Page 27 of Miss Understood

“Right,” I say, going along with it, even if it makes me uneasy.

The corner of Luce’s lip ticks up, and her whole face brightens a shade. I’m not sure how, but the woman glows. A halo of light, from her white-blonde hair to the perfect shade of pink on the apple of her cheeks.

If it weren’t for the horns she’s constantly poking me with, I’d almost mistake her for an angel.

She slides past me, and our arms brush slightly, sending my mind racing. It’s easy to keep distance when it’s all unpleasantries and work banter. But ever since Vegas, something in the air has shifted, and I’m still not sure how I feel about it.

“What. Was. That?” Serena punctuates each word and plants her hands on her hips.

“Right?” Mateo says. “I feel vindicated, because I’ve been saying it for like six months now, and your bro here likes to make me think I’m going crazy.”

“What?” I ask.

Serena waves a sharp nail between me and the direction Luce just went. “You’ve got a thing for her.”

“A thing?” I roll my eyes. “What are we, thirteen? And she’s a colleague; that’s it.”

“You married her.” Serena steps into my space and knits her eyebrows like she’s inspecting me.

“We were drunk,” I argue.

“You forget that I can read you like a fucking book, big bro. See that line right there?” She rakes a finger on the crease between my eyebrows. “You’re lying. You might have married her because of a little too much booze, but it wasn’t a spur of the moment decision, whether you realize it or not. You’ve definitely got a thing for Blondie.”

I peel her hand away, but it doesn’t wipe the satisfied grin off her face. “No, I don’t.”

Did that sound believable out loud? Because it was muddled in my head.

After all, I don’t have a thing for Luce. I can barely stand her. She might be playing nice due to our current arrangement, but behind closed doors, I have no doubt she’ll continue to rake me over the coals every chance she gets. If Serena senses anything, it’s sexual frustration.

Am I married to her? Yes.

Is my dick interested in her? Against better judgment.

Do Ilikeher? Not if she were the last woman on earth.

“Whatever you say.” Serena smiles, a hint of defiance in her tone. But I don’t argue, knowing she’s got me in a Chinese finger trap. The more I squirm, the tighter it gets.

“Lemon Villa?” Luce pops up beside me, and I jump.

Her calmness today is unsettling. Yesterday she was the ball of nerves I’m used to, her outsides matching her insides. But this new calm demeanor…I’m not sure how to read it.

Are we even on the same page anymore?

She scrunches her face in confusion, but Serena and Mateo stand smiling like they’ve caught me.

“Yes, sure. Sounds good.” I step toward the elevator and hit the button over and over until it opens.

“Bring me back a lobster roll.” Mateo waves.

Serena latches on to his hand. “Uh, no, you’re coming.”

“This isn’t the time for catch-up, Serena.” I hear myself getting irritated, but she’s the one who put me on edge. “It’s aworklunch.”

Really, I’m still just pissed at him for dragging this whole thing out into the open. Mateo might have apologized for his little surprise party, but it doesn’t make all the problems that came from it magically disappear.

Serena’s eyes narrow as she plants her feet. “For you, maybe. But I’m the one who voluntarily agreed to this. So it’s my terms, or I head back to Olympia to that dungeon you call an apartment.”

Only my sister would complain about being put up in one of the nicest penthouses in the city.

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