Page 27 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

Generosity?That’s what she called our passionate nights?

“What the fuck just happened?”Ryland crossed to the counter and stopped the recording on his camera. His topknot dangled like he’d been tearing at the strands of hair. “What did we miss? I thought?—”

“Me too.”I offered a commiserating shrug. “We all thought it.” We’d thought she would be happy to stay.

“Any ideaswhen she decided she was done with us?” Pain bracketed Arthur’s mouth. Poor bastard. Hannah leaving like this had to be dredging up some painful memories for him.

“Arewe sure the whole thing wasn’t her playing us?” The stinging bite of anger prickled across my skin. I slept around, but I never led anyone on, never made them think the sex was anything more than that. What we’d had with Hannah was beautiful and exciting, the kind of thing love was made of. I growled and gripped the edge of the counter before I gave in to the urge to shove all the food onto the floor and stomp it until it looked like how my heart felt. Arthur’s feelings were the only thing that stopped me.

“Dowe listen to her wishes and leave her alone or confront her?” Arthur seemed at a genuine loss.

“Leave her alone.”Ryland confirmed my thoughts.

I resisted the need to lash out by the slimmest shred of control. “If she wanted to work it out, she’d have stayed to talk. Face it, Arthur. It’s over.”

14

HANNAH

Ishould have told them the truth. They deserved to know. They should have heard it from me before I gathered up mine and Liddy’s meager belongings and fled like a scared fugitive. I knew leaving without telling them the reason why was the coward’s way out.

Even the warmthof Liddy’s hugs and her consistent chants of, “It’ll be okay, Mama,” did nothing to ease the ache in my heart. I had to leave. I’d been telling myself that every day, a thousand times a day, over the entire summer.

“One of themmight be your biological father,” I whispered to myself while pulling my work clothes from my closet. A shudder of disgust rolled through me, tightening my stomach with a painful cramp. It had been a few weeks since I’d left the mansion. The feelings I’d developed over the summer were real and overwhelming with their intensity. Every time I thought about them, tears sprang up.

I hadto find a measure of control before I left my room to begin my day. I did not want to let any more sad emotions show around my baby girl. She picked up on them so easily and I needed to stay strong for her.

The need to curse,to punch the wall, to shout and scream about the unfairness of it all drove me to my bed. I grabbed a pillow and screamed into it until I lost my breath. It wasn’t enough, but it helped. I’d finally found decency, honesty, and generosity. All three of my silver foxes—though not mine anymore, I reminded myself—were the kindest, most decent men I’d ever met.

Exactly like Dad.

“Fucking damn it. Fuckity, fuck, fuck.”I punched the pillow, then slammed it back onto the mattress. “Clean break,” I told myself as I pulled it together and faced the mirror. Red splotches of anger and dried tears stained my cheeks. I needed to put some makeup on.

“Mama, I’m ready.”Liddy was dressing herself now, a new request since school had started.

She bounded into the room, her pink tutu skirt fluffed around her hips. She wore pink tights underneath, and a pink sequined top that sparkled every time she moved.

“You look beautiful.”I pasted on a smile and yanked on my one good pair of black slacks, followed by a gray button-up shirt. I twisted my hair into a low bun to keep it out of the way during the school day and found my shoes beneath the bed. A cool breeze traced the bottom of my foot as I began to pull on socks.A hole bigger than my thumb was in the heel of one of them. A wave of frustration rolled through me, starting at my toes and ending with a prickling across my scalp.

“Uh-oh. That’s bad.” Liddy patted my knee in solace. “You want a pair of my socks?” She held up a foot and wiggled her toes.

“Thanks, baby. I have another pair.”I didn’t have the heart to tell her she couldn’t help me. No one could. I’d given up our life of security and luxury to come back to this.

The guys had been leavingme alone as I’d asked. Part of me hated them for that—as awful as it sounded, I’d almost expected them, wanted them, to pursue me. The fact that they hadn’t only proved my theory. I’d been nothing more than a plaything for all three of them. Frowning, I yanked open the dresser drawer that held my socks. The handle came away in my hand. I bit down on my tongue to keep the rapid-fire curse words behind my teeth. I set the handle on top of the dresser and dug my nail into the crack, prying the drawer open and chipping off most of my polish.

“All better?”Liddy asked when I sank onto the bed and pulled on a new pair of socks.

I kissedthe top of her head. “All better. You ready to go?”

“Yes.”She bounced onto her toes, did a twirl with her arms out by her sides, and giggled. “I get to make new friends today.”

We stoppedat the front door to pull on our shoes. “Mama, mine are too tight.” Liddy dropped onto the floor and held out her feet. “They hurt.”

My stomach dropped.We’d gone school clothes shopping before I’d left and I’d used some of the money I’d earned over the summer despite the guys insisting they’d pay. I still had enough for Christmas, but not if Liddy kept growing out of everything week after week. “Grab your ballet slippers. They’ll be okay for today,” I told her. We’d stop on our way home and exchange the shoes. Thankfully, the shoe store allowed that for kids Liddy’s age, understanding how quickly they grew.

Liddy waitedfor me at the top step with her hand outstretched while I closed and locked the door. A police siren blipped then screamed past, the red and blue lights flashing. Liddy covered her ears.

I scoopedher into my arms and set off in the opposite direction. Our shabby little house matched the rest of the run-down neighborhood. One shutter hung sideways and the driveway needed sealing. Our neighbors were nice, though, and I knew better than to take that for granted. I’d rather have a shabby house and nice neighbors than a gorgeous house and neighbors I couldn’t trust.

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