Page 32 of When I Found You

Bold as gilded lettering, Kate meets my gaze and swigs from the bottle.

“Very mature.” I’m two seconds from snatching her off the couch and bending her over my lap.

She ignores me and turns on the television with the remote. Music fills the room. Her attention fixes on the screen behind me.

“At some point, you’re going to have to talk to me.” I stand directly between her and the television.

Kate licks her lips and her glare sends a shiver of need straight to my cock. Pliant Kate may be attractive, but feisty Kate is sure to bring a whole new dimension to the bedroom.

I shake the inappropriate thoughts from my mind. “Must you behave like a child?”

“How would you like me to behave, Arthur?” The emphasis she places on my name sets my teeth on edge.

As I open my mouth to respond, the phone rings. I snatch it from the receiver. “What?” I snap.

“Easy there, Arthur. I need you to buzz me in.” Marcy has the damnedest timing, but honestly, I’m thankful for the reprieve. Maybe Kate will open up to my sister if she won’t talk to me.

“Fine.” I hang up and hit the button on the panel near the door.

Kate’s drowning in chardonnay in front of the television, so she doesn’t even notice when Marcy arrives.

I pull her aside out of view of Kate the moment she walks in the door. “What the—”

“I need you to do me a favor.”

“Oh, another favor? Does this earn me Mom’s crystal vase?” Her eyes glitter.

“You’re a heartless vulture, you know?” I sigh. “Fine.”

“What do you want me to do?” she asks, popping her gum.

“I want you to hang out with Kate tonight. See if you can get her to open up.”

“Hang out with Kate?” Marcy laughs. “I was planning on doing that anyway. Would’ve done it for free.”

“I hate you.”

“You love me.” She grins. “Wait, has her memory come back?”

I run my hand through my hair. “Honestly, I have no fucking idea. She won’t talk to me, and I’m about to strangle her.”

Marcy’s smile widens. “What happened? You two fuck?”

“No. We didn’t fuck.” I tip my head back and stare at the ceiling. “We kissed last week.”

“No way.” Marcy shoves me. “About time you showed some interest in someone who isn’t a goddamn brainless mannequin.”

“What do you know? You spent all of what, an hour with her last week?”

“And you’re an expert on the female mind?” Marcy laughs. “Well, whatever happened. I’m glad. You needed your orderly existence disrupted.”

“I don’t think she’s being honest with me. Some of her memories seem to be coming back, but I can’t shake this feeling there’s more she’s not telling me.” I glance around the corner. Kate’s riveted by whatever’s on the screen.

“I doubt she’s plotting anything nefarious.” My sister pats me on the shoulder in a sad effort to placate me. “But I’ll sacrifice my Friday night to sit on the couch, drink wine, and gossip, if it will ease your conscience.”

When she phrases it like that, it sounds ridiculous, but I’m already committed to this plan. “Fine.”

“Good. Why don’t you go out? Call Rob. Hit the bar.” She cocks her head at my hesitant expression. “I can’t work my magic with you here, Arthur. Go.”

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