Page 60 of Twisted Truth

“Crisis averted,” Declan says, trouncing back into the kitchen. “The horny massage therapist is gone.”

The spell between us vanishes, and my brain snaps back to reality. Ella and I both stand frozen. Declan slows his steps, noticing how close we’re standing to one another.

He clears his throat loudly. “Well, I better be going. I have a lot to do tonight. And the first thing on my list is to find a new gym. You know how I’ve been meaning to find a new place to work out, Asher,” he says pointedly, smirking and trying not to laugh.

“Get out of here, prick.”

Declan makes a show of going up to Ella and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I meant to say this yesterday morning, Ella dear, but I didn’t get a chance. Welcome to the Langford gang. It’s going to be a hell of a ride, and we’re all grateful you’re doing this for Asher.”

Ella blushes and mutters, “Thank you?” like a question.

“Alright, out,” I snap, grabbing him by the arm and leading him to the foyer.

“What?” he says, holding up his hands, innocently. But his face is anything but innocent as he fails to hold back a devilish grin once we’re out of Ella’s sight. “You said I wasn’t friendly enough. So I was being friendly.”

“Yeah. And you’re not at all trying to stir up trouble.” I punch the elevator button.

“I never said I wasn’t trying to stir up any trouble. You know how much Iadoretrouble. Especially when it’s yours.”

I knock him upside the head and shove him into the elevator as soon as the doors open.

“Good luck on your no sex statute,” he says with a salute. “It looks like it’s going really well, so far. I’m not one to read fortunes, but I would hazard a guess that there are a lot of cold showers in your future.”

“Goodbye, asshole,” I say as the doors begin to close.

“Sweet wet dreams,” he says with a wave.

I groan as I make my way back into the kitchen. Damn Declan and his interfering ways.

“What was that all about?” Ella asks, sipping a glass of water.

“Nothing. Declan can just be an idiot sometimes. No matter how old we get, we’ll always be brothers who like to give each other shit.”

“That’s sweet. You’re lucky to have that.”

“Lucky?” I snort. “Most days I want to pummel his face.”

The tension in the air starts to spark again, and Ella hurriedly sets her glass in the sink. “I’d better get upstairs. I’m tired. Thanks again for arranging the massage. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” I say, watching her make her way upstairs. I should tear my eyes away; I’m openly leering at her like a perv. But god, she’s so beautiful. And that little robe is killing me. My cock twitches for the thousandth time since Monday.

I head into my bathroom and turn my shower on, then crank the faucet all the way to cold, cursing under my breath. Declan may be an obnoxious prick. But he is right.

Cold showers look to be my new norm.

18

ELLA

Iduck into the designer store through a back entrance, crossing my fingers. The paparazzi followed Asher’s car when he left the penthouse, and then my car left ten minutes later. I don’t think they caught on to the ruse, but who knows what the morning will bring. There is a certifiable frenzy surrounding us since the news broke that Asher Langford is off the market, and the scale of it is much bigger than we expected. For better or worse, the board is certainly getting the publicity they wanted. And as a team, we’re trying to find the best way through the frenzy.

“Ms. Hale,” the store manager says, greeting me with a smile. “We’re so happy to have you and your team here with us. Our staff is putting together some favorites and recommendations for you.”

“Thank you.” I smile warmly, following her into the main part of the store where the rest of the team is filing in. Emily really pulled out all the stops for today’s shopping. We’ve learned quickly that one of the biggest topics surrounding me in the media isn’t always about normal things like who I am or what I do—it’s about what I’m wearing. Matthew told me theleather laptop bag I was photographed with sold out yesterday, and so did several other bags in similar styles. Same with the gray coat and skirt. Never in a million years would I have guessed that an outfit I wore to work would be photographed, thrown out into the world, and gobbled up by consumers trying to emulate that look. It literally makes me dizzy to think about it.

“Excuse me, ladies,” the store manager says to some women browsing near the front of the store. “We will be closing down for a private shopping event in ten minutes. Thank you.”

Two of the women nod without issue, but three others scoff, clearly annoyed.