Page 106 of Rags to Royals

“You can’t tell me she doesn’t want to sleep with me while she’s sitting right here,” Henry tells Fiona, removing his arm, and pushing her away.“That’s terrible wing-woman behavior.”

“You asked what I thought.”

“I didn’t. I simply repeated ‘how she acted toward me’. It wasn’t a question.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Fiona doesn’t seem sorry. “He’s broken hearted,” Fiona tells me. “Don’t believe anything he says. I know the British accent really does it for some women, but he’ll just be using you to get over her.”

Right. Got it. Fiona is buying the ruse that Henry is over here flirting with me. And she’s here to warn me off. Because he’s heart broken. Over my sister.

Well, Fiona probably doesn’t know that part. But this is…weird. And funny.

“Ellie said the same thing,” I tell her. I give Henry a look. Wow, these women arereallynot wanting him to hook up. What’s that about?

“Oh good. No offense, but we’re hoping he can figure things out with her.”

“The girl he’s broken-hearted over?” I ask, definitely interested in that.

“Yes. I’ve known Henry a very long time and I’ve never seen him in love before.”

“I’m not in love with her anymore,” Henry protests.

Fiona ignores him. “There must be something really special about her. So we don’t want him messing anything up before he has a chance to fix things. No offense,” she says again.

I nod solemnly. “I understand. I actually agree with you,” I tell her. “I think he needs to try to work it out with her, too.” I meet Henry’s gaze.

He narrows his eyes.“There’s no way to work it out. We’re not in love anymore.”

We both ignore him this time.

“He told you about her?” Fiona asks me.

“I know everything,” I say, notexactlylying. “It’s clear they’re a good match.”

“How didyoutwo meet?” Fiona asks.

“Henry and I stayed at the same hotel last night and Cian mentioned this is where they were coming for lunch today. So I did follow them, but you’re right, I don’t want to sleep with Henry.” There, that was all truth. Technically.

“Oh, good then.” Fiona seems pleased with all of that information.

Fiona’s happy energy reminds me of Cian. Without thinking, I look up and find him, still sitting at the back table. But his eyes are still on me. He’s watching my exchange with Henry and Fiona with a strange expression I can’t quite describe, but he’s not missing a single detail. I’m not sure he’s even blinking.

“You should come to the animal park before you leave,” Fiona says. “We’re all heading over there now. It’s got a whole fall theme going on with leaves and pumpkins and hay bales.” She laughs. “We have a lot of hay bales anyway, but there are extras now for decoration. With scarecrows and all that fall stuff. It’s adorable. Charlie loves this shit. Plus, we’ve got pumpkin spice lattes and cider and apple cider donuts and caramel apples. You’ll love it.”

It does sound fun and I’m actually kind of dying to see it. I want to take a swamp boat tour and walk down Main Street, and just soak this town in. This is where Cian has lived for the pastfew years. This is where so many people who are important to him are located. Not just his family, but lots of friends too.

I also want them to know who I am.

That thought hits me right between the eyes. And right in the heart.

It sucks my breath out of my lungs.

I don’t want to just eavesdrop. I don’t want to be undercover. I don’t want people to think I’m here because Henry flirted with me at the hotel in New Orleans.

I want to be here with Cian.

I want to hold his hand. Have him introduce me to everyone. Have him show me around and tell me stories about the place and people.

I want Fiona to either smile and hug me because she’s so happy that Cian found me or give me ‘hurt him and I’ll kill you’ big sister vibes or…anything, really. I just want to be a part of all of thiswith him.

---