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I looked at a portrait of the house as I passed. Was that a requirement of being wealthy? I’d just moved into a new place on the Upper East Side, but I had no desire to have a painting of the building in my living room.
Maybe I could make Alma think my departure was her idea. Save the theatrics.
You live for theatrics.
Yeah, I did. But for some reason I wanted to stay on this family’s good side.
“Why are you dressed like that, baby? I was just coming to find you so we could go to the beach.” She landed a smacking kiss on my cheek.
“I have to go back to the city. Work emergency.”
A pout formed. Her lower lip trembled. She clutched the front of my shirt. “No. This is our fun weekend.” She stomped her bare foot.
Temper tantrum, here we come.
I placed both hands on her shoulders and gave her my best smile. “Don’t we always have fun?”
“But I want you to stay.” She stomped again.
I usually gave in to Alma because it was easier.ThisI preferred to avoid.
“I’ll make it up to you.”
Her gaze narrowed. “How?”
I winked at her. “Any way you want.”
She beamed and threw her arms around me, peppering my face with kisses. “I know what I want.”
And we’d gone from tantrum to happy in seconds. That was easy enough.
She slid her hand in mine and dragged me toward the back door.
“What’s your hurry?” I asked, narrowly avoiding the coffee table as she took a short cut through the living room.
“I get what I wantnow.”
“I need to head back.” I stopped moving, but she was determined, churning toward the back door.
I let her pull me like she was a wench, and I was stuck in the mud.Alma wins.Again.
She yanked on the handle of the French door.
“Not before you keep your promise.”
CHAPTERNINE
JOJO
“I’m in trouble.”
My sister’s confession as we lounged on the beach was just like everything else she did in life. Maximum impact.
“Did you see Kara flinging herself at John Lancaster? He’smarried.” She made a noise of disgust. “She should at least have the decency to keep their indiscretions . . . well . . . discreet.”
She’d flounced to another topic like she hadn’t shot a gun into the air to get my attention. She had it.
“What kind of trouble?” My stomach knotted as she flipped through the fashion magazine casually.
