Page 64 of Just My Luck

I looked at my charcoal-gray slacks and brown leather shoes. My hand smoothed down the buttons of my shirt. “Exactly zero,” I answered.

Her laugh floated down the hall. “That’s what I figured. So... you should know that you’ll be wishing you were fishing with Granddad and the kids. These things—I don’t know... they can be kind of boring.”

I mulled over her unexpected words. “Boring?”

Clattering noises came from the bedroom, and while I wanted to see if she needed anything, I stayed where I was against the kitchen island, my hands stuffed into my pockets. My thoughts drifted briefly to my mother and whether she’d had a wedding shower, or if she knew my father had already been married. If she were still here, would this have been the type of thing she would attend?

None of that matters now.

Barefoot, Sloane appeared in the hallway. My heart stopped and my thoughts evaporated. Her hand was planted against herchest, holding up a scrap of a dress. I could see it was white, with delicate bows on the shoulders, but her arms hid much of the rest of it. The short skirt landed high on her tanned thighs.

“Can you zip me up?” Sloane made it to the end of the hallway and turned around. “I tried and I can’t get it.”

I moved toward her. Sloane’s hair was done up in a delicate knot, allowing full access to the smooth skin of her neck and shoulders. Her back was bare, the dress hanging open.

My fingers brushed against her soft skin as I worked my way down to the zipper pull. Goose bumps erupted across her skin as I took my time pulling her dress closed. When I closed the button at the top, my hands rested on her shoulders.

Sloane turned, smiling at me. “What do you think?”

Her hazel eyes shone up at me, the milky caramels and greenish browns melting together in the afternoon sunlight.

Without looking at the dress, I said, “You’re perfect.”

Her dimples deepened as she playfully rolled her eyes. “You didn’t even look at it!”

With a laugh, Sloane stepped back and swished her hips, sending the skirt of her dress in motion. It was perfectly short, showing off her long, tanned legs. The V in the front was dangerously low, and a ripple of desire shot through me. The subtle pearls sewn onto the dress caught the sunlight and added a soft, feminine touch.

The corner of my mouth lifted. “Like I said... perfect.”

She held up her finger. “I just have to get my heels and I’ll be ready. Thanks again for doing this. Apparently the groom being at the shower is a thing now.”

I shrugged. It really hadn’t mattered all that much when Sloane asked me to attend. If it made her happy, I would show up and do what she needed.

After more clatters and muttered curses from the bedroom, Sloane reappeared in pale-pink pointed-toe heels that made herlegs impossibly long. Sandpaper coated my throat as my mouth went completely dry.

I stared at her and she frowned. “Are you okay?”

I shrugged. “Fine.”

Her mouth twisted as if she didn’t believe me. Her head tipped. “Are you sure? If this is too much, I can come up with some kind of excuse. I can?—”

I shook my head to stop her. “It’s not too much.” I sighed. “I got news from the PI, and I think I’m still reeling from it a little.”

Her hazel eyes went wide, her voice barely a whisper. “What did he say?”

I shook my head. I still couldn’t believe it myself. “He didn’t find out much about Mom, but he did find out some things about my father.” Sloane looked at me with expectant eyes, so I continued: “Turns out Russell King isn’t just a ruthless businessman. He’s a liar and a cheat. He was married before my mother. Has a whole family... only we are the secret bastard children.”

Sloane’s mouth dropped into a shocked little O as her hand covered her mouth. “Abel, that’s... oh my god.”

I swallowed hard. It wasn’t any easier saying it aloud. “Yeah, it’s... a lot.”

Her eyes searched mine as her questions tumbled out in rapid succession. “Did you confront him? Demand answers? What are you going to do? Does Sylvie know? Oh my god, she’ll be so shocked. Did your mom know?”

Her questions were valid but only intensified the throb at the base of my skull. “There’s still a lot we don’t know.” I frowned down at her, my eyes landing on her plush lips. “You’re the first person I’ve told.”

Her eyes softened. “Oh.”

“Listen, I don’t really want to think about any of that right now. Today is about putting on a happy face for the Bluebirds. They really want to celebrate you, and you should let them.”

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