Page 118 of Never Tell Secrets

He slung an arm around my waist. “I’m aware of that. Thank you for the invitation.”

“It wasn’t mine.”

I tensed at the edge in her voice but Alfie didn’t seem fazed by it.

“I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t alright with it.”

“You’re here to distract my mother from commenting on my many failings not because I?—”

“Keira! Don’t keep them waiting!” Richard Larson appeared, pulling me into a warm embrace as if it had been years since we’d seen each other, not days.

I held my breath as Alfie introduced himself, wondering if he would present arrogant, reserved Alfie, or the newer, more open version of himself.

I needn’t have worried because almost immediately, Alfie pulled him into a conversation about the architecture of thehouse. I shared a smile with Keira as she led us through the archway to the open courtyard where breakfast waited.

She came to a screeching halt as we were greeted by Damien Marx, charming the apron off Keira’s mother. Laura turned, eyes fixed on her daughter.

“Keira, you didn’t tell me you’d invited someone.” The admonishment was clear in her voice, she turned a sweet smile back to Damien who was watching the interaction with the eyes of a hawk. “I apologise for my daughter, she’s very careless.”

Keira stalked over, scowling at Damien. “What are you doing here?”

“Keira!” Richard echoed his wife’s tone and went to her side.

“It’s alright,” Damien flashed them both a charming smile before looking back at Keira. “I just thought you might be hungry.” He gestured at a bakery box full of cherry danishes.

I looked up at Alfie who wasn’t even trying to hide that he’d picked my brain on purpose so he could tell Damien what to buy for Keira.

“You sneaky bastard,” I whispered.

Thirty-Six

“Lola!” Laura approached me, arms outstretched. “Good morning!”

I gave her back an awkward pat, seeking out my best friend's eye. Her dark eyes blazed, her cheeks flushed with anger as she glared at Damien. I pulled out of the hug, gesturing at the sneaky bastard next to me. “This is?—”

“Alfie Tell! Of course, I’d recognise those cheekbones anywhere. Hi, I’m Laura Larson, I’ve known Lola since she was a little girl.” She beamed, all but swooning at his feet. Alfie shook her hand, but instead of littering her with smooth compliments as I expected, he was merely polite, his gaze dissecting the woman as he spoke.

“I always forget that you’re famous,” I muttered as we all took our seats. I hadn’t expected Laura to recognise him on sight.

“Infamous actually,” he whispered and I snorted.

“We still need to talk about that stunt with the danishes.”

Alfie gave me a look that was far too cool for my liking but I ignored it, I’d deal with that later. Damien took a seat next to Keira and I frowned at the tension in her face.

Maia seated herself next to me and I blinked, wondering where she’d come from. She gave me a small smile and I whispered that I hoped she’d had fun with Eli. Before she could respond, Laura lifted a lid off one of the food trays and a familiar smell hit my nose.

“I made these for you.” She smiled, lifting the tray to offer me a muffin. “They’re still your favourite I hope.”

I looked around for a tray of homemade cherry danishes and of course, found the table empty except for Damien's offering. Swallowing a sigh I forced a polite smile on my face.

“Thank you, they smell great.” I took a plump blueberry muffin, tore off a chunk and popped it in my mouth. Keira rolled her eyes at her mums’ antics but I could see the hurt there.

I felt Alfie’s hand on my thigh and looked up to find a concerned expression on his face. Of course he’d picked up on the tension. I gave his hand a squeeze.

“Laura, I apologise,” Damien said, “if I’d known you were making the girls’ favourites I wouldn’t have bought the danishes. Do you need help bringing out the ones you made for Keira?” His smooth smile was perfectly in place, so charming Laura didn’t even realise the passive aggression slapping her in the face. Keira side-eyed him and I raised my brows.

“Oh, I didn’t make any! But Keira will eat anything, can’t you tell by those hips?” She laughed, an empty, hollow sound.