“What did you guys say to her?”
“Let’s just say we’re quite convincing when we need to be. Beth is long-gone.”
“You’re a little scary, Kane.”
He doesn’t smile. He doesn’t look at me. He’s a ball of frustration and anger.
And then it occurs to me.
“You haven’t worked in quite a while.”
“Eight days,” he says and rubs his hand over his lips. “I haven’t had glass in my hands in eight days, and it might kill me, Anastasia.”
“One more day,” I assure him. “We’ll get through today, and then you’ll be free to work.”
“Thank Christ.” He pulls into his driveway. We’ve beaten everyone else here, aside from the caterers, who arrived this morning to get the food and drinks set up and now move in and out of the house, going about their duties.
Murphy runs out of the open door to greet us.
“Hey, good boy.” I rub his back and then kiss his head. “Did you supervise?”
“He most likely begged for handouts,” Kane says as he holds the door for me. The living area has been transformed, the seating moved to small gathering places of four or five chairs. Tables line one wall, covered with both hot and cold foods.
Whoever Kane hired thought of everything.
“Sorry, I know I’m late.”
We turn at the sound of the man’s voice. Kane grins and walks to him, shaking his hand and then hugging him.
“But you’re here, and I appreciate it.” Kane turns to me. “Anastasia, I’d like to introduce you to Cameron Cox. He’s been my best mate since I was fifteen.”
“He can’t shake me loose,” Cameron says with a smile. He shakes my hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Pleasure.” Cameron is as tall as Kane but broader in the shoulders. His arm muscles, outlined by his long-sleeved shirt, are ridiculous. Cameron has military written all over him.
He looks dangerous. Like someone you wouldn’t want to cross.
“Are you in the military?” I ask Cameron.
“Was,” he says and nods.
“And what do you do now?”
A slow smile spreads over his handsome face. “Well, I can’t tell you that. Let’s just say I still work for the government.”
“Okay, then.” I nod and hear doors slam out front. “Sounds like the others are arriving. I’ll go see if they need anything.”
I leave Kane and Cameron to have their testosterone-filled conversation without me. I have a brother and a million male cousins, one of whom is an ex-Navy SEAL. Caleb is intense and surly. Dangerous.
Just like Cameron.
Maggie and Shawn climb out of Shawn’s car and walk toward me. Maggie’s not laughing now. She looks tired.
“Hey,” she says when she reaches me. “Sorry about earlier. It wasn’t funny.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me or anyone else,” I assure her as I wrap my arms around her for a hug. “You’re a human being, and we all react to things differently. If you need to laugh, you go ahead and laugh.”
“What she needs now is some food,” Fiona says as she and Tom join us.
“I don’t think I’m hungry,” Maggie says.
“It’s just a little something for your belly,” Tom says and takes her hand. “You’ve a strong mind and a strong will, Mary Margaret. We have to keep your body strong, as well.”
They walk into the house. Keegan winks at me and follows them, with Maeve and Shawn bringing up the rear.
“We don’t know you well yet,” Maeve says.
“Likewise,” I say with a smile.
“But I like you,” Maeve continues, and Shawn nods. “You’re here for Kane and for Maggie, and that means a lot. It can’t be comfortable for you.”
“I’m holding my own.”
“That you are,” Shawn says.Chapter Eight~Kane~“Say that again,” Cameron says, his eyes narrowed. We’re sitting out in the sunroom, away from the rest of the people who’ve come to pay their respects. Though by now, most have left. Keegan’s pacing, Shawn’s standing at the window, staring out at the sea, and I’m sitting across from Cameron.
“She claims she was sleeping with him,” Keegan repeats. “That he was with her when he died, and she’s been with him for quite some time.”
“I mean, are any of us surprised?” Shawn asks, still not turning from the window. “He left for days, sometimes weeks at a time. He was aloof at best, and downright critical and a bully at worst.”
“Why didn’t I know any of this?” Cameron asks with a scowl. “I’d have killed him and made it look like an accident years ago.”
“You’re not here,” Keegan reminds my friend before I can. “You’re in Afghanistan, or Chile, or wherever you’ve been for fifteen years.”
“I always come home,” Cameron replies.
“We didn’t know for sure he was cheating,” I remind everyone. “We only knew that he was a jerk. But being a jerk isn’t a crime. In fact, neither is adultery, now that I think of it.”
“Well, it should be,” Keegan says fiercely. “She’s a good girl. She’s bright and kind. Helpful.”