Page 8 of Sinful Desires

“And then you shut down on me,” she said with a sigh. “Just give the guy a chance. I’d better go. I have a few more emails to send out before I collapse.” There was still tension on my side when we ended the call, wishing each other a good night.

In the entire world, there was nothing I hated more than being underestimated or overlooked. I had always been thequieter twin. I kept things to myself. And this was why. Sometimes, it wasn’t worth putting myself out there and speaking my mind.

I hadn’t been hungry at dinner—my stomach was in no shape to handle food. Now, though, I could’ve used a snack. From what I understood, Miles had come back from the hotel and was probably in the middle of getting settled. There was no reason we had to run into each other with his suite being far from the kitchen, at the other end of the first floor from the living room, dining room, and kitchen. I didn’t have to venture any deeper into the penthouse while he was around. He could have that entire half of the floor to himself, including Dad’s study. They could sit around and drink scotch and pat each other on the back or whatever it was men did behind closed doors.

I pulled a silk robe over my pajamas, twisting my hair into a bun on top of my head while padding barefoot down the stairs that opened onto the foyer. The memory of Miles laughing at me in that very spot was still clear and sharp. I turned my gaze away from the door, growling. Where did he get off being so smug and acting like he knew me?

The living room was dark, and only a few sconces lit the hall leading deeper into the penthouse. I could have done this blindfolded. Not much had made me smile that day, at least not since I’d found Miles sitting in Dad’s study, pretending he owned the place. I could smile at the memory of me and Valentina sneaking downstairs for a snack when we were kids, tiptoeing down the hall, trying like hell not to make noise.

The sound of the water suddenly turning on up ahead in the kitchen made me stumble a little. Shit. Was he in there? My heartbeat slowed when Mom’s soft humming followed, and knowing she was still up gave me a sense of peace the conversation with my sister definitely had not.

“Hey, you.” She smiled from where she stood in front of the stove, turning on the heat beneath the kettle. I had seen her there so many times over the years. The fact that she looked as young as she always had left me feeling ten years old again. If only. “Do you want some tea?”

“No, thanks. I figured I would grab a little something to eat.” Kissing her cheek on the way to the refrigerator reminded me how glad I was to have a little time back home. Even if it meant having to see Miles and constantly being reminded of how much he had creeped me out when he first came to town.

“Oh, good. You had me worried there when you said you didn’t want dinner.” Then she laughed softly and shook her head. “Here I am, treating you like a little girl again. It’s not easy to remember you’re all grown up.”

I didn’t feel so grown up. When was the last time I was this worried and uneasy? “I know you were talking to Valentina earlier.” I opened one of the cabinets, my eye on her. Her shoulders sank, then shook with soft laughter. She knew I had figured her out.

“Somebody had to tell her what happened today,” she pointed out. “I happened to get a hold of her before you did.”

“Was it true what you said about Dad?”

“It depends on what you think I said.” The woman had mastered the art of the no-answer answer. While it cracked me up when she pulled that shit with Dad, I wasn’t so amused now.

“That he felt bad for Miles?” I asked.

“It’s true. A lot of things happened back then before you were born. It was a lifetime ago,” she murmured while staring off over my shoulder, seeing the past. “Leila was no picnic. And considering Miles has no other family, it seems only right to your father to bring him into the fold.”

“I’m not trying to be selfish.” Hauling myself onto the counter, I unwrapped a protein bar and took a bite while Mom fixed her herbal tea.

“I know you’re not, sweetie. And I know you must have been shocked when you suddenly found out you have a stepbrother.”

He’s not my stepbrother. I didn’t want to come out and say it, knowing I’d only look worse if I did. “Are you sure you’re okay with it?”

“As far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier. One day, you’ll be an empty nester,” she predicted with a touch of sadness in her voice. “And it will make you very happy to have a new life under the roof. Trust me.”

Did it have to be this life? There was no way of getting my point across unless I flat-out told Mom how we had already started off on the wrong foot. How he’d sort of scared me a little. She would only wave it off, clicking her tongue, basically patronizing me.

“Give him a chance.” She picked up her mug and gave me a one-armed hug on her way out to the hall. “There’s always more than meets the eye. Don’t forget that.”

That wasn’t the problem. I knew there was more than met the eye with Miles. It was everybody else who needed to get their goddamn vision checked. What would it take for them to see? Did something awful have to happen? I didn’t want to think about it.

So, of course, it was all I could think about as I left the kitchen and turned down the hall. Not ten steps into my journey, a deep voice filled the air behind me. “Well, well. Look at you. Nice pajamas.”

Fucking hell. I’d have to ignore my hunger next time. Turning, I looked him up and down. “Nice jacket,” I countered. Nice everything, really. As furious and distrusting as I was, I could admit he looked good in a black leather jacket, jeans,and heavy boots. His hair had that tousled quality again, and it paired nicely with his smirk.

“Thanks. I’m on my way out for a ride. Do you like motorcycles?” he asked with laughter in his voice.

“I’ve never cared either way.” It wasn’t a lie. I wasn’t into cars either.

“Have you ever been on one?”

I rolled my eyes and muttered, “It’s not on my bucket list.” Wasn’t he on his way out? Why take the time to irk me?

“Perhaps I can change your mind on the experience.” He folded his arms, his smirk turning into a full grin. It was funny the way heat erupted in my core at the sight of it, though the way he deepened his voice didn’t hurt either. “You don’t know if you enjoy something until you try it. And then you might find yourself addicted. I’ve been known to have that effect.” I would’ve sworn his eyes went a deeper shade of green before narrowing with deeper meaning.

He’s hitting on me now?Following the rollercoaster of a day I’d had, there wasn’t much more of him I could take. “Careful,” I warned, meeting his gaze without flinching. “You shouldn’t talk that way to yourstepsister.”

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