Page 19 of Kiss Me

“Since when are you dating Tania Casey?”

I glance at the woman in question over his shoulder. She’s laughing as Eve and Kennedy’s younger sister, Stasi, stand over her, talking about snowboarding.

For a split second her eyes lock with mine. Weird sensations I don’t want to put a name to pop off in my belly.

“Since tonight, apparently,” I answer.

My cousin knows me better than just about anyone.

“Isn’t she the same Tania Casey who turned you down six months ago at the ski resort in Colorado?”

It’s my turn to glare at him. “Why the hell would you bring that up?”

“Because you bitched about it for more than a week.”

“I don’tbitch.”

He snorts. “What would you call it then?”

“Bansa,” I tell him, using the Korean slang term for ‘back at you.’ “Not a damn thing because it’s no longer relevant.”

A total fucking lie. If it wasn’t relevant, I wouldn’t have Tania with me here tonight.

He doesn’t need to know that, though.

“You’re a lying son of a bitch.”

I roll my eyes skyward. “You’re the second person who’s said those very words to me tonight. If I’m not careful, I could develop a complex.”

My cousin cracks a smile but quickly stifles it.

When he cocks his head to the side, I know he’s returned to serious mode. He turns and looks at something over his shoulder. Following his line of sight, my gaze lands on Tania.

Something weird happens in the pit of my stomach when I see her signing something Stasi holds out to her.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re holding over her?”

Reluctantly, I pull my gaze away from Tania and peer at my cousin.

I ask, “Do you truly think so little of me to believe that I …” I draw out the last word, feigning offense, “would stoop so low as to hold something over a woman to get her to go on a date with me?”

He shakes his head. “No.”

“Thank you?—”

“I fucking know it,” he adds. “I also know how you, more than anyone, hate rejection and will do whatever you can to get what you want.”

I point at him. “It’s the reason our business has been so damn successful,” I remind him.

“It’s one of the reasons. I had something to do with our business’ growth.”

I tip my head in acknowledgement. Dae’s business acumen when he took over as CEO of Lee Corporation after the death ofmy father undoubtedly contributed to us doubling our net worth in the past five years.

He nods in gratitude when I say as much.

“And you still do whatever it takes to get your way,” he adds. “So, what are you holding over her?”

“My charm and disarming wit.”

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