Page 21 of Crimson Heart

“Of course not,” Jude claimed. “Guess, you’ll need a room.”

An older woman approached. “We don’t have any empty rooms left.”

Austin gave her a sideways look. “Not a problem.” He exchanged a look with Jude, then looked back at her. “You can take my room. I’ll bunk with Storm.”

“I don’t wanna put you out,” Charlotte said quickly.

“It’s either that, or you’ll bunk with Storm,” Austin joked.

“Who’s bunking with me?”

Austin stepped aside and turned, revealing their cousin Mason approaching. Before Charlotte could free herself from Jude’s embrace, he whispered into her ear.

“We need to talk.”

Fuck! That could only mean one thing: her parents had already called him to give their side of the story. This wasn’t good. But it had to wait. She couldn’t get into this discussion in front of all these people. She forced a smile onto her face and met Mason halfway.

“How’s my favorite cousin?” he asked with a wide grin and lifted her into the air, while he turned around his own axis.

“Much better, now that I’m here with you!”

“You serious about wanting to bunk with me?” Mason asked, winking. “I’m told I snore. You’re better off taking Austin’s room.”

“Now you tell me,” Austin said with a grin. “Guess I’ll have to get earplugs.”

“You’ll survive,” Mason replied.

“Now, can I have my sister back, please?” Austin asked, reaching out both arms toward her. “You’ve hugged her long enough.”

Charlotte laughed. They’d always done that when they were kids. Mason and Austin had always been very affectionate toward her, maybe because there was an age difference of eight years between them, and they’d seen her like a precious doll, or because she was the only female offspring in the Beaumont family, and therefore a rarity. It didn’t really matter why. All that mattered was that they loved her, and she loved them.

“Okay, one last kiss,” Mason said rather dramatically and kissed her on the cheek.

She gazed past his shoulder and saw another man walk into the foyer. Although he wasn’t a member of Jude’s team, she recognized him nevertheless.

Her heart stopped for a moment, only to begin beating even faster. This couldn’t be a coincidence, could it?