Page 42 of Sinful Seduction
“I’m gonna compare everyone to her, Arch. And all butonewill be put back on the shelf, because they won’t be good enough. Not even close. Those chicks will be fun for part-time rental, and they all get to walk away satisfied and none the worse for wear. They won’t scowl and grumble when they hear my name, ‘cos I treat ‘em right. But one day, the right one will swing on through, and she’ll make your wife look like a troll. But until that day…”
I snort and nod, resting my hip against the counter. “Until then, you’re checking her out, because you’re in love with her.”
“Exactly. So when we said words yesterday, and then Steve went and selfishly dropped dead for a minute there, even though, logically, I knew she wouldn’t hold me responsible, my head still made me feel a certain way. Felt like a breakup, and I was kinda terrified he’d tap out and make her year way worse.”
“Then you hugged it out.”Yeah, bitch, I watched you. I heard some stuff. “She said sorry.”
“Not a breakup,” he beams. “Just a fight. And then she made me come here to the house to sleep, because she gives a shit and wants me around, even if I’m annoying most of the time.”
I fist my water bottle and search the kitchen for a trash can. Comingup empty, I pitch it into the sink instead. “You’re so fucking warped, Malone. So wrapped up in something toxic and not even sorry for it.”
“Some kids inherit homes. Money. Good looks.” He shrugs. “Some inherit toxic behaviors and weird coping mechanisms.”
“Lucky us, we inherited all that.”
“And more,” he chuckles. “Let me have my weird crush and unrequited love. I’ll whack off in private like a gentleman, and someday, eventually, I’ll find someone else to obsess over. She’ll get jealous when she realizes Minka had my heart first, the women will hate each other, because they’re both alpha personalities and neither will submit to the other, Thanksgiving will be drama, especially when we add Christabelle to the mix, and life will go on.” He hunches in on himself and grins, goofy and lopsided. “She didn’t break up with me, Arch. She told me to stay. Excuse me while I bathe in that for a little while.”
“All except the whacking off part. And taking her calls while you’re banging some other chick.” I lunge across the counter and smack him upside the head. “In our apartment!”
“Ouch!” He bounds off the chair, circling and bringing his hands up, ready to fight. “Don’t hit me!”
“Don’t nut inside some other chick while you’re talking to my wife!” I stalk back to the fridge and snag a second bottle of water. “I’ve been a generous man, you little prick. Letting you stay with us. Letting you love her from afar. Letting you check her ass out every time she walks by.”
He giggles, googly-eyed and unashamed. “I hate to see her go, Arch. But Iloveto watch her walk.”
“Taking her calls while fucking is a hard line. It’s a no-go zone. I’ve killed men for less.”
“And now we know.” He swaps his fighter fists for surrender, stop-signing me despite the island counter still between us. “I didn’t know the line was there before. Now I do.”
“Anyone with half a fucking brain knows that line is there.” I consider pegging my water at his head. It might knock him out. Might even end his life if I throw it lid-first and hit him in exactly the right spot. “And stop taking unnecessary courses at the college just because the instructor is cute. That shit costs money!”
“Unnecessary?” He waggles his brows. “Or completely and totally essential, considering I was a hero last night?”
“We’re here, Arch.” Fletch opens the front door, his voice echoing along the hall. “Brought the whole crew.”
“Uncle Arch!” Mia sprints along the hall, big smiles and bouncing hair.She emerges in the kitchen with her little body instinctively turned in my direction. But then she spots Cato and skids his way. “Cato!”
“McStinkerson!” He scoops the girl into his arms and tosses her into the air so she flies an easy six feet up. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, little girl. Did you even shower today?” He catches her again and noisily sniffs her neck. “Poo wee! You stink.”
MINKA
Iwake with a start, bright sunlight streaming through the windows of a room I don’t know, in a bed I’ve never slept in before, in a house that smells of moss and fresh water. Voices travel upstairs, Cato’s and Mia’s whoops of delight, and Archer’s soft rumbling, a sound I could recognize from a million miles away.
My mouth is dry, and my lips, chapped. My stomach rolls, and my head thumps with a dull ache. All pretty normal after a day from hell. Unfortunately for me, I’m not so lucky that I get to forget all the shit from yesterday. I swallow and attempt to lubricate my throat, glancing one way in hopes Archer might’ve left water and a pain pill for me to take—because that’s who he is, thoughtful and kind—but I come up empty, so I look right and pray I’ll find the goods on the other side.
Only, I stop on a bright blue pair of eyes instead, a penetrating stare beating against my skull.
“Argh!” I scramble along the mattress and skitter away from my visitor and her pink-streaked hair. Her playful grin. Her dancing eyes. “Jesus, Emeri! What the hell is wrong with you?”
Obnoxiously relaxed, she turns and lays down beside me, crossing her ankles and tucking one hand beneath her head. She looks up at the ceiling, nibbling on her plump bottom lip, and with her free hand, she plays with the hem of her shirt and the two inches of exposed belly her position has left her with. “There’s nothing wrong with me, Chief. Got to bed late, just like you. But then I woke up to something kinda special.” She tilts herhead sideways, beaming. “The special thing we don’t explicitly describe, since even though you’re my friend, you’re also my boss, and blurring lines is bad.”
“But being in my bed isn’t setting those lines on fire?” I push up onto my butt and press my back against the headboard, dragging the sheet with me since, it turns out, I’m in nothing but my panties. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Visiting.” She lifts one leg, pointing her toes to the sky, and twists her ankle. Because the sunlight filters in through our windows and plays off the glittering chain circling her ankle. “Archer told Fletch to come over to talk murder, and he told him to bring Mia and Penny, too. And since they were at our house?—”
“Mansion.”
“House,” she presses firmly. “My regular-sized, humble home amongst the trees and pretty things. Since they were coming over, and since Ben is technically my case as well, I figured I’d tag along.”
