Page 8 of Betrayed

She shakes her head.

“No need—Ijust live down the street.”Ohright—she did tell me that.She’swithin walking distance of work, which is nice.

“Okay.”Inod through the back window atCookieas we leave and he nods back grudgingly.Wewalk out the front door ofThePieShopand take a right, heading down the sidewalk.

As we walk,Sunnylinks her arm through mine and looks up at me.

“Come on,BigBrother—let’s go home.”

She’s so much shorter than me, the top of her head doesn’t even reach my shoulder butIfindIlike feeling her beside me.Ilike her arm through mine even more.

I’ve been avoiding physical touch for so long—in prison, getting physical with someone almost always means violence.ButwithSunny, it’s warm and comforting and sweet—Idon’t thinkI’veever met anyone who lives up to their name better than her.Soeven thoughIpromised myselfI’donly stay for pie,Ilet her lead me along willingly.

Apparently we’re going home.

6

SUNNY

I’m so excited to finally show my big brother around my house!It’sa good thingIdid a little cleaning last night—not thatIever let it get too messy.Mommataught me to keep things neat and that’s howIlike it.

My house is a big oldVictorianone block down and one block over fromThePieShop.It’sthe only house like it in town andIlove it butIwon’t lie—it costs a lot to cool in the summer and even more to heat in the winter.Sinceit’s the tail end ofSpring, things are still a little chilly but not cold enough to turn on the heat.Soit’s kind of nippy inside whenIpush open the door.

“Sorry about the temperature,”Iapologize toKane. “Iknow it’s chilly in here.”

He only shrugs, his broad shoulders rolling.

“Doesn’t bother me—Irun hot anyway.”

As if to prove it, he takes off the brown leather bomber jacket he’s wearing, revealing a skintight black t-shirt underneath that shows the most mouthwatering male chestI’veever seen in my life.ThenIremind myself that he’s my big brother—Ishouldn’t be looking at him that way.

But still…Ican’t help comparing him to my boyfriend,Charles.It’snot thatCharlesdoesn’t look nice, hedoes.Butthere’s nice and then there’s…this.Chiseledabs and bulging biceps and…Imake myself look away.

“Make yourself at home,”Isay, hoping my voice doesn’t come out too high and squeaky. “Justwatch out forMissSassy, my cat.Shehates most everybody but me.”

As if she heard her name,MissSassycomes sauntering out from behind the couch with her furry tail riding high.She’saRagdollthatIgot from the animal shelter over inCunningham.Supposedlythey’re the most loving cats in the world.Infact, they’re supposed to flop over like a rag doll the minute you pet them or pick them up—which is how they got the name.

MissSassy, however, doesnotfit that stereotype.She’sbonded with me andI’mthe only one she wants—she hisses and swipes at everyone else who comes in the house.Evenmy friendAnnabelle, who loves animals and has so many pets she practically qualifies as aDisneyPrincess, can’t make any headway with my stubborn cat.

SoIfeel justified in warning my brother.

“She acts like she might be friendly at first but then she’ll scratch the crap out of you if she gets a chance,”Iwarn him again, because he is actually bending down and holding a hand out to the cat.

MissSassycomes over cautiously and sniffs his fingertips.Then, to my utter shock, she rubs her furry cheek against his hand and begins to purr!

“She seems all right.”Kanecaresses her with one big hand and she arches her back, the purring ratcheting up to an even higher volume.

“I don’t believe it!”Isay blankly, watching him pet her. “Usuallyshe doesn’t like anyone!”She’seven scratched me a fair few times, despite the fact thatI’mher “designated human.”

“Animals like me,” he rumbles.

“They do?”Iask.

He nods and gives me a lookIcan’t interpret.

“Maybe they sense something in me…you know?”

“Uh…maybe.”Whatthey’re sensingIdon’t know.Butwait, maybeIdo.There’sno denying that my big brother exudes a kind of animal magnetism.Icertainly feel it whenI’maround him—it’s like there’s something primal inside him.Iknow that sounds dramatic, but it’s true.Probablyit’s his pale eyes—Ican’t decide if they’re gray or blue.

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