Page 13 of Control

“Just think about how you’d feel if someone treated Meena the way you treat those women.”

The vein on my neck throbbed at the mere mention of my niece. I would kill anyone who dared to look at her.

“Not feeling like such a stud now, huh?” she smirked.

Although I was still fuming, I understood her point. Damn her for knowing how to poke holes in my thinking.

The interrogation continued. “So, do you know her?”

I debated on how much to share. Judging from the look on Claire’s face when Amelia interrupted us, she would be horrified if I divulged the details of our firstmeetingwith anyone, let alone her student’s parent.

I settled for the really short version. It was all anyone needed to know. “Not really. I just saw her at a party.” If Amelia knew the whole story, I’d really come off as thebig bad wolf.

“You should ask her out.” My sister-in-law was forever hopeful that I’d mend my ways and settle down. She wanted me to wine and dine a woman and then propose to her, even though I’d reminded her countless times that marriage just wasn’t my thing.

I sighed out my annoyance. “I don’t do that kind of stuff.”

As if on cue, she harped, “Don’t you think it’s time to settle down?”Here we go.

“Nope.” Nothing she could say would change my mind.

“Well, maybe if you gaveonewoman a chance, you’d change your mind.” She added the emphasis onone,hinting at my favorite way to pass the time…or ratherways. Three, to be specific.

“I give women chances all the time.Lotsof them.” I smirked at my own freshness.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Whatever.”

“Trust me. You don’t want me to pursue her. She’d end up hating me and Meena would be out a ballet teacher. I can’t have my niece hating me.” This would only end in disaster. I was a one-time kind of guy. Most women wanted relationships, especially those that were sophisticated ballet teachers…with firm asses.Fuck.I crossed my legs to subtly readjust the growing bulge in my pants.

“Why would my daughter hate you?” Shyam joined us inside of the office.Great. Two against one. They were always ganging up on me about this subject.

“No reason.” I eyed Amelia to keep her mouth shut. I didn’t want to hear him go off on me too.

Completely ignoring me, she updated her husband. “He’s into Meena’s ballet teacher.”

I flung my arms out as if asking her,What the fuck?!

She simply responded by flipping me off with her middle finger.

“Classy,” I murmured in a resigned tone.

She flashed me an evil smile. Shyam chuckled at his wife’s triumph, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Taking a seat on the edge of her desk, with one foot on the ground, he laid into me. “Why are you harassing my wife at work?”

“Exactly what I was wondering. Whydidyou come here?” She eyed me.

Two sets of eyes stared at me, expecting an answer.Fucking hell. My mission to find out more about Claire had backfired. Now everyone was on my ass.

“Do you want me to set you up with Claire?” Amelia beamed.

To be honest, I did want to see her again. I couldn’t stop thinking about her and those electrifying eyes—so bright, like the blue part of a flame. Lord knew my hand had gotten enough of a workout picturing those eyes fixed on me as I fucked myself into oblivion.

“You should go for it. Her looks are agreeable,” Shyam offered.

“Her looks are agreeable? Who the fuck says that?” What was she? A couch? My brother had the strangest ways of expressing himself. She was far aboveagreeable. She was damn gorgeous.

He bit back a smile. “I’m sorry for offending you. Didn’t mean to touch a nerve, buddy.”

Amelia burst into laughter. “Thatwas a good one.” She raised her hand to Shyam, who slapped a high-five against it.

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