Page 31 of Pure Seduction (Chamberlin Brothers 1)

It was clear that just because I was a Chamberlin, that didn’t mean I wasn’t a stranger in town. These people didn’t know me. They might know of me, which was never a good thing. But I was still being treated to the warm welcome of a newbie in a town where everyone knew everyone.

When we reached the bar, Ryan snagged us two stools and gestured to the bartender while I looked around. Over in one corner the band was playing a U2 song, while the people in the booths laughed and sang along. The high-top tables scattered around the main floor were taken up by people drinking and talking amongst each other in a way that said this was a weekly thing, a social thing, and as I took in the sea of denim, flannel, and work boots, I understood what Ryan was getting at earlier—I stood out like a sore fucking thumb.

“Heya, Ryan, what’ll it be tonight?”

I turned back in time to see that a tall older man had stopped in front of us. He had salt-and-pepper hair, tanned, leathery skin, and laugh lines around his eyes—courtesy, no doubt, of the friendly smile on his face.

“Same as usual for me, and…” Ryan looked my way.

“A whiskey neat for me. Thanks.”

“So you’re the long-lost brother, huh? I heard you were back in town.” The man wiped a hand on his jeans and held it out to me.

I nodded and shook it. “That’d be me. I’m Noah.”

“Yeah, that’s what Justin called you…among other things.”

Ryan laughed as the man turned to the back counter to grab the bottle of whiskey.

“Let me guess, Justin’s been in here running his mouth,” I said.

“And so what if I have?”

I almost groaned at the sound of Justin’s voice, and in that moment I wished like hell the floor would open up and swallow me whole. The last thing I needed was a go-around with my youngest brother. I was supposed to be doing things that made me happy tonight, and again, “anywhere but here” looked like it would’ve been a better option.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Justin with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. I was starting to think that was his permanent expression. Or maybe it was just reserved for me.

“You had to bring him here tonight?” he said, looking at Ryan.

“Knock it off, Justin. We’re just getting a drink.”

“Yeah, well, if you don’t mind, I’d rather do it without my warden standing guard.”

“Jesus, you don’t let up, do you?” I shook my head and looked at Ryan. “I’m just gonna go. It’s been a long week, and I’m not in the mood for this.”

“You forgetting you don’t have a car?”

“No, but it’s not too far to the B&B. A walk would be good about now.” I got off the stool and turned to face Justin. “You might want to think about having that chip removed from your shoulder. A year of carrying it around is going to be pretty fucking tiring.”

I brushed by Justin’s shoulder a little harder than necessary, and when I was several steps away, I heard Ryan say something and looked back in time to see him whack our idiot brother over the back of the head.

Justin shoved him in the arm, and then they laughed, and as I headed out the door, I couldn’t help but think back to Sergio’s comment on how a year would fly by.

Somehow, I seriously fucking doubted it.

14

Laurel

“DO YOU WANT sweet or sour? And are we aiming for flirty and tipsy or fall-on-your-face drunk?” Willa sized me up from the bar across the room and winked. “I think flirty.”

I shifted on the antique wingback chair I’d parked myself in minutes ago and feigned great interest in a piece of nonexistent lint on my skirt. “Why would you think flirty?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Willa grabbed two cocktail glasses and placed them on the counter. “Your high school sweetheart’s back in town. He’s your new boss. You’ve both been working very closely this week, and your hair and makeup look like you’ve touched it up every hour on the hour.”

I reached up to finger the curl brushing my chin. “You’re crazy. I look like I always do.”

“Of course you do. Just a little more…polished than usual.”

“I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

Willa laughed as she reached for the Kahlua. “Definitely a compliment. You look like you just stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine.”

I had to admit, this particular dress was one of my favorites and always made me feel confident as a professional woman. Its three-quarter sleeves and boatneck cut were both classy and sophisticated, and the navy color did wonders for my complexion.

So maybe I’d been trying a little harder this week. But could anyone blame me? Everything Willa had said was true, except she’d left out the fact that Noah was now a devastatingly attractive man. One who had the ability to make my pulse race and my brain short-circuit the second he stepped into a room.

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