Page 35 of Flare

“I’m aware of that.” Leon appeared almost disappointed. “But Rhys and I agreed to share since he only needed the one, not that it’s any of your business.”

Kip flushed. “Long as we’re clear. One dayImight need it.”

“And I’ll make sure to get out of your way. Have a nice day, Christopher.”

“Kip,” Kip murmured under his breath as the man left.

I fired Kip a puzzled look and he grimaced. “Long story. Don’t ask.” His gaze slid to the road as a throaty rumble fired to life from somewhere outside and a huge Harley tore from the alley and headed up the street.

“Kip?” A tiny woman in her fifties, with a bouncing mop of jet-black hair, smooth, deep olive skin, and a saucy twinkle in a familiar pair of dark brown eyes, came to an abrupt stop next to Kip and ran a shrewd gaze over me. “Can you ask Jack to take a look at the coffee maker upstairs?” she asked Kip, while keeping her gaze steady on me. “The pod release isn’t working.” She tilted her head and smiled wolfishly. “And who do we have here? Aboyfriend,Kip? Has hell frozen over? Have the Highlanders won a game? Tell me it isn’t so. Be still my heart.”

Kip rolled his eyes and pressed a kiss to the top of the woman’s head. “I’ll send Jack up when he’s done. And no, you little troublemaker. This is absolutelynotmy boyfriend. You know me better than that. This is Jack’s uncle, Beckett Northcott. Beck, meet Carolyn Hellier, Rhys’s mum. Call her Caro or Sir. She answers to both.”

Caro huffed and elbowed Kip sharply in the ribs while he ruffled her hair with obvious affection.

“So,you’reBeckett. Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard good things about your nephew since he surrendered his life of crime.”

Fucking hell.I almost choked on my tongue and Kip had to slap me on the back.

“Caro, behave,” he chided, to her obvious amusement.

“You’re no fun.” She flashed him a wicked smile.

I clasped my big mitt around her tiny one, noting the rainbow artwork on her long fingernails. She might’ve been half my size, but there was nothing wishy-washy about that steely grip. “Nice to meet you Mrs Hellier, but please call me Beck. And yes, the New Zealand police have been able to stand their task force down. Today leather cuffs, tomorrow the nation’s state secrets—it’s a slippery slope.”

Her expression exploded into a huge smile, and the scent of a summer garden in bloom washed over me. “Good to know. And you can call me Caro. Only my mother-in-law called me Mrs Hellier, and I’d prefer not to be reminded of that woman, if at all possible. A spitting cobra would’ve done a better job as a parent for my poor George, God rest his soul. Still, she’s dead now and well before her time, so every cloud has a silver lining, right?”

I choked back a laugh. “I can see I’m gonna have to watch myself around you, Caro.”

She gave a sly grin and then studied the store with a sigh. “Jack’s gonna have his work cut out for him today.”

I followed her gaze, my attention drawn to where the photographer was cupping Rhys’s face, and a curl of jealousy licked in my chest. Was he why Rhys never got back to me?

Caro’s gaze flicked between me and her son. “Jack mentioned his mother is in prison.”

I schooled the surprise from my face. “Yes, sadly.”

She patted me on the arm. “It can’t be easy. How old are you?”

“Caro!” Kip exclaimed. “Give the poor man a break.”

“It’s fine.” I grinned. “I’m forty. And before you ask, I teach English at the university, nineteenth-century poets. My father lives in Napier. I have one sister, currently a guest of the government, as you know. My mother passed away in a motor vehicle accident some time ago. And just for the record, based on what you mentioned before, I suspectmymother andyourmother-in-law would’ve had a lot in common.”

Her expression softened and a flash of understanding passed through those clever eyes. “Good to see you haven’t let that hold you back. I think we’re going to get along famously. You’ll have to come to dinner sometime.”

What?I was pretty sure the entire store heard the sound of my jaw hitting the floor. “Oh, I don’t think... I mean, that’s lovely of you to offer, but—”

“I can cook more than Louise cake, you know.” Her eyes danced with mischief and my cheeks warmed. That fucker. “You haven’t had a great laksa until you’ve tasted mine.” She patted my chest with her hand and then waved to Rhys. “Goodbye, son.”

Rhys waggled his fingers in reply, looking wide-eyed and pale, and I didn’t blame him. A few minutes with Caro Hellier and I felt like I’d been put through a full laundry cycle and spat out with my seams frayed.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Rhys

“Holy shit.”I elbowed Hunter in the ribs and tipped my head to where my mother stood talking with Beck and Kip at the service desk. The potential repercussions of that gathering were terrifying—the arse-splitting interrogation I was bound to be put through, not the least of them. And the crafty look on my mother’s face said it all.

Nothing, barnothing,got past that woman.

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