Page 64 of The Forbidden Trio

“Right away.”

Carla left the room, leaving Aster to roll her eyes. She hated the way her mother spoke to the household staff. She also felt an old, familiar stab at the fact that her mother ordered iced tea for Max, but nothing for her. Not that she could really resent Max. No, resentment was never part of the complicated feelings she had for her stepbrother.

Lust, on the other hand, was a huge part of that equation, she realized as he walked into the room in shorts and a black tank top, sweat gleaming on his finely muscled arms. Running had certainly made his tanned legs muscular. She’d bet his abs were every bit as deliciously cut.

She swallowed the sharp hum of desire down as hard as she could, but she couldn’t help the heat coursing through her body.

“Hey, Aster! When did you get here?”

“Only a few moments ago,” her mother interjected.

“It’s good to see you.” Max strode across the room, a smile on his too-beautiful face. “I’d hug you, but I’m kind of gross at the moment.”

“It’s okay,” she assured him, even though she’d love nothing more than to be wrapped up in his hot, damp arms, inhaling the scent of him that was permanently etched in her memory—warm male skin and a hint of citrus.

Settle down, girl!

Carla appeared with three tall glasses on a tray, handing one first to Max, then offering the tray to Aster. She took the icy glass, needing to cool down maybe as much as he did.

“Thanks, Carla.” Max flashed the housekeeper one of his devastating smiles.

God, the man was classic, all-American good looks. He would have made a perfect Abercrombie and Fitch model.

“Let me go jump in the shower while you visit with your mother,” he said to Aster. “I’ll be back down in a few minutes.”

She managed to chat politely with her mother and, soon enough, Max reappeared, dressed in a pair of low-slung cargo shorts and a clean black tank top. Aster stood as he crossed the room to wrap her in his arms. He squeezed her tight while her whole system lit up with need, pressed against the hard planes of his body.

“It’s good to see you, big sis,” he whispered in her ear.

Big sis.

That had been a private joke between them since they’d first slept together, even though she was only a few months older, and it only made desire flare from a low simmer to a full-blown flame.

Not in front of your mother.

Aster took a step back. “It’s great to see you, too. How are things in the California Wine Country?”

“Good. Great, really. I love the restaurant, my boss, and it’s beautiful there. But… I actually wanted to talk to you both about that.”

“Oh?” her mother asked, one elegant brow arched.

Max sat down on the sofa, grabbing Aster’s hand to pull her down beside him.

“Yeah. When I came back for Dad’s funeral a few months ago, I made a connection with an old friend from high school. Do you remember Keith Arner?”

“Didn’t you two play lacrosse together?” Aster asked.

Max nodded. “That’s him. We hadn’t seen each other for years, but he’s been doing a lot of investing and, well, I won’t bore you with the details, but we’ve decided to go into business together in the city.”

“In New York?” Aster asked, her pulse fluttering.

“Doing what, exactly?” Aster’s mother asked.

“That’s the best part. We’re opening a restaurant.”

“That’s wonderful!” Aster told him, leaning over to give him a hug, and keeping it brief.

“Max,” Lillian interrupted, “you could have used your trust fund. You needn’t go into business with someone you hardly know.”

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