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Because dear god,what a man.Mandi’s little face fanning thing was not warning enough for how hot this man is.
He’s dressed way too nice for a weekend. Basically, a suit, but without the suit coat, like he tossed it aside when he got too warm. And his fitted white shirt has the top two buttons undone, with the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms. Plus the way he’s lounged back, knees spread wide, stretching the material of his pants to their limit…Holy Christ, it’s working for him.
And his rich brown hair––the same color as his sister’s––is trimmed short on the sides, the same length as his beard, with the hair on the top of his head a little longer. I bet he usually has it slicked back perfectly, but like the rest of him, his hair is just a little disheveled.
But when my eyes move up, and lock with his, I take a step back.
There’s something there.
Something wild.
“Hi,” the woman next to the devilish man lifts her hand in a polite wave.
Happy for the distraction, I lift the pan in my hands a little as a greeting.
I’d almost forgotten I was still holding this. Now that I’m thinking about it, my fingers are starting to tingle.
I really need to work on my arm strength.
“Sorry we just kinda crashed,” my laugh sounds as unnatural as it feels. “Calendar mix up.”
The woman makes a face of understanding. “We’ve all done it.”
I shrug a shoulder, not really believing her. She’s dressed up as much as her brother, in a flashy skirt combo, not looking at all like someone who would show up at the wrong place or time.
Not that I did that.
Mandi makes her way to one of the open high back chairs, while I remain standing, shifting my weight in the uncomfortable silence.
When I finally hear Lee’s footsteps approach behind me, I scoot a little to the side.
He must’ve gotten distracted by some of the art pieces––which I can usually appreciate––but him walking in after us just makes this all weirder.
I point using an elbow. “Everyone, this is Lee.” I leave off the misplaced title and realize I haven’t gotten the siblings’ names either.
“Nice to meet…” The woman starts just as Lee rounds the corner. But she stops, her head jerking back as if someone just threw a drink in her face. “Leland?”
Lee halts next to me.Halts, like he walked into a wall.
The woman looks at me, then back at Lee. “What the fuck is this?”
I look back and forth between them, wondering how they know each other. And why she keeps calling him Leland.
“Aspen…” Lee croaks the word. Her name?
I watch the woman clench her jaw as she shoves up to stand. “This is the work you had to do today?!” She points a red tipped finger my way.
Oh no.
Oh no oh no oh on.
“Lee, what’s going on?” I ask the man standing beside me, even as dread fills my belly.
“His name isLeland.” The woman, Aspen, bites out. “Andheis my lying, cheating, piece of shit husband.”
CHAPTER2
King