Her hair, the color of whiskey, was pinned back in a long ponytail that was just as neat and put together as the makeup around her bright green eyes and the patriotic red, white, and blue striped dress wrapped around her long body. Brady noticed she must have been working out since they’d split ways. He could see it in her arms and, with a brief glance, her legs.

There was no denying that Felicity Fairchild was a looker. That much he could always say, no matter how he felt about her. She could have been a model, hands down, had she not been so driven about climbing the ladder in her marketing career.

“Thanks,” she said, standard smile not slipping an inch. “It’s good to see you, too.”

She took the seat across from Mrs. Robertson while Marcus settled into the one opposite Sloane. When Brady sat back down, he moved his chair a little closer to hers.

“And I’m sure Sloane here needs no introduction, but, just in case, this is Sloane De Carlo.”

“You definitely don’t need an introduction,” Felicity was quick to say. “I’ve been hearing your name around town for a week straight! That must be so exciting!”

Sloane was regaining some of her normal coloring, but the smile she gave was a little uneven. She really didn’t seem to like being the center of attention.

Which worked out well for their host.

“Look at us! We all sound like we’re on repeat, I’m sure,” Carol exclaimed, scooping up an untouched mimosa. She let her sun hat go free and waved over an older man in an honest-to-God butler getup. Brady hadn’t seen him before but did appreciate the platter of food he had. And boy howdy, he’d have to tell Dixon that there were tiny sandwiches on it. “Why don’t we give Sloane and her very new beau here a break and talk about something that affects us all.”

Brady and Sloane shared a look of confusion.

Mrs. Robertson spoke before her daughter’s dramatic pause ran out. “The Sailors and Mermaids Festival is officially two weekends away, and this year we’d really like to make a big splash.”

“Pun intended,” Marcus added.

Sloane and Felicity laughed.

Brady readjusted in his seat as Butler Man dropped two tiny sandwiches onto his plate. Another server appeared out of thin air like an Oompa Loompa and started at the other end of the table.

Carol looked unamused but couldn’t get a word in before her mother continued.