Page 103 of Rags to Royals

“I’m Scarlett. Thanks.”

“Are you in town visiting someone?” she asks as Henry slides onto the stool next to me.

“No, um, just got hungry and asked where the best place to eat was.”

“And that place was full so you ended up down here?” Henry asks.

“Just because you say it with that fancy accent doesn’t make it funny,” Ellie tells him, swatting at him with her towel.

Henry chuckles. “Love you, El.”

“Look out for this one,” she tells me, pointing at Henry. “Lots of ladies fall for that British thing. I get it. And the blue eyes aren’t bad either. But he just got his heart broken, and he’s gonna be flirty with you so you tell him he’s pretty and charming and make him feel better.”

I cover my grin with a sip of my tea as she moves off down the bar.

I look at Henry. “You’ve been here for an hour and they already know that you’re heartbroken over Ruby?”

“Ellie is practically a mind reader,” he says with a shrug. “Plus being sad gets me extra gumbo.”

I look at him for a moment. “Sorry about the heartbreak thing, by the way.”

He nods. “Funny thing is, if Ruby wasn’t so dedicated to you and Mariah, we wouldn’t have as much in common, and maybe I might not have fallen for her so hard.”

I nod. “Ironic.”

He turns and leans an elbow on the bar. “So, what are you doing here?”

“I figure he’s undercover in my town to get to know me better, so I thought I could be undercover in his for a little bit and maybe pick up a few things about him.”

Henry is giving me a look that seems almost impressed. “Okay. Well, the thing is, I’m going to have to sit here and pretend to flirt with you.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you don’t want everyone to know who you really are. And if anyone else flirts with you, Cian will come over and make it pretty obvious that you’re taken. And if he does that… well, it’s going to be pretty obvious that you’re taken. And as soon as everyone knows that you’re taken by him?—”

“He said they would have us married before we left town.”

Henry nods. “Something like that.”

“Because they all love him?”

Henry’s expression softens. “Something like that.”

I look over his shoulder at the table. With the way Henry is sitting next to me, it’s very convenient that I can pretend to be looking at him but actually watch Cian. I don’t think that’s an accident. “Or something exactly like that?” I ask.

“Scarlett,” Henry says. “Everyone loves Cian. Everyone wants him to be happy. You might be the only person I know who’s been able to resist giving Cian O’Grady what he wants. So, yes, if they catch on that you’reher, they will want him to have you. Because that’s what he wants.”

I swallow and somehow refrain from admitting to Henry that I may not always hold the record for resisting giving Cian what he wants.

“Were Fiona and Saoirse really happy to see him?”

“Thrilled. Of course, they want to know all about you and our trip to Ohio.”

“What are they going to think about you flirting with someone so soon after having your heart broken?”

“They’re going to think I’m trying to get over it. And then when you leave without me, they’ll feel bad for me and I’ll maybe get an extra serving of bread pudding. I’ll definitely get extra moonshine.”

I laugh. “I hope you have a place to stay so you don’t have to drive.”

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