Page 33 of Forbidden Mistress

“Holy cannoli, girl,” she says, light eyebrows arching high on her forehead. “You really know how to pick ‘em.”

I laugh. “Yeah, I guess so. Maybe we should take some of these up to our bedroom? In fact, help me out and grab a couple vases, we’ll put some flowers in everyone’s room. Heaven knows there’s way more here than just I can enjoy!”

By the time we are done putting vases in our room and the adjoining bathroom upstairs—and on the table at the top of the stairs, and in the deep windowsill that overlooks the backyard in our hallway—the others are waking up. They, too, get to share the wealth, to their amazed surprise.

A short while later, Haley and I are sharing the bathroom to get ready. She’s just finished brushing her teeth when I reach into my drawer to pull out my birth control pills. When I go to pop out the next pill, I take a look at the day of the week on the label.

“What day is it today?” I double-check with Haley, who has just rinsed out her mouth and is wiping her face dry on a towel.

“Friday, why?”

“Fuck.” I blink.

She glances down at the pills and sees that I’m several days off. “Wow, did you, ah, start that pack late?”

I sigh. “No, but I’m awful with these. I miss days all the time and have to admit I’ve been a little lax lately because, you know, it’s not like I’ve been getting any.”

“‘Til Hart fucked your brains out last night.” She giggles conspiratorially.

I glare at her and make a shushing motion. The door is open and Avery is probably nearby. I don’t want to scandalize our poor naive roommate about the dirty, dirty stuff I did with Hart last night. Although I have to admit that I find it hard to think about anything else today. Just thinking about meeting him tonight at Obscura gets my heart racing, even at this hour and before I’ve consumed a sufficient amount of coffee.

“You know what, I’ve messed up before, too. Just double up for the next couple days ‘til you catch up.”

“Really? That’s all I have to do?”

Haley makes a waving motion. “It’s very forgiving. The pill is 98 percent effective. You only did the deed once last night and you’re catching up on the pill. You should be fine.”

I sigh, my shoulders relaxing. “Good. Will do.” I pop out two pills and quickly down them with a swallow of water. Two more days and I’ll be caught up. I make sure to remind myself not to be so lax again. If Hart fucks me tonight without a condom, then I have to make sure these puppies work.

And there’s that zing of anticipation again, with the thought of Hart’s body on top of mine tonight. I wonder what filthy things he’ll have in store for us?

I’m wet just thinking about it.

Chapter 13

Melt Down

Later that day, I head over to my stepmom’s house. I have a key, so as usual, I just let myself in. I have one of my gift flower vases in one arm. Hart sent so many flowers, I have more than a few to spare, and I know how much she loves fresh-cut flowers.

“Lori?” I call out, walking through the living room to the kitchen. I put the flowers on the kitchen counter, but I notice a filled vase already on her breakfast table. Who is sending her flowers? I pluck the card from the pink bouquet.

Just because. Love you.

-Liam

I have to restrain myself from tossing the card across the room. He’s probably just buttering his mom up so she doesn’t side with me. Not that she would anyway. She has a huge, monster-truck-sized blind spot when it comes to Liam. In her eyes, he’s a huge success and he can do no wrong. Understandable, if gross, in my opinion. He is her little boy after all. And she relied on him heavily after she fled England and her abusive marriage to Liam’s father. For a few years, when they came back to the US, it was just the two of them until she met and fell in love with my dad.

Remembering all of these things doesn’t change the fact that whenever I talk to her about him, I have to bite my tongue so hard that it hurts for days.

“Oh, hey, hon!” Lori says, strolling into the kitchen. “I didn’t hear you come in.” She kisses me on the cheek, and spots the flowers I brought her. “Wow, two bouquets today. You two kids are so sweet.”

Well, one of us is sweet. The other one is a manipulative bastard. But instead of saying that, I put another set of teeth marks in my tongue.

“So, um, I was wanting to take a look in Dad’s office upstairs. Is that okay?” If there’s any paperwork regarding the company, I’m guessing it’d be there. It’s a good place to start, anyway.

“What are you looking for?” she asks casually.

Oh, my God. Does she not remember the message I left yesterday? I love her to death, but she’s so scattered.

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