Page 23 of All for Love

Dad wrapped an arm around his bride’s shoulders, and she burrowed into his side before turning her head back to me. “How are things going at work? Are you kids enjoying working together?”

“I’m not really working with them,” Mercedes said before smiling sweetly at Kaden. “It’s been nice getting to know each other, though.”

“Yeah, Mercedes has been a huge help already,” he said. “We were a little uncertain of what to expect when she started, but she’s not in the way and she’s already gotten rid of stuff that was just in the way.”

I ground my teeth to keep from asking what we were paying her to clean up a little. Essentially, that was all she’d done, and even then, it was only to our private filing room and a few similar spaces no one ever went.

Kaden, Brooke, and our stepsister went back and forth a bit, the compliments and sweetness giving me a toothache. Our appetizers were served. I speared a piece of salmon, chewing it viciously as I tried to tune them out, but it was impossible.

“I’m really looking forward to learning more about the company,” she was saying. “Kaden promised to sit down with me sometime next week to tell me about it.”

Dad glanced at me. “I’m sure Mercedes would also benefit by knowing more about our clients and the products we’re currently selling. It’ll help her determine which departments could be running more efficiently and how she might help them get there.”

Mercedes got a pinched look on her face, like she’d just sucked a lemon before she pasted a fake smile on her lips and nodded. “Sure. Everything helps.”

“I’ll have Miranda set it up,” he said, then glanced at his stepdaughter. “That’s Kody’s first assistant. She’s a jewel. Feel free to ask her for help if you need it. I don’t know what he’d have done without her. She’ll definitely be able to point you in the right direction if you get stuck.”

Yeah, but she’s my assistant. I clenched my jaw and stuck another piece of salmon in my mouth. Kaden and Dad had lectured me about this evening, and I wasn’t about to be the one to toss a hand grenade into our cozy little dinner.

Margaux must’ve noticed I wasn’t really participating in the conversation because, the next thing I knew, she pulled me right back into it. “So, Kody. Are you seeing anyone these days?”

As I stared back into her eyes, as green as Mercedes’s but with a kindness and patience in them I’d never seen from her daughter, I couldn’t help but go for the low-hanging fruit. “Seeing someone, no, but I did have a wild night with a girl the weekend of the wedding.”

Mercedes seemed horrified, stiffening before her gaze hit her plate and didn’t come back up again. Kaden shot me a dark, knowing stare, and I knew it was only a matter of time before my twin put two and two together.

Brooke just sighed and rolled her eyes. My father didn’t even really react, but Margaux was less reserved than him, curious as she leaned forward and smiled at me some more.

I got a real kick out of their reactions, but my new stepmother didn’t leave it at that. “Do you think there’s potential between you and this girl for something more?”

“No. There’s nothing to worry about. It wasn’t serious,” I said, then added, “the sex wasn’t even that good.”

Mercedes finally looked up again, but only to shoot me a prickly glare before deliberately averting her gaze and looking everywhere but at me. I knew I was being an asshole, but she had it coming with that comment when I’d arrived and the disappointment when she’d looked at me before coming to the table. Plus, my dad had just offered her my assistant. Some payback was in order.

“Yeah, so it was a wild night, but I’m moving on. I’m looking for someone more my equal.” I knew exactly what to say to piss Mercedes off, and it worked.

The servers brought our food, and she cut into her filet like she wished it was me. I hid my smile by ducking my head and looking down at my own plate, satisfaction rippling through me. It was about time someone helped my darling stepsister dislodge that stick she had up her ass. I figured it might as well be me.