Page 119 of The Painter and His Poet

“But what aboutherfeelings in all of this? I can’t believe that Ben has even considered this, let alone going through with it. I don’t know how I feel about that.”

“Ben is a good man. He wouldn’t be doing this if he didn’t think that there was any other way.”

“And what kind of man would accept money in exchange for time with his wife?” I ask, pissed.

“The kind of man who sends sexually explicit and threatening messages to the womanIlove,” Sterling retorts, his jaw gritting with anger.

“We still don’t know it’s him,” I whisper, feeling my stomach churn. I don’t like Councillor Hoxton, but if we’re wrong the consequences could be catastrophic.

“We don’t, you’re right, but everything you’ve said points to him, and pretty soon we’ll know for sure if this plan I have works out. Please trust me. If our suspicions are right, then it would seem that Hoxton has agreed to this exchange with Ben so that he can make his move on you. It makes sense, discard Elodie so that he can replace her with…” His voice trails off as he looks at me.

“...Me?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“Sterling, that’s so messed up.”

“I know, but you’re safe. I’m not letting you out of my sight. That man won’t get anywhere near you, I promise.”

“Have you told Ben what you suspect, or any of the others?”

Sterling shakes his head. “Right now, the less people who know, the better.”

“And have you told them about us?”

“No, and I won’t until we’ve dealt with Hoxton. We can’t tell Ben in case it impacts his plans, and we need that to go ahead if we’re going to draw Hoxton out.”

“I don’t have a very good feeling about this. It’s as though we’re complicit in what Ben’s doing, and while I appreciate that he’s doing it with good intentions, buying someone still makes me feel uncomfortable. She’s a human being, not a possession.”

“I get that,” he replies, soothing his hands up and down my arms. “But whichever way you look at it, Elodie is better offwithout Hoxton. Ben just wants the opportunity to get her out of his grasp, even if it’s just to set her free from that man.”

“So you’re saying that if this all backfires on Ben, he’ll just let Elodie go?”

Sterling heaves out a breath. “No, hewillfight for her.”

“What about Drix and Dalton, could we not tell them what’s happening? It might help ease the burden somewhat.”

Sterling shakes his head. “Telling them isn’t an option either. Drix has just gotten out from beneath Carl’s hold, and the last thing he needs is more shit blowing up in his face if he were to get involved in our problems. Which leaves Dalton, and he’s got way too much going on right now.”

“You’re right,” I agree, my shoulders slumping in defeat. “I just hate the thought that you don’t have anyone to talk to about all of this.”

“I have you, and that’s more than enough, Harlow,” he replies, dropping a kiss to my forehead.

“So, tonight we’re just two people who happen to be connected by our parents, and are putting on a united front for your friends.”

Sterling cocks his head to the side. “Tonight I’m a man who’s hopelessly in love with his step-sister and can’t do a damn thing about it since she’s playing hard to get,” he says, a smile pulling up his lips as he swats my arse playfully.

“Great, blame it all on me,” I reply, shaking my head with a laugh.

“Never. Now, let me finish up here, and you go and get ready.”

“That was delicious,” Drix says, leaning back in his seat, his plate completely empty. I watch as he throws an arm over the back of Lia’s chair, their ease with each other the complete opposite to how me and Sterling are behaving right now. We’re both tense, guarded with each other, and I hate it.

“Yes, thank you for having us,” Lia adds, leaning into his side, her kind eyes drifting between me and Sterling who’s sitting beside me. “This was all so delicious. Please pass on our thanks to your chef.”

“Of course,” Sterling replies, grabbing his glass and knocking back the last dregs of wine. He’s been distracted ever since he went to the billiards room to talk with the guys earlier, and I’m sensing that there’s more to how he’s behaving than keeping up the charade between us. Once they’ve left, I intend on finding out what’s bothering him.

“So are you settling in okay?” Lia asks me.

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