Brothers of Paradise Series

Ivy

Rhys’s hand rests on my low back like a talisman. “Don’t be nervous,” he murmurs in my ear.

“I’m not.” I shoot him my winning smile, practiced from years of modeling. It’s not enough to convince him, judging by the raised eyebrow. “At least I’m allowed to talk at this party.”

He gives a crooked smile, but the tension around his eyes doesn’t fade. “A big improvement from the last party we attended together.”

“Do you think we’ll end up in a pool at this one too?”

“It would be a shame to,” he says, his hand curving around my hip. “You look stunning.”

So does he, tall and poured into a tailored gray suit, no tie, the expensive watch glittering at his wrist. He’s a different man from the one I’ve travelled with, the teasing glint in his eyes elevated.

“Good thing my agency packed all those unpractical clothes, you mean.”

“I’ll admit that they do look beautiful.”

“And as for unpractical…” I smooth a hand over the red silk of my dress, the same I’d worn walking through St. Barts. It’s a risk, wearing it tonight, when it has to be returned. “Well, I don’t expect having to run from any lions tonight.”

“I wouldn’t count on that,” Rhys mutters.

We pause in front of a large three-story house, white with shutters and a wrap-around porch. It’s perched right by the sea, close enough that I can just make out a private shoreline.

The sound of a live band reaches us, soft notes and guitar strings. Laughter rises up from the lawn.

“This is where you grew up?”

Rhys nods. “I’m surprised he agreed to host the party here.”

“You are?”

“Yes. He’ll pretend to be reluctant about all the attention he’s getting, but he’s going to be counting all the congratulatory cards he’s received tonight.”

I grip his hand and pull us toward the music that beckons. To think he grew up here, by the ocean and the old wealth of this town… “But your siblings will be here?”

“They will. Not to mention there’ll be tons of good food and an open bar.”

“There will?”

“My mother only uses the best caterer.”

He weaves us around a throng of people without bothering to say hello, ignoring the curious looks they cast him. I give them all a polite, sheepish smile. Inside, my heart is pounding. Of all the adventures Rhys and I have gone on the past two weeks, this might be the scariest.

A beautiful woman with auburn hair spots us, a smile breaking like the dawn across her freckled face. She heads our way, a faint limp to her walk. Rhys’s own steps quicken.

“You ghost!” she scolds him. “I hear you arrive at the cottage, but you don’t say hi. I come over in the morning, and you’re already out!”

Rhys’s grin is unapologetic. “Whoops.”

“Was it punishment?” she asks. “Because I sent Henry your itinerary?”

“I hadn’t thought of that, but if you want to see it that way, by all means.”

She rolls her eyes before turning to me. “And I heard you brought a friend. Hi!”

“Hi.” I shake her extended hand. “I’m Ivy.”

Her smile grows wider. “And I’m Lily. We’re both named after plants.”

“Although only one of you is poisonous,” Rhys points out.

His sister shoots him a look. “Well, that’s not kind of you.”

“Don’t worry,” I say, liking her already. “I’m used to it by now.”

At my side, Rhys snorts. “She’s exaggerating.”

“Only a little.”

Lily glances from me to her brother and back again. “So the two of you have been on a trip around the world, from what I’ve heard. I want to hear all about it. Rhys hasn’t sent me a single picture.”

“And he’s taken a thousand,” I tell her.

“Hey,” Rhys tells me. “Whose side are you on here?”

I laugh, and so does his sister, shooting another speculative look at him. Our little group is interrupted by the brother who’d driven us here.

“Save me,” Henry says, wearing a suit and a pained expression.

“Investors?” Rhys asks.

His brother grimaces, the expression minute. “Legions of them. Is this a birthday party or a conference?”

“Both,” Lily says. “Always both.”

“We should form a sub-party,” Rhys says. “Like the old days.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Henry groans at the same time as Lily gives an excited whoop. I glance between them. “A sub-party?”

“It’s when you steal a few bottles from the open bar and find an abandoned room,” Rhys says. “Very useful in a pinch.”

“And very adolescent,” Henry says. “Ivy, it’s nice to see you again. Did you enjoy sailing?”

“Smooth,” Rhys says. “Not obvious you changed the subject at all.”

His brother gives him a level look. “Thank you.”

I bite my lip to keep from chuckling. “I did, yes. This town is beautiful. And I want to thank you for letting me stay in your cottage, Lily, and the hospitality. I know I’m an unexpected plus one.”