Page 12 of The Sound of Secrets

Salome smiled at the other woman and offered a small finger wave in greeting. “She’s stunning. But didn’t you tell me she was leaving for Sydney when she graduates? Alistair seems like too much of a playboy to maintain a long-distance relationship. From what you’ve told me, that boy gets around.”

“True. But if he finds the right person, maybe he’ll change his mind.” I nudged her again and cocked my head in my ex-husband’s direction.

She pushed my shoulder, which caused me to nearly drop the champagne flute. I laughed when she scolded, “You better be this annoying with Roan, otherwise you’re being sexist.”

“I’mmoreannoying around him because I know what an amazing partner he is. Any woman who lands him is lucky. And any guy who gets you is clearly blessed by the gods. Which is why I think the two of you are perfect together.”

Salome opened her mouth to retort, but her attention suddenly shifted to the entrance of the tent. She let out a low whistle and muttered, “That is a teenage boy who has heartache written all over him.”

The kid stood awkwardly as he scoped out the occupants of the party tent. He was tall for a teenager. He was dressed more casually than any of the other attendees in baggy jeans and a soccer jersey worn over a long-sleeve shirt. He wore basic Converse, which had seen better days, and a baseball hat that sat on his head backward.None of the basic teenage-boy uniform did anything to hide that he was beautiful. For Salome, who used to be a model and was surrounded by the world’s most attractive men, to call the kid aheartache, it wasn’t an exaggeration.

His dark eyes moved restlessly through the crowd, briefly stopping where I was standing. He didn’t make a move until Winnie noticed him and started toward him. She stopped to grab Luka, Beverly’s brother, and dragged him along to break the ice. I watched Win frown from across the room. The harlequin clown also kept his attention on the birthday girl as she enthusiastically welcomed the newcomer. It was painfully obvious my niece’s new friend was overwhelmed and out of place. He bravely let her bring him inside and patiently waited while she introduced him to her friends. It was adorable the way all the girls giggled and blushed, which had all the other boys shifting and scowling with envy. When you were the level of good looking that created shockwaves within a crowd, your financial status was irrelevant.

“Handsome and heroic. Winnie already has better taste than you at that age.” Salome’s words were dry and meant to be a joke, but she wasn’t wrong.

I wanted to laugh at the light jab, but there was something about the teenager I found unnerving. I looked at Salome and asked, “Do you think he looks familiar? I can’t put my finger on it, but I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

“Didn’t Win’s security say he’s a city kid? You’ve probably passed by him on the streets or seen him around the neighborhood.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s it.” My gut reaction told me the uneasy feeling of familiarity was more than a recognizable face. “Oh shit. I’m going to run interference.”

I hastily handed her my untouched drink and moved through the crowd to reach Win’s side just as Winnie approached her uncle. I nodded at the disguised Archie and gave him a thumbs up. I grabbed onto Win’s forearm and squeezed while warning through my teeth, “Be nice. Don’t make this hard on her. It’s her birthday.”

His scarred hand covered mine. I could feel the tension in his grip. The expression on his handsome face was cold enough to freeze the entire city. The young man standing next to Winnie didn’t even flinch under the pressure from the arctic blast. I was momentarily impressed by his composure.

“Uncle Win, this is Ky. He helped me out when I was in trouble.” Winnie was noticeably nervous. I could tell she was doing her best to hide it.

The teenage boy stared at Win like he was trying to see inside his head. Now that I was closer, I could see his hair was bleached white as snow. His dark eyes and tan complexion made the color pop and gave him an effortlessly rebellious air. I couldn’t blame Win for being leery of having someone who looked like he embodied catnip for teenage girls (and boys) around Winnie.

Ky stuck his hand out clumsily and muttered, “I want to thank you for intervening with the kids from Winnie’s school. Their parents were giving my mom a hard time over the fight, and they wanted me kicked off the soccer team. I know the reason all of that went away is because of you.”

Win let go of me and politely returned the handshake. However, he didn’t let go and told the teen, “I’m better at making problems than I am at solving them. Keep that in mind the next time you want to convince Winnie to do something that puts her in danger.”

When the kid’s hand was finally free, he lifted it to rub the back of his neck anxiously. “I understand. I didn’t realize who she was at first. Most of those kids at her school have some kind of security detail. I always thought it was for show.”

“That may be the case, but you never know what someone else is dealing with unless you’re familiar with their situation. Making assumptions often leads to trouble.” I dug my fingers into his arm to remind him it wasn’t his place to parent someone else’s child.

“I’m Winnie’s Aunt Channing.” I forced a smile and waved a hand around the tent. “What Win means to say is, thank you for protecting Winnie from those bullies. Her wellbeing is of utmost importance to her uncle and me. We’re happy to have you here. Enjoy the party.”

I paused and involuntarily straightened when Ky turned his head, and our eyes met. A shiver shot down my spine as the dark gaze seemed to pin me in place. I felt Win look down at me in confusion as I asked, “This is a weird question, but have we met before?” Usually, that was a cheesy pickup line tossed around, so I hastened to add, “You look very familiar.”

His jaw clenched, and his gaze shifted away. “Maybe I just have one of those faces that everyone thinks they know.”

Win made a sound of disbelief and told him flatly, “You definitely do not.”

“I’m probably mistaken.” I shrugged it off and watched as Winnie led her new friend away.

My head lifted when Win tapped my chin to turn my attention back to him. “I have grown men who refuse to meet my gaze and shake when I stick my hand out. I don’t want to admit it, but that kid has nerves of steel. I think he’s going to be an issue for Winnie.”

“He’s going to be an issue foreveryone.” I meant the taunt to be funny and lighthearted, but the words sounded deathly serious.

Win stroked his finger along the curve of my jaw and a deep V arrowed between his dark eyebrows. “Have you actually seen him hanging around, or were you just trying to make conversation?”

“I’ve never seen him before today.” I stopped as a vague memory pushed to the forefront of my mind. “A boy in a hoodie bumped into me at the park the day Winnie disappeared. He was moving fast and I couldn’t see his face. I bet it was him.” It easily explained the unsettling feeling that followed Ky’s arrival. “It’s nothing to worry about.” I wanted to sound sure, but the words were shaky at best. Win used his thumb to stroke my bottom lip, and I could see the concern in his storm-colored eyes. To divert his attention from the kids, I turned to smile at Archie, who watched the entire exchange silently. I praised both the brothers in the same breath. “You look fantastic today. Having you here for her birthday is what Winnie wanted most. It was such a clever idea to switch everything to a circus, so no one would question the makeup and masks. No wonder you’re worth the big bucks, Mr. CEO.”

With all the damage done to his body and mind, Archie moved a little slower than most. His eyes blinked and his gaze seemed to soften inside the mask, giving the impression that an ornately painted smile belonged to him. “I wish Willow could be here.”

It was a sentiment with which I was deeply familiar. I caught one of the gloved hands and held it tight. “Me too.”

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