Page 5 of Inarticulate

“And you became completely stunning.” He eyed her with appreciation. “If we weren’t cousins, I’d totally hit that.”

“Oh, Jesus.” She slapped a hand over her mouth to stop an encouraging laugh. “You’re still as inappropriate as ever.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Just paying you a compliment, Sav.”

“Let’s not make this awkward.” She shook her head and indicated for him to come inside. “I don’t want to regress to the time where I had to punch you in the face to stop you from trying to kiss me.”

“I was eight.” He walked past her. “It was dark out, and I thought you were someone else.”

“We were ten, and it was in the pool before lunch.”

He snickered. “You have a good memory.”

“It’s not easy to forget the first time your cousin tries to lay one on you.”

“First and last. I learn from my mistakes.” He slumped onto the corner of her Queen-sized mattress, dwarfing the bed with his large frame. “So how have you been?”

“I’m good.” She settled against the tiny desk opposite him, unable to stop mentally noting all the ways he’d changed. His feet were so big. His hands, too. “But I’d love to know how you found out I was here. And why you turned up on my doorstep.”

He pulled a face, a cross between a wince and a smirk.

“Don’t tell me.” She put up a hand to stop his explanation. “My lovely Aunt Michelle.”

He winked at her. “Guessed it in one.”

Christ.Savannah’s mother couldn’t keep a secret to save her life, especially when it came to her sister. For as long as she could remember, her mother and aunt had been inseparable. They endeavored to lessen the miles between them, from San Francisco to Seattle, by daily phone calls and weeks on end in a family cabin during summer.

“I gather you didn’t want us finding out,” he drawled.

“It’s not that.” It was a tricky situation. She hadn’t kept tabs on her cousins’ lives. If she had, maybe she could’ve foreseen the current drama. Years separated the last time they spoke, and she wasn’t confident in assuming they wanted to see her again. Especially when Penny’s involvement in the sale of the Seattle property seemed like a personal vendetta. “I didn’t know your sister was working with Grandiosity. I’m actually here because…”

How should she put it? Her relationship with Dominic had always been solid. They were born within months of each other. They reached the same milestones together and became long distance best friends.

Her communication with Penny was in vast contrast. She was the younger relative neither herself nor Dominic wanted to play with. She threw tantrums and demanded attention. She was immature, annoying, and daddy’s little girl even at the age of fifteen when they’d last spoken.

However, the past didn’t dictate her favorite cousin’s current bond with his sister. He could’ve outgrown the annoyance toward his sibling.

“She’s stirring up trouble again?” Dominic straightened.

“Kind of.” Merely scaring grown men and women from their long-term employment. “Is she still a—”

“Bitch?” he interrupted. “No. I think she’s evolved from that. Being a bitch was mere child’s play.”

“Perfect.” Savannah chuckled, ignoring the flush of annoyance heating her cheeks. “You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

“Yeah…about that.” He flashed a smile at her. “I was supposed to call and make sure you came to a family dinner tonight. I was actually going to do it days ago, but it completely slipped my mind. So instead of calling now and getting an inevitable last-minute rejection, I thought I’d show up and drag you along kicking and screaming.”

“Kicking and screaming?” It was a possibility. She wasn’t in the mood for a family reunion. Dominic was enough for now.

“I’d prefer your ire to my mother’s. That woman can hold a grudge.”

So could his sister. “I’m exhausted, Nic.” She slumped her shoulders for effect. “I don’t want to leave a bad impression after all this time apart.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“I’ve been in my suite less than half an hour. I haven’t even opened my suitcase.” The opportunity to catch Penny in a friendly, family situation was favorable, but Savannah needed a certain mindset to approach danger. A mindset she didn’t think she had the determination to muster.

“Don’t waste your time with excuses. You know what my mother is like.” He stood, hovering over her. “If I show up without you, I won’t hear the end of it.”

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