I sat there, stunned and speechless, as I heard the door close behind Audrey. What would it feel like once I had the ring back on my left hand? The impulse to slide it on my finger was overwhelming and made my heart thunder in my chest.
Gunn grunted and then unceremoniously opened the file Audrey had given him as if she hadn't just dropped a bomb on us. He cleared his throat. "Looks like we're meeting Naomi Amsden two days from now, just after five at a coffee shop in Gravity Bay. The Supernova. Do you know it?"
I took a deep breath, shoved the ring in my pocket, and slowly exhaled, trying to calm my swirling emotions. Audrey was forcing us to work together. Alone. How I was going to do that was beyond me, but I had to try. At least for now. Someone's life depended on it. "Yeah. I've been there."
"Good. Tomorrow when we're on the road, we can work out an action plan." He stood. "I'm going out for a while. Be ready to leave at dawn."
I pushed the chair back and started to get to my feet.
He waved me back down. "Stay. Make yourself at home. I'm sure you noticed nothing has changed."
I glanced around, nodded, then bit my bottom lip. "Um, I'd really like to shower. Do you know which room is mine?"
He gave me an odd look, shook his head slightly as if he couldn't believe I was even asking the question. "Like I said. Nothing has changed. Your room is waiting for you."
"I still have a room?" I asked, glancing over at the grand staircase. When he didn't say anything, I turned back to find he was already gone.
4
Gunn
Fuck. My world was a blur as I stalked down the short hallway to the office at Lunar Eclipse. There was no way I could stay in the house with Kennedy there. Not without losing my fucking mind. Half of me wanted to demand an explanation. Finally get her to explain what happened the night she walked out. The other half wanted to say fuck it, carry her upstairs to my bed, and make her mine once and for all.
I walked into the office, slamming the door behind me so hard the framed pictures on the wall rattled.
"Gunn!" my brother's girl Opal cried from her perch on the desk. "Shit!" She scrambled away from Zeke, frantically trying to refasten the buttons on her shirt.
I averted my gaze and scowled. "Don't you two have a fucking room?"
Zeke cleared his throat, leaning against the desk. "Sure. But you and Kennedy were up at the house, and we didn't want to interrupt."
I let out a humorless laugh. "Interrupt? Which part? When Audrey produced the engagement ring Kennedy unceremoniously rejected eight years ago? Or when she informed me we're supposed to go on a mission to Gravity Bay, posing as a newly engaged couple?"
Zeke frowned, his brows pinching together. "Seriously?"
I flopped in a chair and dropped my head backward, staring up at the ceiling. "Seriously."
"Sounds like a good opportunity to clear the air," Opal said quietly.
"There's nothing to say," I said.
Neither of them responded. Then Opal moved to stand next to me, placing her hand on my shoulder. She gave me a sympathetic smile. "There's always something to say, Gunn."
I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Okay. Enough of that." Zeke draped an arm over her shoulder, pulling her against him. "Gunn's a big boy. I'm sure he doesn't need our advice when it comes to the only woman he's ever loved."
"Fuck," I muttered again, gritting my teeth at the mocking in his tone. "Just go away, will you?"
"Sure." Zeke grinned at me. "Opal and I have some unfinished business anyway." His hand slipped down to her hip as he pressed a kiss to her temple.
She laughed. "Zeke. We're making your brother uncomfortable."
"Jesus. Just get out." I waved a hand at the door and swallowed a rush of jealousy. They'd met less than a month ago, and here they were in their nauseating honeymoon period.
"We're going." Zeke called over his shoulder as he guided Opal toward the door. But just before they disappeared back into the pub, he paused. "There's whiskey in the bottom left drawer."
I barked out a laugh. "Thanks, brother."
He nodded, then swept his girl out of the office.
Whiskey. Not my preferred choice, but it would do. It didn't take me long to find the half-empty bottle of Crown Royal. And instead of digging up a glass, I tilted the bottle to my lips and welcomed the sweet burn as it slid down my throat. After one more gulp, I dropped the bottle on the desk and turned to stare out the window. The perfectly manicured grounds looked like something out of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine with the large Victorian looming in the background. The place had a dozen bedrooms, and there was no doubt Kennedy was installed in the one right next to mine.