Page 110 of The Grand Duel

Is he…embarrassed by me?

“The perfect night for a romantic evening, Mr and Mrs Aldridge,” the attendant says, gesturing to the pinking sky above the open-air venue. “Enjoy.”

“Oh,” I say in a panic. “No, we’re not.” I swallow and look up at Charles, waiting for him to correct him. When he doesn’t, I look back at the attendant and say, “My brother.”

Charles scratches at his eyelid, seemingly okay with letting me run with this plot twist.

“Yes. I’m here with my brother,” I confirm, wanting to die.

“That’s great,” the attendant says, wearing second-hand embarrassment on his face.

I roll my lips, turning when Charles does, feeling like a complete idiot. Once we’re out of earshot, he loosens his arm and slips it over my shoulder, lowering his head to mine and then whispering in my ear. “You’re right, I do fight my smiles.”

I shove him away and give him a look. “You caught me off guard.”

“I thought you’d be used to carrying my name by now with all the men you’ve been catfishing on that dating site.” We head for the bar without needing to communicate it. Charles leans against it and simply gazes down at me, quickly finding that spot inside of me again. “Should I be concerned at the utter panic you had when he insinuated you were my wife?”

“Why are you smiling like that?” I accuse.

He looks away, boyish and making my stomach flip. “I panicked. I didn’t know if you’d want me linked to you as your wife. If he had recognised me and put two and two together, it could be really embarrassing for you. I thought you were embarrassed by me.”

He gazes down at me, his frown scolding. “You say the stupidest of shit sometimes.”

My lips twist when he hands me a shot—tequila.

I don’t know what’s gotten into him tonight, but I like it.

Maybe a little bit too much.

He holds his shot out between us, and I match him, waiting for another of his toasts.

But then his features loosen, eyes darkening as he looks down through the tequila shot.

I frown.

“My best friend is in prison for manslaughter, and I’ve not been able to contact or see him in a little over two years.”

My smile drops as he takes the shot.

“Charles,” I say, processing.

“Do the shot, Lissie,” he says over the music.

I gingerly neck the tequila, my mind still holding on to his words.

When it’s clear he isn’t going to elaborate, I place the shot glass on the bar top and turn my attention to the room.

The venue for tonight’s auction is beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that if I’d known, I would’ve insisted we attend.

“What made you want to come tonight?” I ask, keeping my attention on the room so that he can have the space he needs to look or feel however he is right now.

I wish I could hug him. I’m almost certain the man could do with the biggest hug.

“There’s a boat I’m interested in buying.”

I turn on him. “A boat?”

He continues to look around the room like I had. “My friends own a lake. Their boat is as old as me.”