She’s a pretty little redhead who knows how to bat her eyelashes and pout. And I’m certain that’s not the only way she uses her mouth to get what she wants.”
I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. I remembered when I’d walked into my bedroom on that fateful afternoon my sister and Seth had been in the sixty-nine position. She’d given him one hell of a blowjob as I’d stood there in the doorway watching, shocked into paralysis. They hadn’t even noticed me as they’d changed positions and he’d fucked her ass.
“Oh, my God.”
I couldn’t even begin to process how their affair had come about. But I couldn’t lie to myself. It was obvious by how familiar they were with each other’s bodies that they’d been together many times before. My stomach roiled at the thought.
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
Chapter Four
When I came out of the bathroom, he was standing in the oversized archway of his bedroom, a shoulder propped against the frame. I’d run to the restroom in his master suite because it was the only one I’d ever used. I had no idea where the guest bath was.
My stomach, now empty, wasn’t twisted in knots anymore. I’d used a spare toothbrush accumulated from his dentist visits because he used an electric version instead. I’d also swished some mouthwash to make me feel better.
He said, “You’re not going tomorrow.”
I gave a half laugh, half snort. “I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t go.”
“I don’t care. And you shouldn’t either.”
“It’s not that simple,” I said.
“Of course not. But still…don’t go.”
I sighed. “It’s not just about doing what my family expects or wants me to do.” I crossed the hardwood floor to his king-size bed and sat on the corner of it. “I have something to prove.”
“No, you don’t.” He moved away from the archway and sat beside me. “You got screwed by your sister and Seth. Neither were the least bit contrite or apologetic about it. And your parents overlooked the slight because of how desperately they want to merge two powerful families.”
“How do you know all of this?” I asked, because he was dead-on.
“I spent several afternoons with them when we were together, remember? Doesn’t take a genius to see that your family doesn’t care who marries Seth Corbett as long as it’s someone bearing the Carlisle name.”
I let out a huffy breath because he was absolutely right. It infuriated me and embarrassed me that I was so gullible, so malleable. “My parents arranged the meeting between us. Encouraged us to date. Were thrilled to pieces when we moved in together—into the apartment they bought for us, no less. Our mothers pushed for an engagement. Meanwhile…Lizzie was having trouble at Boston University, not living up to the Carlisle name or reputation.”
“Marrying Seth changes all of that,” he pointed out. “Plus, it helps her get back at you for being the smarter, prettier sister.”
“I don’t subscribe to that,” I admitted. “Life isn’t about being smarter or prettier than someone else. Or taking away what they have in order to make you feel special.”
He grinned at me. “That’s why I like you so much. You’re just you.”
I eyed him for a moment then said, “But you’re trying to make me something I’m not.”
“No,” he was quick to reply. “I’m not trying to make you anything. I’m just trying to get you to own up to your feelings. Accept them.”
“Not when they have the potential to be detrimental to me,” I told him. “You of all people know I can never again go through what I experienced with Seth.”
He frowned. “You’re essentially lumping me onto the same shit pile as him.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
He challenged me with a stern look.
I smiled, busted yet again. “Okay, yes.” I took his hand in mine and gave it a quick squeeze as a nonverbal mea culpa. “I lump all men onto the shit pile these days. But…I know you’re