“What in the hell happened last night?” she shrieked, throwing her hands up in the air. “We thought you and Jonathan hit it off better than we expected when you didn’t return from your little walk in the garden. But then the Thackers called me this morning, frantic because there was no sign of you or Jonathan. They’ve even been in touch with the police, who’ve been barely any help since there was no sign of foul play.”
I stumbled to a stop, gaping at her. “You went home last night without knowing where I was? After springing a surprise engagement on me and shoving me out the door with a stranger who thought he was my fiancé?”
She heaved a deep sigh and rolled her eyes. “Well, when neither of you joined us for dinner—”
“You ate dinner with the Thackers?” I interrupted her with a screech, stunned that she had carried on last night as though nothing was wrong while I’d been literally running for my life. For all my aunt had known, I could have been raped and murdered. “Heaven forbid you let concern for my well-being interfere with a nice meal or your sleep.”
“Now you’re just being melodramatic.” She gestured toward me with a wave of her hand. “I assumed you two had run off to be together and simply lost track of time. But when you didn’t answer your phone, I figured it would be best if I checked the tracker, only to find that you were right next door.” Her eyes swept over Kieran in a way that made my skin crawl. “Other than your dreadful wardrobe, you look none the worse for wear after your adventure from last evening.”
“Adventure?” I seethed, not even bothering to respond to the fact that she’d put a tracker on me. Nor did it escape my notice that the Thackers had called her in the morning and a quick glance at a beautiful, old grandfather clock marked the time as a little after two in the afternoon.
Kieran must have sensed that I felt as though my head was going to explode because he moved to my side and stroked his hand down my back. Having him near helped me rein in my temper, which was a good thing because I didn’t want to say anything that would put his secrets at risk. I wouldn’t trust my aunt with a houseplant, let alone information that could put Kieran’s very existence at risk. “I’d hardly use that term for the preposterous scheme you tried to pull. And now I’m apparently going to need to speak to the police because you pulled me into this mess? Gee, Aunt Judy, you really know how to make a birthday celebration something to remember.”
“Don’t try to place the blame for all of this on me, young lady.” She wagged her finger in my direction as Kieran wrapped his arm around my waist. “If I had known you were already dating someone appropriate, I never would have agreed to the arrangement with the Thackers in the first place.”
I sputtered, my shock at her audacity taking away my ability to speak. Luckily, Kieran didn’t suffer from the same problem. “I’m afraid I’m to blame for all of the secrecy. I wanted to give Thana time to adjust to having me in her life before we went public with our relationship.”
“Telling me is hardly going public. I’m her family, for goodness' sake.” Aunt Judy pressed her hand to her chest in an exaggerated gesture of affront while her beady eyes gleamed as she took in the grandeur of the foyer.
I leaned into Kieran’s side, feeling an odd mixture of shame that he was seeing firsthand how my aunt placed money over my happiness and relief over the fact that she wasn't going to try to sway me against him. At least not when there was a chance that there could be something in it for her. Which Kieran picked up on right away and used to his advantage. “You’re quite right. I’m terribly sorry we didn’t think to include you in our happy news sooner. We’ll have to find a way to make it up to you. Maybe a nice, long trip somewhere? Wherever you’d like to go, my treat.”
“That would be lovely.” Aunt Judy flashed him a blinding smile. “I haven’t been to Europe in a while. Although, I suppose I can’t leave until all this drama with the Thackers is settled.”
I should have been amazed by how quickly she switched her alliance, but nothing Aunt Judy did would surprise me anymore after last night. Pressing my lips together, I forced them into a semblance of a smile and kept quiet while Kieran continued to handle her beautifully. “I’m not certain how much help Thana and I will be to the police since she came straight over here after breaking poor Jonathan’s heart, but we’ll be more than happy to speak with them once Thana is dressed for visitors.”