Page 85 of B & E Ever After (Fairy Tale Quartet 3)

“It’s better than what Brick got,” I told her. “He was stuck with Purses.”

Gabby snorted out her amusement. “Do I detect a bit of sibling rivalry there?”

Waiting for my answer, she leaned in toward me, nailing me with a grin full of pleasure and big brown eyes that glittered mischievously. Some deeply locked part of me tumbled right into her stare, becoming a willing prisoner under her captive spell.

“Always,” I said. “Which is why I’m determined to get our department’s portfolio finished early tomorrow morning before he gets the Purses department’s portfolio done.”

“I’d say I have faith in you, but since he’s got Kaitlynn on his side, working in his department now, I gotta think…” With a teasing shrug, she pointed her sucker at me before tucking it back into her mouth. “You’re probably screwed.”

I laughed. “Yeah, probably. And speaking of Kaitlynn: Lana discovered where she was working today.”

“Oh shit.” Gabby tore the sucker from her mouth, instant worry contorting her features. “What happened? What did she do to you? Are you okay?”

Pulling up to the curb at her brother’s school, I focused on Gabby, not sure how to deal with all her concern.

It was new. And foreign. Honestly, I wasn’t all that comfortable with it, making me wonder if I even liked it or not. Was the rush flooding my system my natural warning signal, cautioning me of danger? Or was it a thrill from pleasure and maybe even something more?

“I’m fine,” I told her, watching her shoulders instantly relax with relief. “She just tasked me with a new unpleasant duty to make up for my failed one.”

Gabby’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of new duty?”

But I didn’t get a chance to answer. Miguel pulled the back door open and was already climbing into the backseat, talking a mile a minute.

“You guys will never guess what happened at lunch today…”

He prattled the rest of the way to their apartment, successfully cutting into the conversation Gabby and I had been having. But she wasn’t deterred. As soon as I parked and Miguel had wished me a farewell before shooting from the car and racing inside the building—once again forgetting he needed to wait on his sister—she spun toward me.

“Seriously, what is she making you do this time?”

I shook my head and glanced away. “I don’t know. She hasn’t told me yet.” Recognizing a vehicle parked a couple spaces ahead of mine, I frowned.

“Well, that doesn’t sound good,” Gabby started, only to follow my stare and squint. “What? Do you recognize that car?”

“Yes.” I nodded, frowning slightly. “It’s Ezra’s.”

“Really?” Smiling, Gabby hummed deep in her throat and squeezed my arm excitedly. “I guess he and Kaitlynn are hitting it off nicely, then.” I turned to frown at her. She shook her head in confusion. “What?”

“I’m not so sure it’s safe for them to hook up.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean? You think he’ll hurt her?”

Instantly smiling over her concern for my sister, I shook my head. “No. Not Nash. It’s Lana, actually, that I’m worried about.”

“Oh Jesus. Why am I not surprised? Does everything bad originate from her?”

“Typically,” I replied. “But she’s shown some interest in Nash at the office, and if she learns he and Kaitlynn are growing close, there might be some unpleasant repercussions.”

Gabby snorted. “Oh, just let her try to come between Ezra and Kaitlynn. I’ll put itching powder on her toilet seat.”

Unable to help myself, I blurted out a hearty laugh. “Remind me to never cross you, Miss Salazar.”

With a soft smile, she reached out to run her finger along my jawline to my chin. Then she leaned in and murmured, “Never cross me, Carmichael. I’ll show you what unpleasant repercussions really look like.”

My gaze lowered to her full, tempting lips as I swayed her way. “Does that mean you’ll also show me pleasant repercussions if I’m good?”

“Hmm.” Her gaze went hooded with sexual promise as she smiled slowly. “There’s only one way to discover that answer.”

“Really?” I leaned toward her, wanting to kiss her. Badly.

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