Page 123 of The Invitation

Casey nods, putting his hand out to Jude and hauling him in for a hug when he takes it. “I’m back for a few weeks until my next charter.”

“Have you heard from our brother?”

“No,” Casey says, his face telling me he’s wary. “You?”

“I told him to call you.” Jude reaches for me and pulls me close, and I don’t miss Casey’s interested eyes. “He’s got himself in a spot of bother.”

Casey laughs. “Standard Rhys. What’s he done now?”

“Got himself a sex tape situation.” Jude shakes his head.

I baulk, and Casey laughs. “Fucking hell. Are you surprised?”

“He was in Dublin, so I flew over on Monday for a few days. Tried to figure it out with his PR team.”

His PR team? What does he do? “And did you?” Casey asks.

“They’re slapping injunctions left and right. Rhys is rebelling. I stuck around for a few days, but I can’t deal with his dramas right now.” He casts me a sideways look that I read into and don’t like. He can’t deal with his brother’s drama because he has his own to deal with. Brilliant. So that’s where Jude was? In Dublin trying to sort out his brother? “He’ll call me when he’s thinking straight. Always does.”

“Well.” Casey faces me and bows. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Amelia.”

“You too.”

He comes at me and kisses my cheeks. “Don’t let my big brother ruin you.”

“Fuck off, Casey,” Jude breathes, reclaiming me and pulling me into his side protectively.

I don’t want to ruin this.

I have so many questions. But topping the pile: Does Casey know about Katherine?

Casey leaves, having one last look over his shoulder before rounding the corner out of the bar.

“I’m sorry you’re having to deal with your brother.” I have more questions on that, naturally, but my head is kind of busy trying to figure out what’s going on with Jude.

“Don’t be. I’m always dealing with his shit.” He turns me into him. “How are you feeling?”

She’s brilliant.

I’m fucked.

What have you got yourself into, Jude?

“Good,” I say, smiling. It’s a lie. I’m feeling apprehensive, my questions returning and multiplying.

Jude hunkers down to get to eye level with me, frowning. “You sure?”

I nod, smile wider. I don’t know if he’s buying it, and the small tilt of his head in question confirms it. “Feeling a little jaded.”

“Can I interest you in a Hey Jude?”

My cheeks balloon, bile rising, mixing with the other sickly feeling I’ve got going on in my tummy. Something just feels ... off.

“Maybe some fresh air,” he suggests, holding his hand out to me. Taking it is natural. “Come on.”

Jude walks us out the back of Arlington Hall past the Kitchen Garden, quiet, as I try to fight back the unease. He constantly smiles down at my heels on the uneven ground. “Did you have a nice evening before you lost all memory of it?” he asks.

Now’s my opportunity to tell him about Katherine. Except I bail. What good will come of it? “It was lovely.”Until your ex-lover showed up.

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