Page 45 of How to: Seduce Your Wife

The memory of her phone conversation with Soren instantly popped into Mia’s head. Before she could express her fear, Anna held up herhand.

“Do not fret about that one.” A laugh escaped, bright and girlish and joyful, at distinct odds with her grandmotherly manifestation. “Oh, Mia! Mr. Boulders-for-Shoulders. The perfect name for him, Imust say, since he oftentimes carries the weight of the world on those shoulders.”

“If you’re trying to get me to feel sorry for him, you can forget it,” Mia grumbled. “He’s my least favorite person right now considering he’s determined to end my marriage to Brand.”

“I believe your husband said only the two of you can do that.” Anna set a plate of biscotti and a cup of coffee on the table and took a seat. “You’re looking pale. How are you feeling?”

Mia sipped the coffee and sighed. To her amazement it tasted exactly the same as what she brewed each morning. “To be honest, Anna, I’m tired,” she admitted, helping herself to a finger of biscotti. Oh, wow. The flavor was identical to the latest batch she’dmade.

“You are far too tired. Something is amiss, Ithink.” She set down her own coffee cup with a discordant clatter, her gaze piercing. “Yes, something is most definitely amiss.”

Mia inhaled sharply. “Am I sick? Is that why I’m so wiped and sore all the time?”

Anna shrugged. “When did you last see your doctor?”

“I’m supposed to see him in a few weeks,” she confessed.

“See him now. Right now.” Her words escaped in an urgent staccato. “Before Christmas.”

Mia came awake with a gasp, Anna’s words echoing in her head. If she’d been tired before, now exhaustion weighed on her, along with a soul-crippling fear. She didn’t feel sick, exactly, just seriously off. Still, if Anna wanted her to make an appointment with her physician, she’d doit.

And she’d do itnow.

Soren arrivedthe next day. One look at his expression warned the jig was up. He topped Brand’s height by several inches and surpassed him in width, as well. His features were every bit as gorgeous as her husband’s, despite his scowl. Mia simply didn’t find him appealing on any level, maybe because of the blatant threat glittering in his darkeyes.

“I see you’re not surprised to see me,” he practically growled at her. To her surprise she didn’t read triumph in his gaze but a withering mixture of disappointment and dislike. “I warned I’d do whatever it took to protect my brother from you.”

“I didn’t realize he needed protection,” she shotback.

He laughed without a trace of humor. “Yeah, right. But now that I know the truth about you, how much is it going to cost us to get rid of you?”

Brand glanced from his brother to her, stepping protectively closer. “Are you trying to buy off my wife? What the hell, Soren?”

“Are you going to tell him or shall I?” Boulders-for-Shoulders demanded, eyes as black as sin glaring in her direction.

“Tell me what?”

Mia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “That Carina is my cousin.”

“What?”

She shot Brand an anxious look, desperate for him to give her the opportunity to explain. “Carina is …wasmy cousin.”

“Did you target Brand at the Cinderella Ball? How did you know he’d be there?” Soren shot the questions at her. “Were you waiting for him?”

She returned Soren’s glare with one of her own. “I didn’t know he’d be there.” She turned to Brand, taking a step in his direction. Not that it helped. He stood, his attitude remote, his stance rigid. “I wasn’t waiting for you. Ijust happened to be in front of the Beaumonts at the same time as you.”

“Yeah right.” Soren folded his massive arms across his massive chest. “You recognized him when you saw him, didn’t you? How?”

“He introduced himself and I recognized his name.” She needed to be honest, she realized. Brutally honest. “But yes, Ialso recognized him,” she confessed.

“How?” Brand repeated his brother’s question, confusion warring with anger. “We’ve never met before.”

“Yes, we have. You just don’t remember.”

“At Carina’s parents?”

“No, no. Before that.” She shoved her hands through her hair, tempted to pull it out in frustration. “Brand, please, can we have this conversation without your brother here?”

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