Page 101 of De-Witched

“It has—” He gestured to his sister. “Inappropriate content.”

Who rolled her eyes. “Gabriel, I know about sex.”

“Please,” he said, cringing.

“I’m almost a woman. And Sloane says this movie is awesome.”

Sloane peered past Melly, nodding. “It is. Julia Roberts kicks ass.”

“I’m not sure that a fourteen-year-old—” He broke off as a handful of popcorn hit him in the face.

Leah grinned at his stupefaction, popping the next kernel in her mouth. “Loosen up, Gabe.”

“Yeah, Gabe,” his sister echoed.

“You’re a bad influence,” he informed Leah. “I cannot watch a dirty movie with my sister.”

“But you’ve watched them alone?”

He scowled. “I don’t like you.”

Melly hooted a laugh. “You broke him. I don’t believe it.” She tipped her head onto Leah’s shoulder. “You’re awesome.”

As annoyed and embarrassed as he was, Gabriel’s heart spasmed at the sight of the two of them together. The strong reaction unnerved him, pushing him to stand, get some space from the tableau. “I’ll get drinks.”

“For the whole movie?” Leah’s voice laughed as he strode away.

He needed to get a grip. He opened the fridge, pulled out cans of Diet Coke he’d stocked for Leah. The past couple of days had been fun, light. As they should be, as he would expect when dealing with Leah. He was enjoying it all. There was no need to get antsy about how well she fitted into this family.

“You’re not really that much of a prude, right?”

Her voice made him want to smile, a growing reaction he curbed as he turned toward her. Today, she wore one of her sweaters that slipped off her shoulder and worn jeans. Cozy. Touchable.

He had an audience of teenage girls, he reminded himself, one of which was his sister. There would be no touching.

“I have some inhibitions.”

A sinful gleam in her eyes made him wary. “Didn’t seem like that yesterday at the art show in the back room.”

His blood rushed hot through his system. Sister, he reminded himself. And Sloane.

Still, not trusting himself completely, he took a step back as she advanced and put up his hands.

Her lips twitched. “Are you warding me off?”

“Yes.” Primly, he gestured. “You stay on that side.”

She held up her own hands, tucking them in her back pockets. Her breasts rose, guiding the sweater down her shoulder to expose her lickable tattoo.

“You should really go and watch the movie,” he said, voice betraying his desire. “Better they not catch us together.”

The teasing light died.

He didn’t like that. “There would be questions,” he tried to explain. God knew Melly had peppered him with them the other day, to the point his ears still rang.

“Wouldn’t want that.” Sounding off in a way he couldn’t explain, Leah picked up the cans of Diet Coke, balancing the three. “I’ll give these to the girls. If you want to go do something, I’ll stay here until the movie’s done.”

He watched as she walked around the breakfast bar and delivered the drinks, plopping back into her seat. She didn’t curve into the cushions like before, just stared at the screen.

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