“Am I interrupting something? Heather said we had a meeting today at two here at the house. And bollocks, chap! What the bloody hell happened?” Then he shot a look at the women in the room. “Pardon my foul language, but I can’t leave your arse unsupervised for even a day, can I?” he asked, his tone teasing as he pointed to Rick’s wrist.
Rick slapped him on the back with a fond grin. “We do have a meeting, and I’ll explain all this in a minute. For now, Avis, this is everyone. Everyone, say hello to Avis.”
As introductions were made, and Avis gripped each woman’s hand in greeting, spreading his charming English accent around like whipped butter on toast, Poppy watched. Watched as he flirted, watched as he winked, watched as he made jokes with even Nina—who behaved like Nina. Cautious and skeptical, but it wasn’t long before he made her smile.
When he finally made his way to her, he held out his hand, the perfectly even skin of his fingers wrapping around hers, causing Poppy to literally fight a shiver—a violent shiver.
Huh.
Gone was the warmth and in its place was a chilled sense of dread.
“Charming to meet you, Poppy.”
Her eyes met his green ones. No. No, it wasn’t charming to meet her at all. His mouth said it was, but his eyes said something entirely different.
Shrugging off the ugly vibe, and giving him her best movie-star smile, Poppy said, “You too. It’s nice to attach a name to a face.”
“Have you known Rick long? How have we missed meeting each other? How did I miss meeting someone as utterly bedazzling as you?”
She stared back at him, watching the wheels of his mind turn, feeling the strangest vibration course through her once more. “Nope. We’ve known each other just a day.”
Driving his hand into the pocket of his sharply tailored trousers, he asked, “So how did you meet my chap Rick?”
“Magic,” she replied, keeping her answer purposefully mysterious.
He cocked his head, making the fall of his thatch of blond hair sweep over his forehead. “Magic?”
Straightening her spine just like she’d been taught in all those years of ballet class, Poppy took on a haughty air, pretending she was someone important, like royalty. That always helped her when she felt uncomfortable, and she definitely felt discomfort.
“I’m his new familiar.”
A flicker of confusion, brief as it was, flashed in his green eyes before a smile spread across his lean face. “A new familiar? How smashing! I’m thrilled for him! Especially seeing as he lucked out with one who’s so pretty.”
Leaning back against the counter, Poppy nodded. “That’s good to hear. I have so much to learn about him, so I’ll be around a lot. It’s nice to know someone as close to Rick as you are is easy to get along with.”
As she spoke the words, she heard the pitch of her voice, noted it held a slight threatening tone, but she didn’t understand why.
Rick nudged Avis and pointed to the end of the warehouse where his office was. “We need to get some stuff done. Quit flirting with the lady and let’s do this.”
Avis nodded his head, his expression teasing and bright. “Right. Sorry. I was all caught up in hearing about how you have a new familiar. Oh, the secrets you keep, friend.”
Rick laughed as he grabbed a briefcase from a shelf by the front door and headed toward the end of the house. “I just bet you were, buddy. Told ya, I’ll explain that. Move it, Mackland.”
Backing away, Avis kept the smile on his face. “Anyway, such a delight to meet you, Poppy. I must go feed my workaholic beast, but I hope we get the chance to chat again soon.”
Without thought, without filter, Poppy responded, “Count on it.”
And as she watched his broad back, almost as broad as Rick’s, turn to a pinpoint of color before he rounded the only corner in the warehouse, she discovered she’d been holding in another violent shiver.
Chills assaulted her skin, goose bumps running the length of her arms and along the back of her neck, making her hair stand on end.
Avis Mackland wasn’t pleased to meet her. He didn’t want to chat with her again. He’d be happy if she fell off the face of the earth.
She knew this. Knew it as certainly as she knew how to tie her shoes.
Avis Mackland was a snake. A total and complete snake with a cultured British accent, and his best friend, Rick, his business partner, his roommate in college, hadn’t a single clue.
Pip pip and cheerio.
Chapter 9
“So, jolly good show, brother! Way to score!” Avis congratulated him once they were in the privacy of Rick’s office.
He sighed, dropping into his office chair. Avis was nothing if he wasn’t a player. He loved women. Rick couldn’t fault him for that. He loved women, too. He just didn’t love them in multiples, or behind their backs while he loved someone else.
Avis played the field more than the entire NFL. And that was fine by Rick. As long as he showed up to work and kept making them money and he kept his drama off their work field, Rick kept his mouth shut.
Grabbing a pen, he flicked the top of it over and over. “She’s not a score, pal. She’s my familiar. A familiar I don’t want, but who’s here whether I like it or not.”