Page 51 of Accidentally Mine
“Chinese.”She finally looked at me and tilted her head.“Wait.What’s going on?You look different.”
I looked down at my plaid lounge pants.My chest was bare, so she was getting an unusually good look at my scars.I usually covered up.So that could’ve been it.“Not sure what you’re talking about.”
“I know,” she said, sliding off the stool and stalking over to me.As she came closer, her expression switched from curious to suspicious.“You’resmiling.”She said it like it was a dirty word.
“And?”
“Well, you never do that.”She crossed her arms.“Spill, nerdboy.Are you on new medication?”
I finished the coconut water and tossed the can in the recycling.“Sorry, sis.Nothing to spill.”
I could tell she didn’t buy it.And she’d probably find out sooner, rather than later.There really was no reason to keep it a secret.I contemplated telling her as she went back to the center island.
She pointed to a bill.“This one is almost overdue.Are you sure your Key is working?You have to give the bills to me in order for me to pay them on time, you know.”
“It’s working just fine,” I mumbled.“I just have other things on my mind.”
“Mmm, I heard,” Claudia said, piling the bills according to due date, something I thought she actually found fun.“Another gala, huh?”
I groaned at the thought.“Yeah.I can get you a ticket if you want?”
She clapped her hands.My demented sister loved galas, not just because they gave her the chance to baby me, but because she thrived on getting dressed up and flaunting herself in a gown.“Yes!You know I do.Where’s this one?”
“Boston Symphony.”
“Sweet.”She pushed off of the stool, unbuttoned the top button of her severe blazer, and stretched.“God, I’m so glad to be home.You know, they lost my luggage at Loganagain.That’s like the third time.It’s a good thing it always happens on the way home.I’d hate to be running around China naked.”
“I’m bringing a date.”
She swung her head toward me.It was like opening a gigantic can of worms, setting it down, and watching them slither all over the room.
“You…what?”she said, eyes widening.“Who?Where’d you meet her?What’s her name?Where does she live?”
I held up a hand.“Hold on.Her name’s Roselynn.You’ll meet her tonight.I think you’ll like her.”
She stared at me, astonished.“Well, I don’t know.You’ve never actually brought a woman to a gala.At first I thought you were just picky, but lately, I’d started thinking you were looking for someone with a rare quality that didn’t exist in nature.Like, I don’t know, a horn on her head.A unicorn-girl.”
I laughed.“She is not a unicorn.”
“So she’s an actual, real human?”She rubbed her hands together.“This I’ve got to see.”
“And you shall.Butyouaren’t one to talk.When was the last time you dated?”
“Don’t change the subject.”She clasped her hands together as she crossed the kitchen to me again, and I could’ve sworn there were tears in her big brown eyes.She hugged me.“That’s why you’re different, baby brother.You’re in love.”
“Whoa.”I held out my arms, refusing to hug her back.“Cart before the horse.I just met her.But I really, really like her.So if you come to this thing, no blithering on about all the stupid things I did when I was a kid.Got it?”
“But that will leave me nothing to talk about!”
I narrowed my eyes at her.“Ha.”
I knew that Roselynn and Claudia would get along famously.Despite having a profession that often had her locked up in a room, spending many lonely nights poring over facts and figures, my sister was very bubbly and sociable and could make friends with a wall.So when Ernest drove us to South Boston to pick Roselynn up, she and my sister immediately began chatting up a storm.
All the while, I couldn’t take my eyes off the beautiful vision Roselynn made sitting next to me in the car.I’d ordered her a white gown, coated in gold sparkles to match her hair, and had it delivered to her aunt’s house.She’d worn her hair loose, tumbling down her bare back in long, sexy spirals.As she talked to my sister, I had the urge to reach out and touch her.Before I could stop them, my fingers grazed their way protectively up the curve of her bare back.
When we arrived at Symphony Hall, my sister got out first.I leaned into Roselynn and nuzzled her neck, my arm snaking around her slim waist.“You look edible.If it was up to me, I’d close the door right now and fuck you in the back of this limo.”
She ran her tongue over her top teeth, sexy as hell.“Don’t youhaveto make an appearance at this thing?”
