Page 19 of Wild King

“Easy peasy. Trust me.”

I stand and turn to leave, nearly running into Ava on her way into the office. We’re the same age and spent year after year in the same classes in school, but somehow she’s always seemed older than me. Or maybe she’s just always been more mature.

Whichever it is, I see by the look on her face that she knows everything. Not surprising, I guess. Matthias is completely lost when it comes to her. He has been for years. He’d have to be to betray Theo like he did.

“Hi, Kellen. You look like your trip to the Turks and Caicos was good for you,” she says with a smile.

“Oh yeah? How’s that?”

“You look very relaxed. More relaxed than usual,” she answers, her voice sounding nervous now.

I look back at my brother and shake my head. “Thanks for sharing my personal life with the world.”

Rolling his eyes, Matthias says, “I didn’t share it with the world. Just Ava. Gina’s the one sharing it with the world, and you need to handle that ASAP before it blows up even worse.”

Damn. I walked right into that one.

“Don’t worry, big brother. I leave the scandal to you two. Adios! When I see you again, I expect to hear you heaping praise on me for handling this so expertly.”

The hurt written all over Ava’s face is impossible to miss, but I walk out before my brother starts with me. I said what I said.

A headache torival all headaches pounds behind my eyes as I once again drive up to the house I grew up in. I see too many cars for the people who live here, which means Marius and Ronan are here too.

Fucking fabulous.

So much for that interview saving me. That bird woman came at me like she was talking to a fucking serial killer. Since when is having sex with a co-worker a reason to treat someone like a criminal? I knew by the second question she practically spat out at me that she was not going to help me solve my problem.

I barely made it out of the studio before Matthias was blowing up my phone. Not entirely unexpected, but when Marius and Ronan pretty much said the interview was a disaster in their texts that came in immediately after, I knew the shit had hit the fan.

Two hours later, I got to meet with the fine public relations and legal departments at King Industries. That was a great time. There’s nothing like your oldest brother and the suits glaring at you like you’re some giant fuck up.

They could have all jumped on a single email and given me their advice that way since it was basically one sentence. No more interviews or discussing this situation with anyone anymore.

No worries. I never wanted to talk about this anyway.

Now tonight I get to listen to my three brothers berate me for doing what comes naturally. It was sex, for God’s sake. What the hell is the problem?

I park my Jag far away from the house so I can make a quick getaway once this King family inquisition ends. I’m going to need a stiff drink after dealing with them, and the last thing I want is to be trapped here after listening to their bullshit for God only knows how long.

The thought of my mystery woman back on the island drifts through my mind as I sit in my car deciding if I really want to go inside the house. She was a good time. I bet she wouldn’t go on TV and online and talk about our time together. She was fun, but she was classy too. And smart. I think that’s what made me want her.

That and she was a knockout. Gina can’t say she’s any of those things.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly as I wish I could see my mystery woman again. Maybe I’ll put in a call to the resort and see if I can find out what her name is. I think we could have fun back here in the real world too.

With that happy thought in my brain, I head into the house for a far more awful experience. Eleanor sees me and smiles as I close the front door. It’s amazing she still looks the same as she did when I was a kid. Her dark hair is a little shorter and maybe a little thinner and grayer, and she might have put on a few pounds over the years, but I always see kindness in those soft blue eyes of hers. That never changes, thankfully.

Hurrying up to me, she grabs hold of my arm and whispers, “Stop by the kitchen before you leave. I made you some of those butterscotch cookies you love. You can take a bunch home.”

Good old Eleanor. We could always count on her trying her hardest to make us smile, even on our worst days.

“Thanks. I think I’m going to need them after this. Wish me luck.”

She pats my forearm and nods. “Don’t forget to stop before you leave. Cookies always make things better.”

I smile, but I have a feeling no matter how many cookies she gives me, this night is going to be bad. Oh, well. I might as well face the music.

“Are they in his office?” I ask her, nodding toward the hallway.