Page 28 of Totally Off Limits

Faith might have seemed like the most starstruck of the triplets, but that was only because she’d found her tongue. Sierra tried not to laugh as she looked at her sisters, imagining that they were the grinning emoji with red stars for eyes. So she instead turned back to Mia, where she could cut up more cooked veggies for the child to eat. Meanwhile, Faith asked, “It’s agoldmine, right?”

“Yep. The Ackermans were some of the first miners in the original gold rush.”

As Austin carved a bite of steak, Paul asked, “Pike’s Peak or Bust?”

“Exactly. My great great great grandfather—I think—was the one who staked the claim to what became my family’s gold mine. But don’t quote me. I don’t remember how manygreats.”

That mine had led to the Ackerman fortune. After her own family’s pursuit of wealth, Sierra had grown to despise it. Which was dumb. After all, she herself was getting a better education so she could earn more money—and that would help her take better care of her daughter and have more control over her life. So money itself wasn’t so evil. It was the people who wielded it. Thus far, Austin hadn’t ever seemed to be a bad guy…so she couldn’t hold his money against him.

But it made her cautious.

“We wouldn’t hold that against you.” Paul picked up his wine glass but paused before taking a drink. “I don’t suppose you’d have an opening for a scientist?”

“I’m not sure, but I know we’ve employed geologists.”

“What about a physicist?”

Oh, God. It took everything inside Sierra to not roll her eyes. Bad enough they were trying to foistheron Austin. If she wasn’t mistaken, she’d guess they were trying to get Layne employed at the mine. She glanced over at her brother and, although there was no love loss between the two, she felt a twinge of sympathy for him when his cheeks visibly paled.

“Hmm. I don’t know. I’d have to check with dad. Why?”

Paul’s expression changed to one of pride. “Well, Layne here is getting ready to graduate with his B.S. in Physics.”

She couldn’t help herself—and she hoped it would even help her brother shift his attention. “He’s already had a B.S. inplenty.”

“Sierra. That’s not funny,” her father admonished.

Ah, but the way the triplets, especially Hope, were trying not to giggle told her it definitelywasamusing—even though she could surmise by the daggers in Layne’s eyes that he wanted to flip her off. Still, it took the attention off him. She guessed that he, too, didn’t like their parents managing his life now that he was an adult. She could appreciate that—even if an ass like Layne deserved it.

“Sorry.” After making eye contact with Layne, she shifted her eyes to Austin—who winked at her.

Maybe he’d already bought into her parents’ hype. Giving him a short smile, she then let her eyes drift over the table. Grandma must have had her hearing aids out, because she managed to miss that whole scene and was focused on buttering her bread. Grace sat beside her and Sierra gave her a little pointing motion toward grandma. Fortunately, her sister got the clue and leaned over. “Can I help you with that, Grandma?”

Sierra finally allowed herself to look at the end of the table where her mother sat—and although she glanced back at her daughter, Sierra hadn’t the faintest idea what the woman was thinking. Usually, her face was either approving or disapproving and Sierra had expected the latter after her dig at Layne, but something else was on her mother’s mind. Shifting her eyes from Sierra to Austin and back again told her exactly what she’d suspected.

This whole fucking dinner was to get the Haydens and the Ackermans in bed together, no matter the cost, no matter which kid they got in the Ackerman camp. Maybe her parents suspected her resistance to their plan and were trying alternate paths.

Austin said, “I’d be happy to see if we could employ a physicist—unless, of course, you already have job prospects lined up.”

Layne was wearing hiseverything’s fineface, but Sierra knew better. From the time they were kids and had to deal with living on the backburner once the triplets arrived, they’d both learned early on that putting on a calm visage worked better than complaining about how things were—the oldget more with honey than with vinegaradage. And Layne was completely immersed there right now. “I’m good.”

What was that even supposed to mean?

But he wasn’t done. “Don’t you want to know what Sierra’s been up to? Weren’t you guys dating in high school and stuff?”

Austin’s face spread into an easy smile, reminding Sierra of the crush she’d had on him as an underclassman. Butsonofabitch. Typical Layne, pulling the carpet right out from underneath her. Even that was out of their childhood playbook—when he faced too much scrutiny, he’d shift the spotlight to Sierra.

Jesus, she hated this family.

And yet, deep down, she also loved them. Something deep inside still craved acceptance and pride from her parents. All her mother had wanted was for her totry. She could do that, couldn’t she? Be nice to Austin?

It wasn’t difficult. The man was one of the most charismatic, charming men she’d ever met.

“Wedid, Layne. I’m surprised you remembered that,” Austin said.

Sierra wasn’t sure what to make ofthat.

“Are you kidding? Sierra danced in her prom gown at home long before you saw her in it. You would have thought she was Cinderella heading to the ball.”

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