Page 12

“It’s…” I shrug hopelessly. “It’s what some of the gals call you. You and Daniel and Harry—the trifecta.”

Matthew’s eyebrows shoot up.

“Because you’re all young and handsome and not married and…you know, your families all are really…” Wealthy, Matthew. Really fucking wealthy.

His eyebrows rise higher and higher into his hairline as I talk. That’s when I decide it’s time to clam up. In fact, I probably should have clammed up hours ago.

“Matthew.” Daniel leans in for a handshake.

“And Katarina.” Harry greets me with a shifty smile. “This is unexpected.”

“Saw you two running the pool table,” Daniel says. “It’s been forever since we’ve played. You’ll have to have me over one night for a game at your place, Matt.”

“Certainly, we’ll set something up.”

“And we’ll have to invite Katarina too,” Daniel adds. “Who knew you could shoot pool?”

I flash a coy smile. “Oh, I’m full of surprises.”

“It’s that Catacomb upbringing,” Harry replies. “She’s not nearly as buttoned-up as most of these girls. I bet you learned all kinds of tricks down there.” His tone is pleasant, but there’s a suggestive glint in his eye I don’t altogether like.

Matthew frowns but doesn’t say anything.

“Hey, Matt?” Daniel claps his shoulder. “I was going to find you before you left. We’re throwing an impromptu stag party for Johnnie Rockefeller tomorrow and are headed out to Jekyll Island. It’s still offseason, but they’re opening the clubhouse for the party. ”

Harry gives me a light glance before adding his two cents. “It’ll be total debauchery, Matt. You know Johnnie doesn’t do anything halfway. We’re staying on the island. His family is having the bedrooms at Indian Mound aired out.”

Staying over? Could it really be so simple?

My jaw drops, my mind racing to the job at Astor Manor. To cover, I squeak out a question. “Indian Mound?”

“The Rockefeller family’s cottage at the Jekyll Island Club,” Daniel explains. “So what do you say, Matt? Can you make it?”

“I can’t, unfortunately,” he replies. “I have to work at the hospital tomorrow. I start a twenty-four-hour shift in the morning.”

I turn to him in surprise. “Another twenty-four-hour shift? When do you sleep?” I frown when he laughs.

“Matt works all the time,” Harry says. “You’ll learn that soon enough, Katarina—haven’t you noticed he’s not usually at these events?”

“Right.” Matthew fidgets uncomfortably before turning to me. “Didn’t you have something to tell Daniel?”

I stall. “Well, it’s a bit of a secret actually. I reckon I shan’t say it in front of everyone.”

“I love secrets!” Daniel’s brown eyes light up. “You have to tell us. Come on, out with it.”

“Okay…” I draw out the word as I think. I’ve got something prepared, of course, but I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this.

All three men are expectant.

“My friend Florence thinks you’re plumb swell!” I blurt. Daniel and Harry both start heckling.

“Florence Vanderbilt ?” Harry repeats. “She thinks anyone with money in the bank is plumb swell . Me, Daniel, Matthew…”

“Yeah, that secret doesn’t amount to a hill of beans,” Daniel says once his laughter subsides. “Flo and I have been on the make—and then some—for years.” He winks. “But thanks, Katarina. I’ll take it under advisement. If she’s interested in coming back for seconds, who am I to refuse?”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. It’s undoubtedly time to depart.

“Matthew?” I tighten my grip on his arm. “Shall we step outside?”

He nods. “Have fun tomorrow, fellas. Good seeing you.”

“You mentioned last week you like the gardens, right?” I prattle as we exit the billiard room. “Have you seen them at night before?”

“Yes, loads of times. My mom works here, remember?”

“Oh, that’s right.” I sigh dramatically. “Never mind. It’s getting late, and apparently you have to work another absurd shift tomorrow, so…”

“So…?”

“So I should say goodnight to you.”

“But I still have one question.”

I lean against him in exasperation. “Haven’t you tortured me enough this evening?”

He laughs. “You did fine. Exceeded expectations, remember?”

“Yes, and embarrassed myself all over the place.”

“You didn’t embarrass yourself. Honesty isn’t embarrassing. It’s refreshing.”

“I was talking about our game of pool.”

“Oh, well…” He pulls a face. “I suppose it was a tad humiliating.”

“Humiliating?” I repeat, appalled.

“Just a tad, I said.”

“Indeed.” I turn to face him. “So you see, Matthew, I’ve had quite a trying evening. Unless you’re offering a very stiff drink before asking me yet another potentially scandalous question, I’m going to take my leave.”

“I can get you a stiff drink.”

“Where?” I cross my arms, calling his bluff.

“My mom’s office. She keeps a bottle of whiskey in the bottom drawer of her desk. ”

“Lady Genevieve?” I gasp. “Surely not.”

“It’s mostly for my dad when he visits, but it’s in there.” His mischievous smile is back, tugging at something deep in my stomach.

“We shouldn’t…” I say.

“Probably not,” he agrees.

“But you could…you could get in?”

“Of course.”

My heartbeat races, just like it always does at the thought of breaking the rules, of doing something I shouldn’t.

“Show me.”