Page 26 of Snap Shot

Before I get too lost in my head, Dad nudges me with his knee. “Hey, what are you up to today? I've got a tee time booked at the club with Stephen.” He reaches into a pocket on his belt to pull out his phone. “He always enjoys time with you.”

“Sure. Sounds good.”

Spending the morning at the driving range with Dad and his boyfriend isn't what I had in mind when I came home to escape. But the earnest, eager look in his eyes has me folding. When it's this easy to make him happy, why wouldn't I?

The trip home is too short. Delaney and I act civil for the rest of the weekend. She hugs me goodbye after I help her get the kids in the car as they prepare to leave. “You're an asshole, but I love ya.”

I squeeze and lift my sister off the ground, ignoring her protests. “I feel the exact same way about you.”

“Yes, you're sweet like that.” She pinches my nipple and I yelp, slapping the back of her hand. “Can't have everyone thinking we're too chummy.”

“Right. Drive safe.” My sister goes to ruffle my hair, but I block it with my forearm.

Mom and Dad pull their heads from either side of the backseat after giving their grandkids farewell kisses, then shut the car doors. Del stands between the driver's seat and door.

“And hey, don't let the news get to ya. They'll move on to the next dum-dum that screws up soon enough.”

Mom facepalms with a groan, tone low with warning. Laney waves like Forrest Gump and shoots us an innocent smile.

I feelsomuch better now.

Chapter 8: Ahoy, Captain Hook

Indi

How dare he? How dare he waltz in here with an easy, lopsided smile on his unreasonably handsome face?

The confident saunter while he unbuttons the jacket of yet another freshly laundered suit tailored to fit his broad torso and toned legs perfectly? Ludicrous. An invigorating citrus and fabric softener scent combo? It has no business floating in here to make all my essential organs throb. Especially not the one between my legs.

“Mr. Radek. Have a seat.”

“Hey,Indi.”

Oh, God. I'm actually wet. Where the hell did Bea go? I can't be left alone with the charmer!

Landon sits and so do I. “Please. It's Ms. Davé.”

His charcoal suit and white shirt underneath fit way too well, leaving nothing to the imagination when he leans back in the chair with his hands behind his head. And I mean,nothing.Bulky biceps bunch, stretching the upper sleeves of the suit jacket into round hemispheres. A cognac-toned Wingtip wiggles from where it hangs over his knee, the knit fabric of his pants straining to cover the meaty muscles of his legs and…holy fuck.

There it is again. The big one. His thing isrightthere, bulging and molded to his inner thigh. Is that how big it is at rest?

Mercy, mercy, mercy.I rein in control, keeping myself from fixating on it and holding his gaze instead.

“Aw, Indi. It's just us now. No need to be so formal. How are you?”

Formal? Your thunder-down-under is making this anything but. No, no, no. I won't allow either of them—Landon or his huge wang—to derail my thoughts anymore.

“I'mgreat.” I know I'm being curt, but he's my client. There are boundaries. With anyone else, any level of informality wouldn’t be acceptable. I shut down every attempt at his playful back-and-forth, replying to each quip with brusque remarks. He's persistent. While his flirting may work on more gullible women, I have zero interest. It's an idiotic physical attraction and has to end now.

The second I take the case file out and show himthe photo, his face falls. The twinkling blue life in Landon's eyes fades, and an embarrassed blood-red brims the top sharp angles of his cheekbones. Good. That snapped him out of it.

The cut corner of his jaw ripples when I ask about his relationship with the publicist. Maybe I took it too far, but I honestly don't care if he's pissed off. Landon Radek doesn't get to come in here and waste my time while I'm trying to do my fucking job to savehispublic image.

“Mr. Radek?” My knuckles rap on my desk. A blank, lifeless expression on his face lingers for a few moments. “Are you listening to me?” I motion to the stack of photos. “Thisis the narrative they've built. If it's untrue, we have to change it, and Iwillmake sure there are repercussions. But I can't do that ifyoudon't tell me what happened.”

His torso stiffens, jaw ticking and eyes reigniting once more. Not with roguish teasing though. It's unadulterated wrath, the fiercest blue flame. “Why don'tyoudo your research,Ms. Davé?”

My mouth gapes. “Excuse me?”

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