Page 23 of Captured Pawn
“Ah, well, I’m pretty booked…”
“Don’t. I don’t have time for your normal games.”
Her voice was downright chilly in her reply. “I don’t play games, Nicholas.”
Arguing with her would get me nowhere. “Let’s agree to disagree.”
“This have anything to do with Matt’s accident?”
The tension in my shoulders tightened. “How the hell do you know about…” I couldn’t even finish my question.
“Come on. I’m not stupid. Everyone’s heard about the accident. Old man Bishop is telling anyone who will listen that he’s ready to put down any attempt at corporate espionage.”
“Fucker. Of course, he’s trying to spin the story his direction.”
“Did you expect anything less?” she asked.
I didn’t answer. It was a rhetorical question. Instead, I pressed her. “I mean it. I need someone I can trust on this one.”
“And you think that’s me? I’m honored.”
“Don’t be. It’s just business,” I said, trying my best to focus on the conversation.
A few seconds went by, and I worried I’d lost her until she sighed, “Fine. I’m not committing, but I’ll stop over in a couple hours and at least hear you out.”
That was all I could ask at this point, so I reconfirmed with a simple, “See you then,” before hanging up.
I felt better knowing I’d taken the next step forward to neutralizing Maximillian Bishop and his corrupt family.
The positive feeling only lasted seconds as I had to watch my brother slathering suntan lotion on Sophie Locke’s back, down her toned legs, squeezing her curvy butt cheeks as if he had every right to touch her there. That was my ass to discipline and touch… not his. I got some vindication when she reached back to slap his hand away from her bare bottom.
I knew how fucked up it was that my cock had already started to grow hard just watching from a distance. How she had gotten under my skin, I had no clue. All I did know was I needed to finish what Matt and I had started. The sooner I did that, the sooner things could get back to normal around here.
Spinning away from the window, I turned toward my desk, planning to get back to work. Only when I got to my chair, my brain knew there was no way I’d be able to concentrate. Not now that I knew what was happening a few dozen feet away around the pool.
Instead, I diverted upstairs, taking the steps two at a time as I rushed past my own room to my sister Natalie’s suite at the end of the hall. Nat was still away, living at her college apartment for the summer, but I knew she wouldn’t mind me grabbing a few things to share with my guest.
It was an asshole thing to do, rummaging through my younger sister’s belongings. I didn’t really feel too bad until I found a vibrator and lube in her bedside drawer. Slamming that drawer quickly, I moved into her walk-in closet and hit the jackpot.
Panties, bras, T-shirts, and shorts I found easily. The drawer of bikinis and one-piece suits was the last one I looked in. Natalie was a few inches taller than Sophie, but otherwise I was pretty sure they were near the same size.
I was about out of the closet when I went back to the shoe cabinet, rummaging through the dozens of pairs until I found a pair of slip-on sandals.
By the time I slid open the glass door separating the kitchen from the back patio deck, I was ready for a battle. My brain told me I was only angry because she was wasting my valuable time, but my inner voice knew better.
My brother was so engrossed with my guest that he didn’t see me coming until I was standing over Sophie’s lounge chair.
“Don’t you have anything better to be doing, brother?” I groused, trying not to sound as angry as I felt.
“Not at all. I’m working from home today and wanted to make sure our guest feels welcome.”
I knew better. Nathan didn’t give a shit about how Sophie felt. All he was interested in was how her mouth would feel on his shaft after he’d started choking her with it. It was my brother’s favorite pastime.
“So considerate of you,” I tempered, trying not to let him see how much he’d gotten under my skin.
It was time to put things straight. I took the pile of clothes I’d picked out in Natalie’s room and threw the whole lot down on top of Sophie’s back and ass. “Time to get dressed.”
I didn’t appreciate my brother’s knowing chuckle. “Since when are you a prude? If a beautiful woman wants to lounge naked next to my pool, who are we to tell her to put clothes on?”
