Page 31 of Sinful Attraction

It hurts. I fight as hard as I can not to show it. Finally, I reply, “Just remember you said that when it happens.”

He stares at me for several beats, then says in a low growl, “Find out from your source among the Rossis whether they’re going to try to breach our security again.”

I sigh. The last thing I want is for my father to start using Michael as a leak-by-proxy. “I’ll talk to her.” I’m not even going to give him the right gender. My father would get even more suspicious if he found out my contact was a man.

“Good. Maybe you’ll finally do something useful for this family.” And he turns on his heel and stomps away.

I stand there with my stomach curdled and my muscles aching from tension, and what keeps going through my head is:I should have never come home.

But now, at least, I know I can get back into the family network with no problem. My teenage cousin not only doesn’t know computers anywhere near as well as he thinks but he’s also lazy.

Today, he’ll be gaming or sleeping and maybe check access logs and activity a few times just to say he did it. Nobody expects anything to actually happen on the family Net besides recipe sharing and gossip. And the family business, of course, but women are locked out of those forums.

As soon as I’m sure my father isn't coming back, I log onto the network, remote-hack my cousin’s account, grant myself admin privileges, and then cover my tracks. It takes me 15 minutes. The whole time, I’ve gradually started to feel better. Once it’s done, I’m smiling.

But only just. My family took my duties away and handed them off to some idiot kid who had no idea how important they were and probably wouldn’t care. I was going to look after my family and find any evidence I could, behind their backs, for their own goddamn good.

But after that, I am giving Michael a call. Not because I crave his company or time in his bed but because I need the excuse to get out of here.

He picks up on the second ring. “Hey, sweetheart. You want to come over?”

Yes.“Did you finish up gathering those security videos?”

“I’ll have it done later tonight. We’re also checking all the new hires for possible leaks.” He sounds confident. “Maybe someone else slipped in while you and I were butting heads.”

The idea sickens me a little bit. Some third party taking advantage of our family conflict is almost as disturbing to me as the idea of an inside job seems to disturb Michael. “Maybe. Butonce we look through those videos, we’ll have a better picture of who was actually around.”

“So... do you want to wait until I’m done or hang out and grab some dinner?” His voice is bright and friendly, in total contrast with the shit I ate from my father.

“I came back to get some things and get some rest, but... I don’t think I can rest very well here.” It slips out before I can stop it. The bald truth, as vulnerable and ugly as it is.Stop whining,I tell myself. But it’s too late.

“Well, you know, if you want to come take a rest here, I sure won’t mind.” His voice is a lot gentler.

I don’t know why, but that chokes me up. I stay quiet for a few seconds while I pull myself together. “Well, I...” I shouldn’t let him affect me like this. I should go somewhere else for a while, call a friend, or just drive around and get my head together.

“I’ll be down in half an hour,” I hear myself saying, and then sit there blinking in surprise.Why did I say that?

Maybe it’s because after what my father’s said and done, having a guy actually be easygoing, accepting, and kind feels like someone offering water after a trek through the desert. It might be fake; it might be a ploy. But it’s still exactly what I need.

“Sounds great,” he says in that warm tone. “I’ll get some drinks together.”

“Okay.”

If he takes advantage of me while I’m like this, if he’s playing me to get sex or any other reason... I’ll come down on him like a ton of bricks.

But for now... I’m just glad to go somewhere where I’m not being hurt by the people closest to me.

Chapter 15

Michael

I’m full of energy as I putter around, preparing for Arya’s return. I’ve finally received the last of the security videos, so I can legitimize her coming over, but that’s not why.

I want more of her. More of her in bed and out of it. I knew sex with her would be amazing after anticipating it for so long, but it’s more than that. I’m so fucking happy to have her back for the night that it actually surprises me.

I shouldn’t let myself catch feelings for her, especially quickly. She’s probably still pissed off at me deep down, no matter how many orgasms I give her. I need to get her that money back andhelp her look legitimate in the eyes of her family before I don’t have to worry about a knife in my back.

It’s tough, though. We have a ton in common, we make magic in the sack, she’s fun, funny... and she’s been a grown-up through all of this. It really might be worth all the risk and potential drama...

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