Page 37 of Nothing to Beat

“The magician?”Tripp asked, clearly amused.

Porter explained.“An ex.”

“Not one I care about being safe.”Roxie’s compliment softened Porter’s smile.In typical fashion, Roxie pulled the sentimentality back fast.“Though I wouldn’t have to think about your safety if you didn’t make dumb, suicidal career decisions.”

“Still on that?”

“Why is it you needed a new place to live?”Roxie asked, tapping a straight forefinger on her jaw.“Oh, that’s right, because your last place got torched.”

“Now I have round the clock security.”

“Ihave round the clock security.”Roxie’s manicured middle finger touched her breast.“You’re taking advantage of it.”

“You’re not here to use it!”Porter laughed.“And don’t you have a security team in New York too?”

Somehow, she figured, he knew the answer to that question.

“I’m moving on.”Roxie hitched her chin.“What you got to drink in this joint?”

Like the words were a command for Tripp, he swung the door closed and drifted into the kitchen to begin the hunt.

“Didn’t think I’d see you before the wedding,” Porter said, smirking.“Second thoughts?Come here for one last hurrah?”

Roxie’s shoulders dropped.“Yes, Porter, I’m here to beg you to take me back.Want to run away together?”

“Might be hard with the guy you’re jilting owning his own jets.”

“And the building you’re standing in,” Tripp muttered, landing on vodka in the freezer.“Oh, this is good stuff.”

“Help yourself.”Wasn’t exactly clear if Porter was sincere or not.“You’re not one of her usual girls.”

“Yeah, given the penis and all.”Roxie went toward the desk in the corner.The huge desk, covered with papers, bearing an open laptop.“Tripp’s an honorary girl.”

“Tripp…” Porter whipped around fast.“Wait, you’re not—you are.”

“A Breckenridge?”Roxie asked, twirling into the tall desk chair.“Yeah, so he can afford to replace the liquor… ‘can’ but probably won’t.Bill Z for it.”

“Tripp Breckenridge.”Porter shook a pointed finger at him.“You’re number seven.”

“In the line of succession?”Tripp was still investigating the kitchen.“I’m somewhere around there.Impressive.You a groupie?”

“I know your mother well.”

“Does my dad know that?”

Porter blanched.“I don’t know—I—I knowofher.I follow her work.She’s an incredible woman.And your brother, your eldest brother just walked away from the corporation.That was a shock move.”

With a quick glance over his shoulder, Porter seemed to expect confirmation from Roxie.Except the woman was poring over the papers on the desk, lifting one to peek at another.Porter marched on over there to close the laptop and gather everything up.

“What?”Roxie asked, aiming for innocence.“It’s not like I don’t know what you’re working on.”

“Why did you bring me Tripp Breckenridge?”

“He’s notforyou.He’s just here.He has a habit of it.Ignore him.”

“Not easy to ignore a guy like him.Tripp Breckenridge, the most infamous of the Breckenridge Boys.”

“Infamous?”Tripp asked.“Nah.I’m the handsomest Breckenridge, the most thoughtful, caring.”Hmm, and would the world believe that?“Definitely the best lover.”Though given the brothers didn’t share women, there was no one qualified to verify that.“And you, sir, are Porter Clement.Got your heart broken by our own Roxanna Kyst here.”Roxie’s ex?“And are first chair on the Gambatto prosecution.”

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