Page 40 of Heart on Ice

“We just have to wait now and see. It’s going to start getting harder to contain the story because Kitty has been silent on her socials, and from someone who posts as frequently as she does, the public is becoming suspicious. Even her bridesmaids are silent, and they post as much as she does. All the guests have thankfully been respectful and are just showing how much fun they are having in Italy or wherever they are. I’ve spoken to his family, and they are still having the best time in Italy, and no one has spotted them yet, but time is ticking on this story.”

“I don’t get what Bill is playing at.”

“Probably thinks Pierre can’t do shit and is hoping he freaks out and succumbs to his threats,” Harper advises.

“He’s still threatening him?”

“I’m assuming he is, but Pierre hasn’t said anything. I just remember seeing the messages come through on his phone while on the plane,” Harper explains.

“I saw them too.”

“You did?” she asks, surprised.

“Pierre’s been suffering panic attacks,” I tell her.

“He has? Felix hasn’t told me. Is he okay?”

“I think so. He said Frankston would make things better, and I’m assuming they are as he seems slightly more relaxed. I muted the notifications on his phone from anyone who wasn’t family because every ping of his phone stressed him out,” I explain to her.

“Good idea,” she says. “I think boys’ time tonight will help too. So how about we forget all about everyone’s shit and go have some fun. You deserve to let off some steam.”

“I so do.” I grin.

12

PIERRE

Issy is out on a girls’ night with Harper and some friends. It was nice having my brother over for dinner together, catching up, drinking beers, and watching highlights of the season’s goals. Which happen to feature me a lot. He left hours ago, and Issy still isn’t home. Did she go out to her sex club? Like the other night. I’m obviously cramping her style being here, it’s not like she can invite men over. Urgh. The thought of watching some asshole walk into her home and her take him up to her room to fuck him while I am downstairs makes me sick. I don’t have the right to be jealous. I shouldn’t be jealous because I’m supposed to be mourning the loss of my ex-fiancée, but instead, I’m obsessing over what Issy is doing and who it’s with. That’s not right. At least she doesn’t hate me as much anymore and I can see she is attempting to be friendlier, which Frankston nearly destroyed this morning with his damn teeth and slobber. I took a picture and messaged Harper to ask her to help me find a replacement pair of shoes, she sent me the link, and I bought them today. They should arrive tomorrow.

I hear a key in the door as does Frankston, and before I have a chance to stop him, he is jumping out of the bed, paws the door open, and rushes out.

“Frankie,” I call after him.

Shit.

I jump out of bed and rush after my dog, who is determined to make Issy hate me again. I hear a scream and then giggles and when I come around the corner, I see Issy on the ground and Frankston humping her while licking her face.

Fucking Frankston.

“What the hell, buddy,” I say, grabbing Frankston off Issy. “I’m so sorry,” I tell her. She waves my apology away. “Let me grab him,” I tell her as I pull him away and instantly put him into air jail. He gives me a bark of unhappiness, but he’s lost privileges for causing that scene. “Frankie, I taught you better than that. Are you trying to get us kicked out?” He licks my face as he continues to wiggle in my arms. I place him on my bed and point my finger at him. “Bad boy. You need a timeout.” He flops down on the bed and gives me a gruff woof as I slowly exit the bedroom, closing the door behind me. “I’m so sorry about him, he’s not normally that enthusiastic …” I start to say and stop when I see Issy has stripped off to her underwear and is currently searching through the fridge. “Um, Issy?” Issy turns around quickly and screams. “It’s me, Pierre,” I say, holding up my hands. Her brows pull together as those dark eyes narrow on me.

“What are you doing in my kitchen?”

Is she serious? “I’m staying here.”

She tries to search for that bit of information until she eventually finds it. “I forgot you were here. I’m starving, I want a bacon sandwich before bed,” she mumbles, turning back and looking into her fridge. Her words sound slurred as she sways a little.

“Are you drunk?” I question her.

Issy whirls around unbalancing herself, but she recovers quickly. “And what if I am?” she says, placing her hands on her hips.

A smile forms on my face. I haven’t seen this side of Issy before. “Guess that explains why you’re in your underwear unless …” I say, walking toward her, my hands landing on the granite of the island countertop.

“Your dog slobbered all over me. It was gross.” Then her brows pull together. “Unless what?”

Thank you, Frankston.My eyes run up and down her toned body, taking her all in. She’s wearing a sexy set of black lace panties and a bra. I can see her dark nipples pressing against the fabric, and they are hard.

“Unless you’re trying to kill me.”

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