Page 160 of Torrid Passion
I share everything with her. From my long time crush, to Paris, to seeing Kyla at the Quintus Hotel after not seeing her for three years and to the incredible month we’ve already shared. Of course, I give Harlow the PG version, keeping the X-rated stuff to myself.
My little sister listens attentively. She’s completely shocked.
“I’ll be damned,” she says when I’m done.
“I’ve never met a woman I was interested in seeing more than once––twice max. Kyla and I have seen each other almost every day for the past month and I still can’t get enough of her.”
“Wow,” Harlow shakes her head.
“I know. It’s a lot to take in.”
“So this isn’t a fling?”
“You can’t call a month, a fling.”
She nods. “Good point. So you really like her?”
“I genuinely do. I like everything about her. I just needed time to come to grips with everything because all of this… is new to me.”
“My big brother and my best friend.”
“I know, it’s wild. Things are pretty good between us.”
“You know, in many ways, the two of you… it makes sense.”
“What do you mean?”
“Kyla hasn’t dated many guys––I’m sure you must know that by now.”
“I do.”
“Dating has been a bit of a thorny subject with her. I can’t imagine being in her shoes. She never knows if the guy is interested in her or in her last name and the weight it carries. It’s been a big problem for all her older cousins––male and female. And let’s not forget Hayden and her douche-bag-wanna-be-famous-cheater-cokehead-with-a-penchant-for-stealing-money, Dixon Bagot.”
“What a fucking loser.”
“Exactly. Since they’ve been able to date, Kyla, Stella and Hayden have been walking on broken glass––always unsure when they’re going to get hurt.”
“I can see that.”
“We’ve known the O’Keeffe clan since we were kids. You’re not even in the film business––and you’ve built your company on your own––so it’s not as if you’d try to mooch off her last name.”
“Never!”
“Hey, I’m team Loki. You’d rather die than stoop that low.”
“I would.”
“Not to mention even if the thought crossed your mind, Mom would channel it––from anywhere on the planet––and she’d come charging at you. She’d slap you up against the head so hard, you’d lose consciousness,” she laughs.
I join her.
“She would and then the nanas would come after me,” I say.
“I forgot about them. All that to say, Kyla never has to worry about that with you. Maybe my best friend can finally be happy with a guy. She can finally trust.”
“No pressure,” I smile.
“You are Lochlan Alaric Berkshire. Son of the great Jordana Bailey Hudson Berkshire. The blood of the wise Hugh Nathaniel Berkshire flows through your veins. You got this,” she grins.
