Page 10 of The Honeymoon Hack

“Aunt Penny’s got me cleaning a hundred-year-old maritime painting that reeks like hundred-year-old tobacco.” Jenn wrinkled her nose. “But it’s fascinating work—you should stop by the conservation studio sometime.”

The front door opened again, the familiar click of Scarlett’s stilettos preceding her. She appeared, then Malcolm.

And finally, the woman I’d been waiting for.

Something inside me stopped, and my mother’s words floated through my brain again.‘They said they’d fallen asleep working.’

Good god, Mum.

She’d worn her usual jeans and a hoodie that evening ten years ago, her hair in a loose ponytail.

The same as tonight.

She smiled at something Scarlett said, then laughed, the sound carrying across the room like it was all mine. She moved to greet Declan and Zac, not looking into the living room.

“Will?”

“Sorry, what?” I said, realizing Jenn had asked me a question.

“I asked how your mother’s doing. Is she settling in okay?”

“It’s an adjustment.” The awkward tightening in my stomach continued, just as it had from the moment I’d walked into Northwind with Mum. My sister said it was the right choice. Evelyn was even covering the bill. So why did I feel like such abad son?It’s not abandonment.“The place is excellent, though. Evelyn found it.”

“Did she really?” said Emmett. “Must be posh if she picked it.”

“It’s perfect.” My gaze drifted back to Brie, who was now chatting with the IT group. She hadn’t glanced my way yet, too focused on the moment in front of her to notice the world around her.

That was so her.

Zac appeared at Ashley’s side, sliding an arm around her waist. With a grin, he said, “Mind if I steal my girlfriend from her husband?”

“All yours,” I replied, returning his smile. “For now.”

Ashley tipped her glass to me, and Zac led her away, leaving me with Emmett and Jenn.

Declan approached with a glass of scotch in hand and a woman on his arm. “Will, meet Leigh Barton. She’s been looking forward to thanking you in person.”

“Nice to finally meet you,” I said, extending my hand.

Leigh shook my hand. “I’ve been dying to talk to you about how you got the information off the Eisenhart vault in Rome.”

“Leigh’s working on her PhD in Material Engineering,” Declan said, his chest puffing slightly. “Specializing in metal foams for high-security applications.”

If I weren’t so tired, I’d probably remember someone telling me about it. “For vault design?”

“That’s the plan.” Leigh came from a family of engineers who built safes, vaults, and other specialty cases for precious items. It was no surprise Declan—our safecracker and resident safe designer—fell in love with her.

“Are you focused on thermal conductivity issues or more on structural integrity?”

“Both, actually,” Leigh began, her expression brightening. She was a kindred spirit. “I’m developing a composite that maintains strength while reducing weight and heat transfer. But my question first—about the Eisenhart?”

I could use her help with so many of my designs. And if she were working in a lab, maybe I could get her help on a new phone case I’d been working on for the Reynolds team. “Well, I?—”

Brie turned, and her big brown eyes locked with mine. She smiled, a weak smile. But before I had time to smile back, she excused herself from her conversation and disappeared into the heart of Evelyn’s house. Toward the kitchen?

Bloody hell.

“Sorry, Leigh,” I said. “I’m half-asleep and need to check something with Brie.”