Page 132 of Charming Deception

“And she cuts right to the chase. No, I haven’t lost.” I take a sip of whiskey. “And by the way, your team may invite the celebrities, but who serves them up to you on a silver platter?”

Savannah leans back against her desk. “You do get them buttered up nicely. I had no idea that involved so much actual buttering.”

I grimace. “I haven’t buttered anyone in months.”

My sister laughs abruptly and grimaces right back.

“I’m not here to talk about my sex life or the game or Granddad’s will. I need your advice. About women. Well. One woman.”

She sips her drink, eyeing me. “Isn’t Damian your go-to for that kind of advice?”

“I’m annoyed with him right now. You’re the only one of them I can stand.”

“I’m so flattered.”

I force it out. “If I really like a woman but I can’t be honest with her about the game, how do I get her to trust me?”

Savannah sets her drink down, considering. Then she paces over to the window and looks out into the dark night. I can’t imagine what there is to see. It’s gloomy out there tonight, raining hard; a rare summer downpour. Her pensive face is reflected in the watery glass.

“Is this what it’s come to? You’re doubting your own trustworthiness? Because of the stupid game?” Her shoulders are tight, and I can sense how she dreads her turn to play. They’re probably all dreading it, and witnessing my struggle doesn’t help. “Honestly, Jameson, if I needed a safe place to fall, you’d be it.”

“I’m glad.”

“I trust you more than I do anyone on earth. You and Peter, of course.”

Of course.

“You know why you’re so trustworthy?” She turns to me. “Because you’re honest. You tell people what they need to hear without bullshitting them or disrespecting them, and they respect you for it.”

“I’d like to think so.”

“So what’s this girl’s problem?”

She hasn’t asked me yet if we’re talking about Megan. I’m not sure why.

Maybe she thinks there’s someone else on the side.

I’ve never been that guy. But the amount of women she’s seen me with, I can understand why she’d be unsure.

“It’s not her fault.” I choose my words carefully. I don’t want my sister to dislike Megan. “Maybe I just don’t know how to really connect with anyone.”

Fuck, that sounds lame, when I hear myself say it.

“Since France,” she ventures.

I swallow that, with difficulty. It unnerves me whenever I discover that my siblings know me better than I think they do. But I am, after all, the youngest. They probably see all kinds of shit I don’t think they see.

“Yes,” I admit.

Savannah paces behind her desk and presses her hands flat to her paperwork, leaning in so she can look me straight in the eye. “Because you lead with your dick, Jamie.”

“Blunt.”

“But true.”

“I didn’t do that this time.”

“Because you can’t.”

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