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She turned and caught the massive shadow of black currently perched on the head chair. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and made a tsking sound.
“Dante, you know the rules. Off the chair.” The monster cat gave her a bored look and licked his paw. She used the tone animals always responded to. “I mean it. Off. Now.”
Dante flicked his tail, lifted his head, and gave a warning hiss.
Maggie’s voice cut through the room. “Dante, lose the attitude.” The cat lifted his head and jumped down. With a disgusted glance, he headed toward Maggie for a quick rub against her leg and a purr.
Carina blew out a breath. “How do you do that? He is the most disagreeable, stubborn, pain-in-the-ass cat in the world. He’s the only animal who doesn’t listen to me.”
Maggie grinned. “Yeah, I know. Isn’t he great?”
Friday night dinners were a new staple in Carina’s life, and she looked forward to them. Hosted one week at Alexa and Nick’s, the next week at Michael and Maggie’s, she’d gotten used to relaxing in a homey environment away from the office.
Carina slid onto the breakfast stool and worked on the salad. Her sister-in-law tried not to bump into the counter with her belly, and Carina gave her credit. The trendy red skirt and casual scoop-necked tee made her look chic and maternity fashionable. Maggie checked on the garlic bread and sipped a glass of sparkling seltzer. “Tell me what’s going on in your dating life. How was your last date? Edward, right?”
Carina hid a wince and added a handful of olives. “Umm, that didn’t go very well. Nothing bad, just flat between us.”
Maggie wrinkled her nose. “No chemistry sucks. I can’t tell you how many dates I went on where I felt nothing. Zippo. Any other prospects?”
“Besides the work pool, I’m not sure where else to meet men. What did you do when you were single?”
Maggie laughed. “Too many bad things, which is exactly what you need to do. I’ll give you a list of some clubs that you can hit on the weekends. I’d go with you for moral support, but you’ll never get picked up with a prego next to you.”
She snorted. “You’d probably get picked up before me, woman. You still look hot.”
Her sister-in-law flushed with gratitude. “You’re such a good sister.”
“I mean it, Maggie, you have this sex appeal I always wanted. How do you do it?”
“Do what, darling?”
“Get your man.”
Maggie hooted with laughter and threw the pan of toasty bread on the counter. “Carina, you already have everything you need in that killer body of yours. Just remember this—men like women who go after what they want. If a man attracts you, connect with your inner vixen and let loose. He won’t have a chance.”
“You think?”
“Umm, no. I know.”
The thought of being the seductress for a change turned her on. Why not step up the initiative and go after what she wanted?
“Seriously, you need to go out dancing and have some fun. Plenty of men will be there to practice on. All those ridiculous suggestions to meet men in bookstores and church piss me off.”
Max’s church comment echoed through her mind, and she bit her lip to keep from giggling. “Or the grocery store. Honestly, when has a man ever come up to you and asked you to feel his bread to see if it was fresh?”
“Or the gym! Yeah, nothing hotter than a smelly woman with makeup sliding off her face and shaking muscles. Can you see us responding to the comment, ‘How much did you lift today baby?’ ”
“Yeah, but I’m still not ready for the Internet. Not unless I get desperate.”
“Save that for the big guns. Alexa will have too much fun posting your profile.”
“I heard that.” Alexa’s voice sang out from the hallway.
The doorbell rang and the mutter of low voices echoed through the corridor. “Oh, that’s finally Max. Can you get it, Michael?” she screamed out.
Still laughing from her talk with Maggie, it was a while before she noticed the feminine drawl. Curious, she peeked her head around the wall.
Crap. He’d brought a date.
She watched as her future one-night stand entered the mansion with a woman on his arm. Not just any woman. Max only dated the crème de la crème, and this one stunk of royalty and privilege. Red hair curled like an art form around her shoulders, and her emaciated figure screamed size four. Slanted green eyes held a sleepy look that oozed sex. French manicured nails and stiletto heels warned women to stay away from her man. And her man tonight was Max.
Carina tried not to glower as she hid in the entryway to the kitchen and spied. “What’s up, sweetie?” Maggie asked. “You look pissed.”
She cleared away her cranky expression and forced a smile. “No, just checking out Max’s flavor of the week. This one looks serious.”
“Hmm, I didn’t think he was bringing a date tonight.” Maggie stuck her head out of the kitchen and watched as the men chatted and Max made the introductions. “Oh, that’s Victoria Windsor. Her daddy is duke of something, so she’s some type of royalty. Max had a few dates with her before. She must be back in town.”
Carina blinked. Her hatred swarmed to monstrous proportions. “Oh.”
Her sister-in-law sharpened her gaze and her claws. “Want me to get rid of her? Just say the word and I’ll blame the madness on pregnancy hormones.”
A laugh escaped her lips. “No, of course not. I told you I’m completely over Max.”
A snort hung in the air. “Yeah, and next I’ll sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.”
“Why would I buy a bridge?”
Maggie waved her hand. “Never mind. I keep forgetting about our ridiculous American expressions.” She lifted the salad off the counter and carried it to the dining room. The huge open space held an oversized cherrywood table, with fashionable leather seats, and a matching china cabinet. The crystal gleamed underneath a dripping chandelier, and Maggie grabbed a few bottles of wine from the full bar in the corner. The formality was softened by the array of candles, dim lighting, and gorgeous watercolors of Tuscan landscapes adorning the walls. Fresh flowers made up the centerpiece. Feminine touches were scattered throughout her brother’s once bachelor mansion, and Carina loved the contrast of soft and hard, simplicity and lushness, that now shimmered through the house.
