Page 14 of Pure Seduction (Chamberlin Brothers 1)

I stared up at the intimidating two-story brick building and wondered what teenage horrors waited inside for me. The last thing any sixteen-year-old girl wanted to do was make new friends. It was hard enough to keep the ones you had with all the gossiping and moodiness that came with the onslaught of hormones at that age.

“Come on, Laurel. I don’t have all day.”

I groaned and shoved open the car door. Then I reached for my backpack and climbed outside. As Mom revved the engine, I turned around and stuck my head back in the window.

“Are you sure I can’t just start tomorrow?”

She gave me a soft smile and shook her head. “You’re going to be fine. You’re smart and strong, I made sure of that. Just be yourself and I’ll see you tonight.”

I rolled my eyes and moved back from the car, not wanting to be the reason she was late on her first day. Then I turned to look back at the building. This was going to be a nightmare, and as I heard her drive away, I thought about making a run for it.

“I wouldn’t if I were you. They have cameras.” At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, I turned to see one of the cutest—no, hottest—guys I’d ever seen in my life.

He was tall, really tall, and had thick brown hair that was swept back from his gorgeous face. He was wearing a blue, white, and gold varsity jacket over a white t-shirt, and his smile was full of the kind of confidence one had when everything in their life was perfect. And, I was ashamed to admit, the second he flashed it my way, my heart thumped a little faster.

“Cameras?”

“Yeah.” He chuckled and pointed at the front steps that led up to the doors. “Up in the corner. See?”

I looked in the direction he was pointing, and when he moved in closer, I almost forgot to breathe.

“If you’re gonna make a break for it, you should tell your mom to drop you off around the corner there. That way they won’t see you.”

I opened my mouth, about to deny my escape plan, but instead heard myself ask, “How’d you know I planned to skip?”

He grinned down at me, and I swore his eyes were smiling too. “I recognized the look. That one that says you’re about to bolt. I totally get it—most days I’m dreaming up escape plans too.”

I seriously doubted that. The guy was wearing a jacket that all but broadcast his popularity for everyone to see.

“You don’t believe me.”

“Huh?”

“You rolled your eyes. You don’t believe me.”

I shrugged and tightened my fingers around the strap of my backpack. “It’s just you don’t seem like the type who’d hate school. That’s all.”

He slowly nodded as he began to head toward the building, then he turned around and called out, “Maybe I won’t now that I’ve found a partner in crime. See you in there, Bonnie.”

Bonnie? What? Oh, Bonnie and Clyde.

When he grinned and turned to run up the front steps, I couldn’t help but think that maybe today wouldn’t be so bad after all…

GOD. IT’D BEEN years since I’d thought about that day. But after hearing him call me Bonnie tonight, it was no surprise that the memory had found its way back to me.

I shook it off and placed the jacket back in the closet where it had hung for all this time, then I slowly closed the doors and headed to the bathroom. I wasn’t going to do this. I wasn’t going to lie here in my bathtub and let a boy—a man—whom I hadn’t seen or heard from in forever consume my every thought.

But as I climbed into the hot, fragrant water, I knew that was a lie. Because the second I shut my eyes, all I could see was the way that Noah had looked me over today, and all I wanted to know was if he’d liked what he saw.

7

Noah

THE OLD HARDWOOD floors of the courthouse creaked under my feet as I paced back and forth outside one of the conference rooms. It was Monday morning, and per my mom’s instructions, I was ready and waiting to hear whatever final surprises Harry had in store for us.

Today was the reading of the will, and ever since she’d called last night to tell me we all had to be present or it could not proceed, I’d had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Harry never did anything in half measures. He also never did anything to benefit anyone except himself. So the idea that he’d sat down and penned some elaborate final demands to be read in the presence of all his children made me think he still had some kind of end game to play.

I shoved my hands in my pockets to keep from running them through my hair as I continued to wear a hole in the floor. I should’ve known this visit wouldn’t be a simple check-in on Mom. Of course not. This had been the real reason. I was needed for this next step in Harry’s little shitshow—whatever that might be.

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