was whisked away. Great. For the moment, she was stuck sharing a room with Keaton, but hopefully not for too much longer.
She made her way back through the hall to where Keaton was sitting, looking like a deer in headlights as three women crowded his space, vying for his attention. When he saw August heading toward him, his gaze locked onto her as if trying to telepathically convince her to rescue him. It was funny to see him like that, looking so out of his element. Part of her wanted to leave him there to teach him a lesson for prying into her dating life, but she couldn’t do that to him.
“Come on, Kea, let’s get ourselves a coffee before the morning address starts.” She came up behind him and placed a protective hand on his shoulder, leaning in close to his ear and saying softly, “You owe me one.”
“Right. Coffee. Yes.” He nodded, and August stepped back to let him get off the bench lining the table. “Please excuse me, caffeine calls.”
August tried not to chuckle as the women deflated when Keaton hurried to leave. Poor things, they’d looked so enamored with him.
I know how you feel, ladies. But it’s best not to get your hopes up.
“I should have left you there,” she said as they headed toward the large urns of coffee set up on the side of the room. “If you shack up with someone, I’ll get the room to myself.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Not on your life. I’d rather sleep in the mud.”
“Oh come on, they seemed lovely.” August glanced back. “If a little...forward.”
“One of them tried to convince me to invest in her ‘fortune candle’ business.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Fortune-telling candles?”
“Not fortune like telling, fortune like cookies. The candles have a printed paper message inside them that’s revealed when the candle is burned down.” He shook his head. “Ridiculous.”
“Isn’t that a fire hazard?” It didn’t seem like a wise idea. “And how do you get the piece of paper out without getting melted wax all over your fingers?”
“Thank you.” He tossed his hands into the air. “Apparently asking those questions means I’m ‘stifling creativity’ or some bullshit.”
August snorted. “Didn’t seem to put them off talking to you.”
“She thought she was on an episode ofShark Tank.”
“Ah, that’s what you get for wearing a Rolex.”
Keaton glared at her. “I donotwear a Rolex. They’re ostentatious.”
“Right, better to pick an obscure luxury brand that screams wealth in a more subtle way.” She chuckled as they reached the coffee station and grabbed a cup for each of them. “Much classier.”
“I own literally one watch,” he protested.
“And how much did it cost, huh? Feel free to round up to the nearest thousand, if you like,” she teased.
He rolled his eyes. “Your ability to annoy is unparalleled.”
“Oh, you don’t like it when the tables are turned, huh?” she replied gleefully. “How does it feel to be on the receiving end for once?”
“You know me, I much prefer to give than to receive.”
There was a dark edge in his voice and August got the impression she was treading on dangerous ground. But why the hell should she feel bad for teasing him when he did it all the damn time? She was going to hard pass on that double standard.
“Don’t be a wimp, Keaton.”
