Page 15 of Greed

“Stop!” I shake my head. “Ava, just don’t.”

She shrugs a shoulder. “What?”

“Never use that word around us.” Sean looks to me for backup before he glances at our younger sister again. “We never want to hear that word come out of your mouth.”

That sends Ava’s head back in laughter. “Grow up. I’m engaged. What do you think I do with Harry when the lights go out?”

“We do it in the middle of the day sometimes,” Harrison Keene, my future brother-in-law, decides to enter the room and the conversation at the worst possible time.

“Shut up, Harry,” Sean and I say in unison.

“What happened last night?” Callie asks as she places some scrambled eggs on a plate.

Rygar and I stopped at a bistro on our way here to grab an array of brunch specialties he’d ordered earlier.

By the time he swung by to pick me up at ten-thirty, I was showered, dressed in a three-piece suit, and slightly less irritated than I was when I woke just after eight to find Abigail gone.

She didn’t leave a note or even a glass slipper behind.

Usually, I’d be grateful for that because I’ve never looked forward to the next morning discussion after a one-night stand. Today, I was irritated as I roamed my apartment, naked, moments after waking up in search of the woman I couldn’t get enough of last night.

We fucked three times, and I’m still not satiated.

“Nothing,” I answer as I step toward the table to fill a plate so I can eat and get to the office.

“Decky took a princess home, but I ruined it all.” Ava adjusts the neckline of the sweater she’s wearing. “I interrupted them as they were getting out of the car, and she left.”

“Princess?” Callie giggles as she slowly lowers herself onto one of the chairs surrounding the dining table. “Does this princess have a name?”

“Abby,” Ava blurts out before I can get a word in. “She was dressed like a fairytale character with glass slippers and a tiara. Before anyone asks, she’s beautiful.”

She’s right about that.

Sean turns to face me again. “Looks like Prince Charming struck out.”

I’m far from Prince Charming, but I won’t argue with him. I may have spent the night having the best sex of my life, but she ditched me before dawn.

Fortunately, I know right where to find Abigail Duvall.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Abby

“Hey, Abby,”Carrie says in barely more than a whisper as soon as I exit my bedroom. “Come here.”

I scrub a hand over my forehead.

I’m exhausted. I got home shortly after four this morning. I debated waiting for Declan to wake up to thank him for all the orgasms, but my better judgment won, and I raced out of his place as soon as I was dressed.

Since I’ve never had to deal with the aftermath of a one-night stand before, I wasn’t sure of the protocol.

Was I supposed to stick around for a cup of coffee and an awkward exchange about the weather, or do people get out of bed, say goodbye, and the party who doesn’t live there leaves?

I was too tired to sort through all of that, so I put the ridiculous gown back on and fled.

My bare feet pad across the hardwood floor as I walk toward my stepsister.

I’m beginning to believe what she tells me about living a clean and calm life because she looks gorgeous this morning, even though I know she hasn’t showered yet.

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