Page 19 of Best Kept Secret

"Is somethin' else goin' on, sweetheart?" I had embraced Nova as a sister since I found out about her existence. Ineverwanted her to feel likeshewasn't essential to our family.

"No, Beau. This isn't about me." She put a hand on my chest and pushed me a little, with no effect. "I'm friends with Trev and Katya—we've known each other for years. You're you, but your Mama…even though she's accepted me, more like she knew mefrom before, so she's had less to adjust to. You need to get your head out of your ass and see that Mira is terrified, and your Mama, bless her heart, was a right-on big B to her."

I smiled. Nova had no problems cussing, but she was being respectful to my mother, even though she wanted to kick her ass. She was right, I should've paid attention at dinner, but Pari was…fuck me, the cutest and most distracting thing in my life. Every time she was around, I could see no one and nothing else. I was in love for the first time in my life, and it was fucking fantastic.

"I'll talk to Mira," I finally said. It wouldn't hurt and would probably help. "But seriously, you're overthinking this."

"Can you send me Mira's contact information?" Nova asked.

I blinked at the question and sheepishly replied, "I…I don't have it."

"What?"

I sighed. "She's been at homeand…I'll get it, okay? Thanks for wanting to take care of her."

Nova had a big heart, and I was glad she'd take Mira under her wing.

My half-sister was a few years older than Mira but seemingly a lot tougher because she'd accomplished a lot despite being without family, while Mira seemed to be stumbling. The report from my PI was preliminary, but it was evident that Mira had little money, a high school education, and odd jobs as a cook in diners—and that was about it. Her parents were wealthy; her father was a partner at a top white shoe law firm. Asha had done her MBA, and had a thriving career. Mira seemed to have gotten derailed, or maybe she just wasn't book-smart.

After everyone left and Pari was asleep, I found Mira sitting on the wraparound porch outside the guestroom she and Pari were staying in. A baby monitor rested on the table beside her, quietly buzzing. She was still wearing the white blouse with avoluminous maxi skirt she'd worn for dinner. This seemed to be her style—boho chic meets Target or Walmart, if I had to guess. The oversized chair made her look small, fragile, vulnerable. She didn't hear me at first, but when I closed the porch door, she tensed, quickly wiping her face.

Fucking hell, she'd been crying. Maybe Nova was right, and Mama had hurt Mira. I'd have to talk to her and ask her to be kinder to Mira, who didn't deserve my mother's vitriol.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked.

She glanced up, offering a tight smile. "It's your house, Beau."

I took the seat next to her, the silence stretching between us for a few beats before I finally spoke. "Can you tell me why you're upset?"

Mira's smile faded instantly, her face closing off. "I…nothing."

"Come on, darlin', tell me. Is it because of what my mother said?"

She looked so tired and forlorn that I wanted to grab her and hold her on my lap. I wanted to comfort her. This fragile-looking, beautiful woman was being weighed down by her responsibilities. Weak women were not my style. I liked my women tough, strong—who could take on the world—hold their own with me. My protective instincts flared when it was family and friends, but usually without any sexual undertones. With Mira, there was plenty of that, because I wanted to comfort her, yes, but I also wanted to fuck her raw.

She shook her head. "It's just…I miss Asha."

Shit! She'd just lost her sister, what six months ago? Of course, she was still in mourning, still grieving.

I cupped her cheek and looked into her chocolate-brown eyes. They were so expressive. I could see her sorrow, her pain…and the leap of awareness when I touched her. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

Without thinking about it, I traced her lower lip with my thumb, her skin warm against the palm of my hand, her lips quivered.

She's a kid! You don't sleep with women who are barely able to buy themselves a drink, Beau.

She stared at me for a long moment, her eyes becoming liquid with desire, the chemistry that was flaring between us.

"Your lips are soft," I murmured.

I wanted to kiss her. Taste her. Touch her. I'd held her before, and I'd liked how she felt. She wasn't the kind of woman who worked out and was all muscle. She was soft, supple, giving. She was thin, but it was more because she'd not been taking care of herself, and not because that was her body type. Her breasts were full, pushing against the peasant-style blouse she wore. Her nipples were stiff; I could see them through her bra.

"Beau," she whispered.

"Yeah, darlin'?" I stopped touching her and leaned back.

"I don't want to lose Pari."

"Why would you?" Was Nova right about her feeling unwanted?Fuck. "I know my mother can be a bit much. She's feeling protective. Ah…we recently found out that Nova is my father's daughter with another woman. Nova has been friends with the family for years—but that pushed Mama off-kilter."

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