Page 64 of Angel Eyes

“Not me.” Nora glided in from the kitchen carrying a roasted chicken. “He means Juliet.”

James blinked, jerking his head around to face me. “The Juliet?”

“Uh …” I darted a wide-eyed look at Gabriel.

“Don’t answer that,” he said flatly.

James rounded the sofa, pulling me into a bear hug that rivaled his wife’s. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He dropped his voice an octave, leaning in. “So, uh, how’s our boy doing? Is he racking up any points on the old proverbial scorecard?”

“Christ.” Gabriel dragged a hand over his face. “I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea to bring her around you two. I guess I should consider myself lucky you don’t have any toilet training pictures of me. No doubt you’d have them teed up on a rotating slideshow.”

“What are we talking about?” Nora chimed in from across the room, lifting her head from where she was applying garnish to the chicken.

“Oh, nothing,” Gabriel muttered. “Just brainstorming how best to humiliate me before the evening is through.”

I laughed into my wrist as James clapped Gabriel hard on the shoulder. “All in good time, mate.” He winked at me before turning back toward the television.

“Ah, ah, ah. Don’t you dare sit back down in front of that match, James Arthur Russell. We’re about to eat.” Nora removed her apron, swiping a hand over her forehead. “Juliet, would you be a darling and grab the salad from the kitchen? It’s on the counter.”

“Sure, happy to help.”

Slipping through a doorway, I spotted the salad bowl perched next to a copper teakettle and grabbed it. Upon returning to the dining room, I found James seated at the head of the table, piling chicken onto his plate while Nora settled in beside him, uncorking the bottle of Bordeaux. Gabriel, however, remained standing, his attention trained on the doorway as though he was waiting. For me.

My heart stutter-stepped when our gazes connected.

“Here’s the salad.”

“Excellent,” James said, tucking a napkin into his collar. “Let’s eat.”

“Wait.” Nora craned her neck to peer down a hallway. “Where’s—”

“Gabriel!”

A flash of auburn hair was the only warning I received before a young woman appeared out of nowhere and launched herself into Gabriel’s arms. Surprise spilled over his features, and his eyes briefly found mine over her shoulder before she pulled back, obscuring him from view.

“Lily?” he said, his voice colored with disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

Lily spun toward James. “You didn’t tell Gabe I was coming?”

James shrugged, appearing for all the world to be entirely unbothered as he shoveled a forkful of potatoes into his mouth.

Nora swiped at his arm. “James, how could you forget? Lily’s arrival was the whole reason I planned this dinner party.” She eyed her husband critically. “I’m sorry, Gabe. I thought James would have told you.”

For the first time since our arrival, Nora’s expression dimmed, and her eyes sprang from Gabriel to me and back again, a tiny divot forming between her eyebrows.

“Well, it’s not a big deal,” Lily said, still clinging to Gabriel’s person. She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’m happy to see you.” Her whiskey eyes moved to me, and she blinked, her smile slipping a fraction. “Oh, hello. I don’t believe we’ve met before.”

Gabriel extricated himself from her and moved to my side, placing a hand on my elbow. “Juliet, this is Lily, James’s little sister. Lily, this is Juliet, my …” He broke off and glanced at me, uncertainty marring his expression.

“His friend,” I croaked, the words rising in my throat like serrated knives.

“Oh,” she beamed, “so lovely to meet you.” She attempted an embrace, but unable to navigate the salad bowl I was still clutching, she settled for pressing her cheek to mine. I tried not to notice her floral scent or the color blooming beneath her creamy skin, but there was no escaping the truth.

She was beautiful.

“Lily, why don’t you come sit here?” Nora patted the empty chair beside her.

“But I want to sit next to Gabriel,” she whined. “It’s been an age since we’ve seen each other.” She hooked her arm through his, dropping her head on his shoulder.

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