Page 64 of Taken By the Biker Daddies

She offered me her hand again. “I’m Irina, Max’s sister.”

“Oh.” I gave her my hand, though my head was still spinning. “You’re Max’s sister.”

“Well, half-sister, which is why we don’t look all that alike,” she replied.

Now that I thought of it, they had the same mesmerizing blue eyes though.

Irina gave me a warm smile. “You must be the Lauren I’ve heard so much about.”

My eyebrows arched. Max told her about me?

“I must say I never thought my brother would fall in love,” she went on, taking a seat beside me. “But I’m glad. Who knows?Maybe now, he’ll be inspired to take his job and his future seriously.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “Are you saying he’s been slacking off?”

He was almost always on his laptop, though.

“Oh, you bet.” Irina slumped against the cushions. “I’m the one who’s been attending meetings and product launches and factory openings and galas, giving press interviews, meeting with our partners all over the globe, wooing new investors, and placating the old geezers on the board.”

No wonder she looked familiar. I must have seen her in the news on TV or on the internet, though I never really paid attention to all that business stuff, which felt like troubles from another world.

“Is it because Max won’t go?” I asked.

Irina nodded. “Ever since Max became CEO, he’s been doing the bare minimum. He doesn’t like the fame, the spotlight. He doesn’t like parties. He doesn’t like meetings. He doesn’t like pretending to get along with strangers, even if it is for business.” She sat up and looked at me. “Wait. He didn’t tell you all this?”

“I didn’t even know he was a Shelton until several days ago,” I confessed.

Irina gasped. “He didn’t tell you? Why, that…”

“It’s fine, though.” I placed my hand on her shoulder. “It doesn’t make a difference, anyway.”

Besides, I didn’t tell him who I really was either.

“You mean you still love him?” Irina asked me.

The question took me by surprise. I looked away, fighting a blush as I tucked a tendril of hair behind my ear.

“I…”

“It’s okay.” Irina placed her hand on my thigh. “You don’t have to answer that. I can see it, anyway.”

That just made me blush all the more.

“And I can tell why Max is in love with you. You’re quite adorable, especially when you’re flustered.”

Now, she was just teasing me.

I cleared my throat and changed the subject. “Did you and Max grow up together?”

“Yes. In this house actually.” She stood up, touching her chin. “Come to think of it, I wonder if it’s still there.”

What was still where?

Irina looked at me. “Would you like to see my old room?”

I nodded. I’d been to almost every room in the mansion, so I might as well.

“I’d love to.”

---