Page 66 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

Chapter 20

Jackson

They meet us in the lobby of The Zenith, Danforth’s ski chalet and the newest addition to his family of hotels. Everything about it is over the top, from the humongous chandelier over the rotund marble lobby, to the four-piece ensemble playing for ambiance.

Danforth receives me with a familiarity that would suggest we’re more like close friends than business associates. Although that’s the way when it comes to these deals. Always schmoozing and smiling to play at closeness rather than actually letting anyone get close.

“Roy! You’ve grown up,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder.

“It’s the beard,” I reply with a smile.

“It suits you.” Danforth gestures to the woman beside him. “This is my wife, Carina.”

Yes. I’ve never met Carina, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t seen tales of their new relationship on the news. The same headline over and over.Billionaire Michael Danforth marries fifth wife, Carina Sikora, on private island in the Caribbean.Men like him average about four or five wives through this lifetime. Maybe this one will stick.

“How do you do,” I say, taking Carina’s hand in a soft shake.

I prepped Lily for this, warning her not to be shocked when she met Danforth and Carina. The age gap is apparent thanks to Danforth’s silver hair. Botox makes up for a lot of the wrinkles he should have, not that he’d ever admit that he gets it, but I guess he’s leaning into the silver fox thing for his young, model-esque wife.

However, I don’t think Lily even has the energy to stare. She’s been dizzy since she woke up from her mid-flight nap.

“And this is . . . ?” Danforth attends to Lily before I can make the introduction. His eyes landing on her make me uneasy even though I’m certain his relationship is new enough he’s not circling like a hawk.

Lily, ever herself, smiles as best she can. “I’m Lily Bolton. Thank you for allowing me to join Jackson.”

She clings to my arm as she shakes Danforth’s hand.

“No thanks needed. The more the merrier,” Danforth says.

When Lily greets Carina, it’s apparent Carina does not have the same wherewithal not to stare. “Look at all your tattoos!”

“Oh,” Lily says, her hand jumping back. “Yes, I’m a tattoo artist and . . . have a lot of tattoos,” she replies.

Carina grabs Lily’s hand back in hers, admiring the various planets and stars decorating her knuckles. “They’re beautiful!”

“That’s nice of you to say,” Lily says. “Thank you.” She’d explained to me that all the small tattoos were from amateur artists when she had just arrived in Seattle. Some of the lines are blown out, others are blotchy and unrecognizable. Isn’t it funny, though, when you don’t know all the behind-the-scenes how much easier it is to enjoy something?

Carina smiles at me. “You’ve chosen a piece of art.”

I nod, wrapping my arm around Lily’s waist a bit tighter if only to support her dizziness. “I have. Though she’d be that without the tattoos as well.”

“You are like light and dark. Sun and moon. The hair! Blonde and black!” Carina exclaims. “Don’t you see it, my love?”

I nearly puke at the use of ‘my love’ but to each their own.

“I do, my love,” he says with a chuckle, wrapping his arm around her waist. It’s almost paternal. She is young enough to be his daughter after all. “I know you just arrived, but we’d love for you to join us for lunch. We’ve got a perfect table with a view of the slopes.”

Lily inhales sharply beside me. “That sounds—”

I know she’s about to agree for my benefit, but I won’t have that when she’s feeling off. “Lovely, but I’m afraid the flight did us in, and we need a few moments to ourselves. I hate to make you wait until tonight, but—”

Danforth holds up a hand. “Nonsense. We’ve got plenty of time. Besides . . . ” A devilish smile appears on his face. “I probably wouldn’t be able to keep the lid on which suite I’ve given you through a whole lunch anyway.”

Danforth was not exaggerating about how surprising the suite would be. It’s like we’re in our own alpine villa. The whole place feels distinctly European, from the lush draping fabrics and marble accents built into the wall.

Lily, however, is most captivated by the view out the floor-to-ceiling windows. She leans her forehead against the cool glass and lets out a long sigh.

I come up behind her, placing my hands on her shoulder. “Still dizzy?”

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