Page 66 of Filthy Rich Temptation

I smile through the tears. ‘You were always a good sister, and Lottie is the luckiest girl alive to have an aunt like you.’

She takes a shaky breath, eyes twitching to the right as the bartender approaches and she straightens up, pats my hand. ‘We’re definitely drinking to that.’

He pops the cork and fills our glasses discreetly before leaving us to it.

Taylor lifts her drink. ‘To sisters.’

‘Sisters,’ I echo, clinking my glass to hers, my smile filled with love for her and the knowledge that Theo was right. No matter what life throws at us, we’ll always find our way back to this, our bond that runs thicker than Dad’s blood ever could.

‘I’m not going to lie, though,’ Taylor says with a suspiciously sly look, ‘I’m a little disappointed.’

‘Disappointed?’ I cough over the champagne.

‘I was hoping there was more to this meeting than going over the past.’

‘More? Like what?’

‘I was hoping you were going to ask to come and live with me again.’

‘What?’

She shrugs. ‘I didn’t ask you before because I didn’t want to put that pressure on you when things were so…’ she licks her lips ‘…tenuous between us.’

‘That’s why you asked Theo?’

‘Who else? I wanted you to be with someone I trust… someone you trusted too. I knew you’d feel safe with him, and I wanted someone to keep an eye on you. Not suffocate you, you understand. More just… be there for you.’

So many feelings race through me as she speaks – relief, understanding, love – because everything she’s saying makes perfect sense… when youdon’tknow aboutkiss-gate.

Her eyes narrow. ‘I assume things are okay with Theo?’

‘Yes. Absolutely. Theo’s been great. Heisgreat.’

She nods, though her eyes don’t ease up. Does she doubt it? Or does she know something I don’t? Or did my effusive response give too much away? Probably.

‘What’s wrong?’ I dare to ask.

‘Nothing’s wrong.’ She sips her fizz. ‘How can anything be wrong when I have my sister back?’

I smile and take a drink.

‘It’s just…’ she starts and my shoulders hitch, the bubbles sticking in my throat as she leans back in her seat. ‘As much as I love Theo, I’m sure you’re both ready to… you know.’

I frown. ‘No. I don’t know. Has he said something to you?’

I remember the conversation I overheard the day he took us to Hyde Park. Had there been more conversations like that? My stomach sinks. Was there more to Theo’s desire for me to patch things up with Taylor? Despite how he’s made me feel, what he’s said, does he want me out?

‘What, no?’ She waves a dismissive hand, but I spy the flush creeping beneath her blusher. ‘Not really.’

‘Taylor?’

‘It’s more that it was a lot to ask of him, and now things are good between us, there’s no reason for you not to come live with me. It would be great to spend time with Lottie and?—’

‘I’ve only just got her settled into a routine though. And I’d like to give her the summer before uprooting her again.’

‘Sure. Of course.’

‘But if he does want us out?—’