But, she was also six months pregnant and prone to tearful outbursts due to hormones. When in doubt, test the waters with the husband first.

“Hey, my man,” Reese said as he picked up. “You have perfect timing. I just got out of a meeting with a few of the CFOs. We’re about to go public with Celebrity Cruises.”

“That’s great. Congrats.” He stared out the window of his hotel room at the Chicago skyline. “You have a moment to talk about nonbusiness things?”

“Oh shit,” Reese teased. “Did you get someone pregnant?”

Cade flinched. That was hitting a little too close to home at the moment, considering he had an unused condom in his wallet. “It’s not about me. It’s about Audrey.”

Reese got quiet. “What about Audrey?”

He could just picture his friend’s shoulders locking straight, his defensive side rising to the forefront when it came to his wife. Reese was a flirt and a player, but when it came to Audrey, he was all business, and he was extremely protective of her. “It’s Daphne,” Cade told him. “There are . . . problems.”

“Fuck,” Reese swore. “How bad is she this time?”

“I saw her last night and she was blitzed. And she looks worse than before.” Mentally, he pictured her skinny arms and hollow eyes. “Probably worse than before she went to rehab.”

“Goddamn it, she just got out not four months ago. What’s wrong with that girl?”

Everything, Cade wanted to say.

“So it’s not just alcohol?”

“When I left last night, she was begging someone for another hit of the good stuff.”

Reese swore again.

“I need to tell Audrey,” Cade said. “So she can step in if she needs to. I just wanted to let you know first so you could be there to support her.”

“Hang on,” Reese said. “You’re not telling Audrey anything.”

Cade frowned into the phone. “What do you mean?”

“I mean my wife is six months pregnant and under pressure over both her baby and preparing Logan’s office for her impending maternity leave.” Audrey was Logan’s long-time assistant and invaluable to their friend. She refused to quit her job, despite being married to an extremely wealthy man herself. “We both know Daphne’s toxic,” Reese continued. “I don’t want her stressing out Audrey any more than she already is. You know she’s been sick constantly with the baby, right? It hasn’t been an easy pregnancy for her.”

He knew that. “But Daphne—”

“Daphne’s a mess, I know that. Here’s the thing, though. Daphne’s always a mess,” Reese said. His voice was cold and unforgiving. “I’m not going to have my wife losing her mind wondering if her sister’s out of control again. Go talk to Daph’s people, if you have to. Talk to Daphne yourself—we both know if she listens to anyone, she listens to you. But don’t involve Audrey, all right?”

Cade was silent. He knew Reese was being protective, but it didn’t feel right to him. “What if something happens?”

“Then I’ll take full responsibility,” Reese said, voice heavy. “She can’t handle more stress right now, all right? She’s barely sleeping as it is. Her headaches are crazy and she vomits at the drop of a hat. Her doctor’s worried she’s going to develop preeclampsia and so he’s got her on this crazy diet that makes her stomach even more upset and she can’t take prenatal vitamins because they make her puke so she has to go and get shots and she cries all the damn time and . . .” He sighed. “Just. Please, Cade. For me, all right? I know Audrey’s Little Miss Capable but for a few months, can we take one thing off her plate?”

Cade suddenly felt guilty. He had no idea Audrey was under so much duress. She was always so in control when he saw her. She and Reese looked so happy. “I didn’t know.”

“Audrey doesn’t like sharing her problems. We both know that.”

They did. “You do realize I didn’t understand half of that pregnancy jargon you threw at me?” Cade made his voice light, because now Reese was sounding strained, too.

On the other end of the phone, Reese chuckled. “I wish to God I didn’t know about it, either. Let me tell you, I have learned way more about babies and childbirth than I ever cared to. Don’t even get me started on mucus plugs.”

“Jesus, I don’t even want to know,” Cade said quickly.

“You don’t. Trust me.”