“You talking surfer language gets me all hot and bothered, sea sprite.”
Jack slapped Royce’s arse. “Get a room.”
Royce ignored him and kept kissing me.
Eric drained his tea cup. “Where are we going next, Lou?”
Royce finally broke away from my lips and cupped my face with his hands, stroking his thumbs over my cheeks. “Well, Louisa? What’s your answer?”
“Take me to the Tower, boys… if you dare.” I arched my eyebrow at them and crooked my mouth in a sinister grin.
ChapterEleven
Louisa
“That was the best day ever.” I unwrapped my scarf from around my neck and peeled my coat off my body. “I think London is my new favorite city.”
“What was your favorite city before?” Byron asked.
I twisted up my lips. “Okay, my second favorite city because Wayborough Shores will always be my true favorite.”
A playful smirk played at Eric’s features. “Why’s that?”
“I wonder,” I teased back.
I stopped dead in my tracks when we reached the living area and saw Tate hanging up from a phone call. Jack bumped into me, then caught me by the arms before his slip sent me tumbling. He looked at me with concern as he felt my body tense under his hands.
I hated myself right at that moment.
Hated myself for wanting Tate even after the way he’d acted that morning.
Hated that I loved him even though he clearly thought of me as defective.
I love you, asshole, even though you are an asshole.I wanted to scream it at him, but I didn’t. He didn’t need to know the power he had over me.
Tate lowered the phone and pinned me with his steely gaze before glancing at his brothers and indicating the disgustingly handsome young blond man who was lounging casually in one of the dining table chairs. “Eric, Byron, Royce, look who I found working at R.I. London.”
Royce widened his eyes. “Is that you, Blaise?”
Blaise’s smirk grew as he held his hands out. “The one and only.”
Eric walked over to the man and held out his hand. “It’s good to see you, man.”
Blaise inclined his head as he shook Eric’s hand. “You, too,mon frère.”
“I’d like you to meet Lou.” When Tate took a step toward me, I took a step back, bumping into Jack once more.
“Lou.” Both men said my name at the same time.
Blaise pinned me with his blue eyes. As he rose, I marveled at how much he looked like a mixture of Tate and Harris with his strong, stubbled jawline and mess of unruly dark blond hair. Then, he stalked toward me and snagged my hand in his. His gaze was full of sinful intent as he lifted my hand to his lips, “Bonjour, mon cherie. Enchanté.I am pleased to meet you.”
“Uh…” I gulped. “Hello.”
Blaise brushed his lips across my knuckles and straightened, though his gaze never left me. “You are hiding such beauty, Tate.”
“No one hides Lou,” Royce assured him.
Blaise chuckled. “Of course not. I’m sure one would always want to show her off.”