Page 26 of Watching Her

Who’d been inside my room.

Watching me.

Why did I have the distinct feeling I’d ignited a fire and soon the burning embers would turn into a raging firestorm with no method of control?

CHAPTER 7

Christian

“You’re in a good mood.” Sebastian had a grin suggesting he was already enjoying himself as well as the game.

I nodded toward the bartender as he slid the glass of scotch across the bar. “I didn’t realize you were so in tune to my moods.”

His chuckle was full of amusement. “How quickly you forget I lived with you for nine months. Nine long months of dealing with your fetishes.”

We headed toward the room holding the charity items. “If keeping a house clean and organized is a fetish then guilty as charged. I seem to remember you were a slob.”

“My formative years.”

“Your rebellious years,” I corrected. “We were both sowing our wild oats. At least that’s what my father had suggested.”

“You and I both know your father was testing your strength and aptitude, same as mine. We were nothing but actors on a stage given full rein of the production.”

I glanced in his direction. “And you’re complaining?”

“Observing. There is a difference.”

Sebastian was right in that given the dark power as controlled by our fathers, they’d wanted to ensure their sons were worthy of taking over the family business. They’d learned the hard way never to underestimate our abilities again.

“You’re more agitated than usual.”

I took a deep breath. “Just dealing with the aftermath of a fucking traitor in my midst.”

“Does it have anything to do with the woman you’re so eager to control?”

He knew me too well. “Perhaps. But she genuinely intrigues me.”

“Just be careful. We aren’t in our twenties any longer. I’ve even thought about starting a family.”

“Is this going to be on one of your new programs? Maybe you could be one of the next golden bachelors.”

“Very funny. First, wrong network and second, I don’t have gray hair. Only you do of the three of us.”

“Maybe I work harder. How was your hunt? Maybe you can find your happily ever after right here in the world of romance,” I suggested as we walked into the massive ballroom. I had to give the staff credit. They’d outdone themselves in making the room appear less like a hotel and more like a fabulous museum in Italy. A far cry from the insanity on the floor below.

Every time my thoughts drifted to the book convention, my concentration was fractured, which I couldn’t tolerate. If I thought of the luscious woman as nothing but a means to an end, then I wouldn’t have any issues. However, that wasn’t what I was experiencing with every thought, every image.

Just something else to keep me pissed off.

“I had my team set up several interviews. I’ve yet to take the time to go through them. But you were right in that there are several women who I could see falling under my enigmatic spell. Who knows. Maybe I will find Ms. Right.”

“As long as she loves knife play and murder,” I reminded him.

“Child’s play. But yes, I’ll put a spell on her in the beginning.”

My friend had me chuckling. “Your spells usually end in disaster.”

“One time,” he commented while holding up his index finger.