Dismissed, Brick headed in the direction of the music and Remi.

He wanted to see her in his house, covered in flecks of paint, grinning or glaring at whatever world she was bringing to life.

The doorbell halted him in his tracks.

“Are you expecting someone?” Kimber asked, popping out of the living room.

It was the world they were suddenly thrust into when doorbells signified surprises, and surprises could be deadly.

“No,” he said, striding for the front of the house. “Maybe you should go wait in the studio?”

“I’ll stay with you,” Kimber decided.

There was more Remi in her than Kimber realized.

Casually, Brick reached down and released the snap on his holster.

But through the beveled glass, he spotted a familiar form. One that scared him almost as much as a murderous monster.

For a split second, he thought about not answering the door. But it was the coward’s way out.

“Audrey,” he said, opening the door.

His ex-wife looked good. Great actually. She’d cut her hair again, buzzing down the sides and leaving the top longer with tight curls. She had a stud in her nose—that was new. Her lips were painted a dark purple. She was tall and cool. Relaxed. Her black jeans and over-sized sweater were comfortable.

“Brick,” she said with a wide smile. She stepped across the threshold, pulling a suitcase behind her, and gave him a smacking kiss on the mouth.

“Audrey,” Kimber said, sounding as surprised as Brick felt. He could all but hear the accusation in her tone. He was sleeping with Remington, yet here his ex-wife was with a goddamn suitcase and a kiss.

“Kimber?” Audrey paused and looked back and forth between him and his guest. “Okay, I gotta admit I didn’t see this one coming.” She waggled her finger at them both.

“Huh?” He couldn’t come up with any other words.

“Me and Brick?” Kimber laughed. “Ah, no. The kids and I are staying here while Kyle and I decide whether to divorce each other or turn into completely different people to make things work.”

“Girl,” Audrey said. “I hear you.”

Brick felt like the floor under his feet was shifting, cracking, crumbling.

Audrey and Remi under the same roof. Someone was going to get hurt. Multiple someones. He was definitely one of them.

“This isn’t a great time...” he began. But trailed off when Audrey raised an eyebrow.

“It’s really good to see you again,” Kimber said.

He was so fucked. Beyond fucked.

“It’s good to be back on the island. Heard things are getting pretty serious between my brother and Ken, so I thought I’d come out for a week.”

“And you’re staying here?” Kimber said. “Brick is so generous with his house, isn’t he?”

“To a fault,” Audrey said, patting him on his arm.

“Did I know you were coming?” he asked, finally finding his voice.

“You did. Well, sort of. The plan was for me to come in May. But I got a break between projects at work and thought I’d move up the trip. So what’s new?”