Page 12 of Charming Deception

We’re standing in a grand, two-story marble foyer with a modern glass chandelier soaring above us. But even that can’t pull my attention from my need to inspect my brother.

The hockey season just ended and he’s in prime shape, toned and tanned. He has a nice haircut, a bit edgy and skater boy for his thirty years, but with his tattoos and the dazzling playboy smile, Cole pulls it off.

He seems happy as he drapes an arm around my shoulders, and I let him steer me across the foyer. Ahead of us, there’s a step down into a massive living room. Across the luxurious room, through the soaring glass walls along the back, is the most gorgeous, lush green backyard I’ve ever seen.

The living room itself is like something I’ve only seen in movies and magazines.

The gleaming white floors marbled with caramel lead to three separate, elegant seating areas, clusters of designer furniture in calming off-whites and earth tones. What has to be painfully expensive art, both paintings and sculptures, adorn the walls and the tabletops, and multiple minimalist glass chandeliers drip from the double-height ceiling.

I glimpse a couple of long hallways that lead deeper into the house, one to each side of the living room. Huge paintings line both hallways.

Paintings of hockey players.

I eye my brother again.

He eyes me back. “Seriously, you look great, Megz. Considering.” Maybe he’s trying to lighten my load with humor.

It doesn’t work. “Thanks.” I poke his ribs lightly. “How are you more handsome than I want to remember? I’m a mess right now.”

Cole winks effortlessly. “How was your travel here?”

“Long.”

He frowns. “You should’ve let me help you out. I would’ve arranged a flight.”

“Honestly, I needed the time to decompress. It’s fine.”

He glances over my shoulder, at the suitcase he deposited next to my backpack and purse. The scowling man in black I saw lurking in the bushes has followed us into the foyer. “Where’s all your stuff?”

“Sadly, that’s it.”

My brother’s expression sobers as the truth of that hits hard. I really am starting over, and I had to give up a lot to be standing where I am right now.

Free.

Cole nods at the man in black, who takes my things, carrying them away into the house.

“Uh—” I start to protest, but he’s already gone.

“You did the right thing, Megan.” My brother’s eyes meet mine again, a little hazy with emotion.

He’s right.

But leaving my ex behind, my job, my whole entire life in Crooks Creek, Manitoba, the tiny town where we grew up, wasn’t easy. It was incredibly fucking hard.

I can’t even handle talking about it right now. I’m way too worn out from the journey here and all the hours on buses. My ass is still numb.

“I know.”

Right now, though, I still can’t quite feel it.

“You’ll be happier here.”

I blink at him for a long moment as that sinks in.

I must be really tired, because I swear he just said…

“Here?”

---