Page 291 of Sin Bin

Lucien Brassard stood at the broad windows overlooking the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Callum delicately cleared his throat. “Your son and Miss Ryan are here, sir.”

Lucien turned from the windows. Tall and broad-shouldered, he was the picture of debonair sophistication in a custom black tuxedo. His thick red hair was impeccably combed back from his face, and he had a rich man’s tan. He was unquestionably handsome. But Logan was right—they looked nothing alike.

“Well, hello, you two.” Lucien came forward with an easygoing smile. “Welcome aboard the Minerva.”

Logan didn’t smile back or say hello. He exchanged a stiff handshake with his father, then turned to Meadow beside him and grunted some sort of an introduction.

Meadow smiled politely and held out her hand. “Hello, Mr. Brassard.”

“Please call me Lucien.” His gaze flicked over her, appreciation lighting his green eyes as he clasped her hand in both of his. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Meadow. I can certainly see why my son went Rambo on those miscreants at the nightclub. A man would do anything to protect a woman of such beauty.”

“Oh, Lucien,” said a drolly amused voice. “There you go laying on the charm.”

Everyone turned to see a gorgeous brunette enter the salon. She was wearing an expensive black evening gown with a slit up the side that revealed her long slender leg with every step. The way she strutted across the room made it obvious that she’d timed her arrival to make a grand entrance.

Lucien smiled broadly as the woman came to stand by his side. “Logan and Meadow, allow me to introduce my beautiful wife, Chantal.”

Meadow and Logan murmured hello and took turns shaking the woman’s hand. She gave Meadow a cool smile and a limp handshake. But she clung to Logan’s hand, giving him an appreciative perusal as she purred, “What a pleasure to finally meet my husband’s secret love child.”

Logan smirked at the remark.

When Lucien shot his wife a reproachful look, she merely let out a tinkling laugh that grated Meadow’s nerves.

Chantal Brassard was Lucien’s second wife. She was toned and skinny, no more than a size two. Her dark hair was swept up in an elegant French twist, and her glamorous dress had a plunging neckline that showed off her perfect cleavage. The smooth tightness of her pale skin hinted at cosmetic surgery. Diamonds dripped from her ears, throat, wrist and fingers. She looked every bit like a pampered trophy wife.

She was sizing Meadow up from head to toe, her icy blue eyes narrowed critically. “What a lovely dress. Prada?”

“Chanel.”

“That would have been my next guess.” Chantal appraised Meadow’s glittering diamond jewelry and sneered ever so slightly. “It certainly pays to date a rich hockey player, doesn’t it?”

Bristling at the implication, Meadow surprised herself by lobbing back sweetly, “I’m sure it’s almost as rewarding as marrying a billionaire.”

Chantal’s gaze hardened, her lips tightening into a thin line.

Lucien deliberately cleared his throat and smiled at Meadow and Logan. “Would either of you care for a drink before dinner?”

“No, thank you,” they declined.

Chantal rested a manicured hand on Logan’s arm and batted her eyelashes at him. “It really is good to meet you, Logan. Thank you so much for coming tonight.”

Meadow wondered if she’d only imagined the woman’s breathy emphasis on the word coming. But then Chantal threw her a smug look and she realized that, nope, she wasn’t imagining things.

What the hell is going on here? she wondered irritably. Why is Logan’s stepmother treating me like competition?

Logan gave his father a direct look. “I hope we’ll have an opportunity to speak privately this evening.”

“Of course,” Lucien said smoothly. “In due time.”

Logan clenched his jaw, radiating impatience. Impatience for answers about his mother. Impatience to get off this boat and go home.

Lucien motioned for Logan and Meadow to sit down. “Please make yourselves comfortable.”

They sat on a plush white leather couch while Lucien and his wife sat on the couch facing them. Chantal deliberately crossed her long legs to show them off at their best angle, the slit in her dress rising up her thighs.

The sexy pose was clearly for Logan’s benefit. He flicked an impassive glance over her legs, lifted his eyes to hers and cocked an amused eyebrow. The smile she gave him set Meadow’s teeth on edge.

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