Brodie had heard enough. “I don’t usually give advice, mostly because I don’t give a fuck what other people do. You make your bed, you lay in it. But this involves Rosalina, so listen to me good. You care about her at all, you let her go. She’s so much better than you, she’s not even in the same universe. So, no matter what you think needs to happen, it’s not going to. You did her a favor. You set her free. Now back the fuck off.” He dropped a twenty on the damp counter, grabbed his drink, and headed back to the table.

He believed everything he’d said, but…we’re talking about the prince and princess of St. Christophe hanging onto the monarchy.

Which meant, no matter what they felt about each other, Brodie might never be anything more than a vacation hookup.

He had a problem. A big one. But if he was the “visionary” his family thought he was, he’d come up with a solution.

Because he wasn’t going to lose her.

He’d found someone worth fighting for.

While the two women talked, Brodie pulled the jars and bottles out of the boxes and set them on the outdoor table.

I could get used to this. Before, the daily routine of living with someone had seemed like a nightmare, but with Rosie…he liked the constant sense of anticipation.

He found himself waiting to eat so they could share a meal together, looked forward to the end of the day when they took a long walk and caught up with each other. He thought of last night, brushing their teeth in the bathroom and talking. Seemed they never ran out of things to say.

He’d always just done his thing, jumping from one project to the next, hanging out with whoever was in his sphere at the moment. Rosie was like the missing cord that connected him to the rest of the world.

A few weeks ago, he hadn’t been able to imagine being tied to one person. Now, he got a hit of anxiety every time he thought of living here without her.

Jinx stepped out onto the patio, shutting the French door behind him. He took in Sky and Rosie at a table cluttered with beers, guacamole, and chips. “Hope it’s okay if I let myself in.”

“Of course.” Rosie’s chair scraped on the slate, as she stood to greet him. “Thanks so much for meeting with us.”

Jinx went to the chair right next to Skylar. “Hey.” It was like he didn’t know how to greet her. His arms hung at his sides, filled with tension. “Sky.” Like he didn’t know whether to pat her, hug her, or shake her hand.

Brodie suspected the guy wanted to plant a hot one on her mouth.