Page 2 of Seduced By You

Until my mother, the indomitable Sandrine Kingcaid, had stepped in, and it was “Bye-bye, beautiful hair; hello, stupid short back and sides.” And all for my brother’s wedding. Nolen wouldn’t have given two shits how long I wore my hair at his wedding, or anywhere else for that matter, but Mom… she’d insisted, and out came the scissors. My brothers and I had learned a long time ago not to argue with our mother. There was only ever one winner.

Spoiler alert: it wasn’t any of us.

At least she’d let me keep it longer on top. Plus, it’d grow back. Eventually.

Didn’t stop me from being pissed, though. Add an unscheduled layover in New York, plus a nine-hour time difference, andcrankydidn’t describe how I felt this morning.

“What happened?” Lee couldn’t stop her lips from twitching, not even when my scowl darkened.

“My mother. That’s what happened. Something about not letting me ruin the wedding photos.” I grunted.

“I kinda like it.” She narrowed her platinum-gray eyes, scrutinizing me much as one would a prize bull at auction. “It suits you.”

Her comments pulled a grin from me. If Lee liked it short, I might keep it this way for longer. Maybe forever. I spent most of my waking hours trying to figure out how I could make Lee look at me as anything more than a friend. I was still waiting. It was all that English prick’s fault. His cheating ass had made her swear off men for the foreseeable future. She wouldn’t think that way forever—I hoped—and when she decided she was ready to date again, yours truly would make damn sure I was right there, in the prime position to take advantage.

Not that I deserved her. I wasn’t sure I deserved anyone after what I’d done, but especially Lee. She wasgood.Inside-out category of good. She’d spent years at the pinnacle of modeling, with sycophants flapping around her and telling her how perfect and marvelous she was. Yet despite that, she’d emerged with a humble approach to life that I admired the hell out of.

Wasn’t she entitled to someone better than me? Someone who didn’t carry around a ship-sized container filled with regrets and guilt and horror at what I was capable of. Only when breached did we discover our limits. If it weren’t for my father and his power…

Fingers of depression descended, choking me, but before they could get too firm a hold, my therapist’s suggestion to think of something nice popped into my mind. I chose my brother’s wedding, remembering how happy he’d been as he’d made his vows, and after a few seconds, the dark thoughts retreated to the corners of my mind. They never truly went away. They never would. Nine fucking years, and even now I sometimes woke in the middle of the night covered in sweat and unable to breathe.

“Really?” I said. “You like it?”

“No.” She laughed again. “I think we should get you a wig until yours grows back.”

Awig. Why hadn’t I thought of that? I should’ve told my mother I’d wear a fucking wig.

“Great. You almost had me there.”

“Aw, poor baby.” She rose from her chair and walked behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. I bit back a groan and closed my eyes, pretending for a few precious seconds that this was real. Lee’s arms around me was something I fantasized about far too often—along with many other fantasies, much dirtier than a simple hug.

And fantasyland was where they’d remain. Lee had friend-zoned me, and from the looks of things, I’d have to come to terms with that.

Even last month, when I’d mentioned to Lee that I had a date with an actress who’d pursued me for weeks, she’d patted me on the back and told me to have a great time.

I’d had a crap time, although I must have been a better actor than my date because she’d lost her shit when I’d declined her not-so-subtle hints for a hookup.

Nine months ago, I’d had more dates lined up than days in the week, my little black book bursting with the phone numbers of the hottest women to pass through Saint Tropez. Then I’d met Lee, and that was that.

The heart knew what it wanted—and mine had picked her.

Hers… had picked a douchewaffle named Benedict who’d crushed her heart in his meaty fist until there wasn’t anything left.

I hated that bastard. I hoped his new wife cheated on him and then gave him crabs. Or syphilis. Or crabs and syphilis. I hoped his balls turned black and his dick fell off.

Vengeful? Me? Nah.

Lee released me and returned to her chair. She sat back down and reached across my desk, stealing my cup of French roast from our favorite coffee shop. “How was the wedding? Apart from the shorn locks, that is.”

Her lips twitched. I scratched my temple with my middle finger. She laughed, holding up her palms.

“Okay, that’s the last joke. I promise.”

“It’d better be,” I groused. “The wedding was great. Never seen two happier people. Shame it took them ten fucking years to get their act together.”

She hitched a shoulder. “Sometimes it takes a little while for people to realize what’s right in front of them.”

Jesus. Tell me about it.

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