Celt. (Den of Mercenaries #2)(11)

He was just … a whole lot of man.

“Finally,” Elliot said on a rush as he grabbed hold of Amber’s hand, dragging her along with him back to his office. Glancing behind them at Kyrnon, she held up a finger, hoping he would stay a moment like he said.

“I have a blogger here tonight for a feature in one of those magazines,” Elliot explained with a flip of his hand. “I have guests I’m trying to entertain at the moment, so help her with whatever she needs.”

That was how it usually went. Elliot, despite how flamboyant he could be at times, hated having any press printed about him. Whenever there was a feature on the gallery, Elliot usually had one of the girls take charge of it.

“Ah, there you are,” Elliot said, his tone changing from one of annoyance to sugary sweetness in the span of a second. “I’m terribly busy at the moment, so I’ll have my assistant, Amber, help you with anything you need.”

The smile spreading on Amber’s face froze into something more like a grimace as she caught sight of exactly who the blogger was—and that the woman hadn’t come alone.

Piper and Rob.

How long had she managed to avoid her cousin? Three months? Longer? But for whatever reason, they had started running into each other more and more, much to her annoyance.

And Rob … well it had only been a few days since she last saw him — and did it really have to be the day she had to sneak out of his bed? Now seeing them together, she couldn’t help but think whatever break they had been on was now over.

Three years, and it still felt like a punch to the stomach when she saw them together.

But that was the thing.

Three years hadn’t meant anything in the grand scheme of things. Sure, when she had first ended it with him, she had her anger to focus on, but that only lasted as long as it took for the realization that he had actually chosen someone else over her—someone that was meant to be family no less—that her anger turned to sadness.

When she had walked away from him the other day, she had still believed she was over him and the way he hurt her. Back then, it had felt so easy moving on, or even just finding a one-night-stand to take her mind off him, but that had only lasted so long. If she were being honest, Rob had meant everything to her over the five years they spent together, and it was hard forgetting that.

Sure, he would downplay her work a little, making her feel like she was wasting her life away chasing a dream, but she had loved him in spite of that.

And maybe, even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself, a part of her loved him still.

So the last thing she wanted was to have them here, where she was meant to talk to guests and be friendly.

But she was a professional—and her mother’s daughter—so she knew how to be cordial, but Piper had a nasty attitude and wasn’t afraid to show it. The girl could test the patience of a saint.

Tonight, standing at her side, Rob had on a tailored suit, the top two buttons of his shirt left undone. He looked uncomfortable standing there, even as he boldly stared at her.

Piper, on the other hand, looked rather pleased with her head held high, wearing a figure-hugging red dress that complemented her hair.

Truth be told, Piper was everything Amber wasn’t. Polished and working a job that didn’t make people ask, ‘but what are you going to do when that doesn’t work out?’ Classically beautiful, Piper was exactly the type of woman Rob should have on his arm, especially since he was still working his way up the ladder at the law firm he worked at.

Amber, on the other hand, was none of that.

And while they were cousins—their fathers were brothers—they hardly resembled each other.

Piper had inherited the auburn hair of their paternal lineage, while also resembling her mother—same button nose, short stature, and clear skin.

Amber, on the other hand, was a perfect blend of both her parents—a Scottish father and a Nigerian mother.

“It’s so good to see you, Amber,” Piper said with a bright smile, one that didn’t touch her eyes. “What are the odds you work here?”

There was no need to emphasize the word, not when Amber knew exactly what she was hinting at.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware the two of you knew each other,” Elliot interrupted politely.

“Oh yes,” Piper said with a flick of her hand. “We’re family.”

So they said, Amber thought.

“Well, I’m leaving you in good hands. Amber, find me once you’re finished.”

As quickly as Elliot had dragged her away, he was disappearing back into the crowd of guests, leaving Amber to deal with them.

Thankfully, there was a tray of drinks waiting on a table not too far away. With little care as to what they thought, she grabbed one and downed the contents.

“Very classy, Amber. It seems not much has changed, has it?”

Patience. That was what she needed. She could handle this. She could. “If you would like a tour, I’m happy to take you on one,” Amber said, ignoring what Piper had said. “If not, I can find someone else to do it.”

Because she didn’t want to be held liable for anything she might do to Piper if she stayed around her.

“Maybe that’s a good …”

Rob didn’t get a chance to finish his remark before Piper threw a hand up, silencing him. “No, we’re good with you, thanks.”