Page 17 of The Sinner: James

James slides the third glass to the other side of the table.

It takes a few seconds as I make all sorts of assumptions regarding the third drink before a man joins us.

Tall, like them, and about the same age, he moves a warm gaze over us.

His boyish face lights up with a smile as he notices me sandwiched between Lex and James.

“Who the hell is this?” he asks, flashing a superb smile.

He tosses his phone on the table, his hazel-brown eyes hovering over my body as he rakes his hands through his chestnut hair.

“Language, Ed,” James says.

Ed presses his lips together, his eyes dancing with a smile.

“Why is she here?” he asks.

“She’s looking for someone.”

Speaking of which.

I slide my hand up James’ arm, summoning his attention.

He looks at me, his finger held up, and then I notice his cell phone pressed to his ear.

His eyes stay on me as he speaks to someone on the phone.

“Yeah... Who do we have down there? Mm-hmm...”

His eyes float over my face before dipping to my lips and locking my gaze a moment later.

“What does your sister look like, sweetheart?”

I give him the description, and he relays it to the other person. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Ed’s stare.

I flick my gaze at him.

His smile broadens.

“Leave her alone, Edward,” James rasps.

Unfazed, Ed gives me a cheeky grin, his eyes darting back and forth between James and me.

“Ed?”

Lex squeezes Ed’s shoulder, shaking it playfully. “Can you stop, for fuck’s sake?”

“Okay, okay...”

Edward shoots his hands up, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“She’s not what you think,” Lex says to Edward.

What is that supposed to mean?

James holds his finger up again.

They turn silent.

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