Page 28 (1/2)

“That sounds lovely,” Ava says softly, and my eyes drink in her beautiful face

For a moment I can’t find words I want to say Not as lovely as you, but it’s a cheesy line, and it definitely would not fit into Reggie’sto follow Cal’s eyes are on

“Miss Wilder have you met my brother?”

Ava’s eyes hold low like green eh the day without stealing a kiss

“MacCallum Lockwood Tate, can you believe it?” My brother steps forward, turning on all the charaze moves from me to him

“I like it,” she says with a smile “I’m Ava”

“Call me Cal”

She slips a hand into the crook of his arh, I turn to Miss Benedict, who I notice is watching theone in a blink, however, and she gives me another forced smile

“You’re too kind to take tiine what all goes into running a country”

“We’re only a s her to hold s yesterday before the ball, and I’ll be in my office this afternoon It’s not such an inconvenience” She nods, and I reie’s last instructions “I hope you and your friend will join us for dinner tonight at our estate in Occitan”

“Is it in the country?”

“It’s just outside of town, down by the shore”

“We’d be honored It sounds beautiful”

We’re quiet again Cal and Ava are ahead of us chatting away like old friends He waves at one of the buildings, and Ava’s soft laughter floats back It’s like knives stabbing me in the chest I tear my eyes away from them

“I’ll send a car to the Fontaine at seven”