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Trevor disliked the cattiness in her response.“Knock it off. She’s a kid, and she’s dealing with cancer of the heart.”

She never responded and, instead, shifted to look at Damian, who watched her closely. Whatever she saw made her mouth tighten with displeasure.

“If you’ll excuse me.” Soleil rose to her feet and cast those present a polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I think I’ll go rest for a bit. Today took a lot out of me.”

Stockton was first on his feet, drawing out her chair. “Are you okay, Lei? Should I call a doctor?”

She softened what previously felt like a brittle smile for him. “Between Damian, Mr. Masters, and Mr. Blane, we have the strongest healers available, Gene. I’m fine. Really. Just tired.”

“Lei? Since when did he start calling you Lei?”Trevor demanded through their link.

She winced.

“If you’re up to walking the gardens after dinner, I’d love to show you my recent acquisitions,” Gene offered.

Trevor had had enough.“Tell him you’renot availableandbe donewith it, Dalli! The poor bastard is pining away for you.”

The only indication she’d heard him was the stiffening of her shoulders.

“That’ll be lovely, Gene.” She had the nerve to lean in and kiss the fucker’s cheek. “Thank you.”

“My father likes her,” Lily said to Trevor. “I think you have competition for your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend, kid.” Although his tone was snappish, it didn’t seem to bother her.

“Dad said you were locked in your bedroom with her.”

The superiority in her voice irritated him to no end. “You shouldn’t believe everything you hear. Besides, kids your age shouldn’t know about sex, and guys my age shouldn’t discuss anythingremotelylike sex with children.”

“One, I’m not a child. Two, I never said it was for sex, just that you were locked in your bedroom. And three, I know about sex. I don’t live in a bubble, dude.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “But yeah, talking about it with a guy old enough to be my dad is gross.”

“He’s a helluva lot older!” Trev retorted like the child he accused her of being. The comparison thoroughly annoyed him. “He’s fucking ancient.”

“I’m fifty-two,” Gene saiddrylyas he approached. “Hardly ancient. Only three years older thanyou,if I’m not mistaken.”

Trevor shoved back his chair and stood. “This conversation took a turn for the worse. I’m out.”

Lily giggled, and Gene chuckled as Trev grimaced.

“I need to find Dalli,” he muttered.

“Dalli? I thought her name was Soleil?” Lily’s confusion would’ve been adorable had Trevor been in any sort of indulgent mood.

“Inside joke.” He gave Gene a sour look. “One only a closefriendis privy to.”

Stockton smirked, damn him.

Trev wasreallybeginning to despise smirkers.

First Soleil, now Stockton.There was no end to thesmirkinessgoing around.

* * *

“Do you still love her?”Soleil wanted to punch herself for asking the question the second Trevor walked into her bedroom. What the fuck was she thinking?She’dseen his reaction to the memory at the table. She’d heard his thoughts about the engagement ring.

“No.”

“Pfft.”