Page 146 of Sin Bin

“Uh-huh. I know what a charmer you are,” she said with a wry shake of her head. “You definitely learned a thing or two from that scoundrel who raised you.”

Logan’s reply was interrupted by an impatient knock at the door. He set down the wine bottle and headed across the suite.

The young woman who stood at the door was a total knockout. She’d inherited her mother’s gorgeous complexion and her father’s gray eyes, though hers were a couple shades darker. Her thick black hair was pulled back off her face, highlighting her sharp cheekbones and the pouty fullness of her lips.

Logan pretended not to recognize her. “Can I help you?”

Cynara Tavárez smirked at him. “Very funny.”

“Whatever you’re selling, we’re not buying.”

Cynara rolled her eyes. “Stop playing, Logan.”

He laughed and opened the door wider, motioning for her to come in.

As she stepped through the doorway, she gave him a quick, impersonal hug that was a stark contrast to the welcoming warmth of her mother’s rib-crushing embrace.

Not that he expected anything different. He and Cynara had never been close. For the two years that they’d lived under the same roof, he could count on one hand the number of times she’d smiled at him or shared a joke, and hugs had been practically nonexistent. She’d resented having an adopted brother, and she’d made no attempt to hide her feelings. Fortunately she’d spent the past nine years attending school at the University of Cambridge in England, so he hadn’t seen her that often since they were teenagers.

Turning from the door, he watched as Cynara swept into the suite and looked around with the haughty air that had earned her the nickname “the Duchess.”

“Your team must be making heaps of dosh if they can afford to put you guys up in penthouse suites,” she remarked.

Logan’s mouth twitched at the British slang. “The team is doing very well, but the suite upgrade was a gift from Hunter.”

“Who’s Hunter?”

“My teammate.”

Cynara raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “You say that as if I should know who he is. You know I don’t follow hockey.”

Roxanne clucked her tongue. “Hunter is the team captain and Logan’s best friend.”

“That’s nice,” Cynara said dismissively as she waltzed into the living room, rounded hips swinging in her designer jumper.

Roxanne gestured excitedly at the fruit platter. “Look what Logan provided for us. Wasn’t that sweet of him?”

“Lovely.” Cynara speared a chunk of mango and popped it between her red lips, chewing delicately.

Her mother grinned. “Delicious, right?”

Cynara shrugged. “Not as delicious as the mangoes I’ve had in Africa and the Caribbean. But, yes, it’s good.”

Roxanne and Logan rolled their eyes at each other.

Cynara glared. “I saw that.”

They laughed.

Logan picked up the bottle of cabernet sauvignon. “Would you ladies care for some wine?”

“No, thank you,” Cynara said tartly.

“I’d love some wine.” Roxanne gave him a conspiratorial grin. “I need a good drink after running around with the Duchess all morning.”

“I bet,” Logan laughed as he uncorked the wine bottle and poured a glass for himself and Roxanne.

Cynara snagged another piece of mango. “On second thought, I will have some of that Cab.”

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