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“Ah. The one whofollowed you halfway around the worldso you could take her out preciselyonceand then decide it was too much for you to maintain a relationship?”
I clench my jaw.
I knew I shouldn’t have told Luce about that.
“Admit it, Dare. You’re a great uncle. You’re perfect for dipping in and out of someone’s life, but for the long term—”
“I have a girlfriend,” I blurt.
Lucy’s eyes widen.
In business, the power of the bluff is more important than anywhere else.
Never let them see you sweat.
Unfortunately, my sister has hawk eyes and can pick out a sheen above my upper lip like she’s half-microscope.
“Youhave a girlfriend?” The way she emphasizes theyouis highly offensive.
“Yes.” I crank my chin a tad higher. “Me.”
Mosely meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. He’s usually a silent observer in these sibling squabbles, but he’s not hiding his panic tonight.
I look back at my sister. “She’s very nice.”
“Oh. ‘Very nice’, huh?”
“It hasn’t been long since we started dating. That’s why you haven’t met her yet.”
“Mm. That’s convenient.”
I can feel Mosely’s eyes drilling into my face.
He should really be focused on driving.
“How much longer until we get there, Mosely?”
His eyes swerve back to the road. “Not long.”
“You’re changing the subject and reminding me that I’m going to rehab. Points off for you, Dare.”
“What will it take for you to believe me?”
“A name, maybe? A picture?”
“I said it was recent.”
“You should at least have a name, Dare.”
The silence stretches. I’ve clashed with some of the fiercest business negotiators in the world, but none of them have a thing on my slightly tipsy, car-crashing, rehab-rejecting sister.
Her eyes train on me.
The car gets hot.
I tug on my tie.
“See?” Lucy sounds smug. “I’m sure this imaginary girlfriend of yours is nice and all, but I’d feel way more comfortable if we contacted someone who had the time to look after Talia. I know you love her, Dare, but you have not seen Talia in her monster mode. She’s really a handful and used to things going her way—”