ty - a theatrical event full of champagne, empty laughter, and carefully staged photo oppor

guest arrived

g briefly beneath the sun. Adrian watched from the upstairs hallway window, arms fold

short, cheeks flushed. "Sir, you may wish to

athe

ands clasped. "It's

linked.

A man he hadn't seen

he's in town for business and remembered you mentioned

cticed smile. "Delighted

-

g room like he owned it - long legs crossed, a crystal glass of elderflower wine

. "Still taller than me,

" Adrian replied, though

to shake his hand. "You loo

ff to bring more wine. "I w

with cigars," Vincent said with a wink.

long, but his thoughts drifted every time the door opened, half expecting Elias to appear. And when he finally di

d, turning. "Now

iffen slightly. Not enough fo

refully on the table, of

Vincent asked, al

li

too long. "You're not fr

, s

ed, sipping again. "They don't ma

warning glance, but El

l?" Elias asked

said, voice fi

ut Adrian saw it. The tension. The he

without a

"Beautiful staff you've hire

ed. "He's not part o

s. It's just

an didn'

the rest of t

-

t smile, and Vincent basked in her attention. Adrian remained unusually r

asn't p

an didn'

-

htly hush, Adrian sat in the study with his

iste

reak near the service stai

ss the dark carpet. He wasn't sure what he expected - or feared - b

t. And

ng too

ms were folded, and Vincent leaned against the wall

u have an interesting way

ht away. "I wasn't awar

y. "Don't worry. I li

rward, his voice low and shar

men t

chatting with your housekee

od. "I was just about to

h anger, but something else. S

for the evening,

walked away wit

ed to Adrian with a smirk. "You'r

lower his voice. "You have your room.

urmured. "So it

answer. He d

d left, hear

-

oom, Adrian f

him like he

isitor. Like he's some

deeper dow

t bother m

nd stared at the word

-

front of the small mirror mounted above the wash

practiced, and nosy. The kind of man who

ear when Vincent flirte

t by V

Adr

lingered. The part that

ard, resting his

getting d

im didn't wan