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For a moment, I can’t breathe. If it was anyone else in the picture, I would believe the story it told. “I swear this never happened. The photo is doctored.”
Marc doesn’t bother to argue with me. Of course, he called knowing I would deny it. “You’ve done something that can’t be undone.”
The finality in his words hits like a punch straight to my gut. “If you really believe that then you don’t know me at all.”
Marc’s eyes are like fire. “You’re so far up in your ivory towernobodyknows you.”
The acid-edged accusation eats away at me, dissolving my usually cool veneer. WhywouldI let anyone know me, when it’s clear the closer people get to you, the more havoc they wreak on your life? My own brother, the flesh and blood I’ve fiercely protected since we were children, thinks I’m capable of the ultimate betrayal.
As far as I’m concerned,I’mthe smart one. I’ve known from an early age how to protect myself, and I’ve never wavered. Not once. Not for anybody.
And that sure as hell isn’t going to change now.
“If you really think I’m capable of this, then...” I scrub a hand over my face. “I don’t know what to tell you, Marc. Maybe this is your way of getting out of a marriage you knew was a bad idea in the first place.”
For a moment I think he’s going to hang up on me. I shouldn’t have let my mouth run off, but dammit, I’m angry. I’m furious. I’m so filled with rage and resentment that I want to take the bloody laptop and hurl it through a glass pane.
“You think Iwantto believe my own brother would take my wife away from me?” He lets out a bitter laugh. “Why wouldn’t I believe it? You’ve taken everything else. Zio gave you the CEO job without evenconsideringthat there might be a better option. Without even considering that you would run the company the way you do everything else in your life, without an ounce of emotion.”
“Sothat’swhat this is about, the fact that I got the job you wanted.” I had known Marc would be hurt when I was promoted above him, but this is my place. My role.
“It’s aboutyou, Daniel, and how you think the world should be grateful for your existence. Your ego is stifling.” He shakes his head. “And the fact that you plucked some poor woman out of thin air to pose as your fiancée, in an effort to dodge responsibility... It’s disgusting. Dad would be so proud.”
I’m about to spit fire and brimstone at my brother when the call disconnects. Typical Marc, he never stands his ground in a fight. He’s happy to set everything on fire and then run away. And he thinksIwon’t take responsibility.
Bullshit.
I stare at the photo for what feels like an hour. It’s fake. But how can I prove it? Marc will believe what he wants to believe.
A second later, there’s another email from him in my inbox. The subject line reads:Don’t drag Ava through this bullshit. Let her go and I’ll make sure Livingstone upholds his end of the bargain.
Marc has always been a bleeding heart. But he needn’t worry about Ava. She knows what this is.
I put my head down and vow to forget about Marc for the rest of the day. After spending another hour taming my inbox and making sure everything is running smoothly back home in my absence, I close my laptop.
Shaking my head, I stalk out onto the terrace that overlooks the gardens. Lush greenery fills every corner of the space, and a big orange tree sits heavy with fruit, scenting the air with tart sweetness. Below, the pool glimmers in the light as a body slices through the water with almost surgical efficiency. Ava’s back is mostly exposed, save for the straps of a skimpy swimsuit she bought on our day out yesterday.
For a moment I can only stare—she’s like a mythical creature, so beautiful and graceful it captivates me. Memories flash of our night together, the way her body undulated beneath mine. The way she had no shyness in letting me know what she wanted. Thinking about that is enough to make something primal and white-hot filter through my system.
It blanks out the feelings about Marc and the disaster that is our family right now. And for that, I’m grateful.
I head downstairs. Two large double doors sweep open to the gardens and, at that moment, Ava is getting out of the pool. She twists her long brown ponytail. Water runs in rivulets down her curvy body, making her skin sparkle. There’s a whole lot of straps doing crisscross things, but the swimsuit hides nothing—not the fullness of her breasts and the peaks of her nipples, nor her strong shoulders and shapely hips.
I try to swallow but my mouth is devoid of moisture.
I want her. Again.
My cock pulses behind my dress pants. I want to bend her over one of the banana lounges and yank her swimsuit to one side.
I clear my throat and shove the images away. “Good afternoon.”
“Is it afternoon already? Wow.” Ava wraps a towel around herself and smiles, oblivious to the rampant attraction running through my veins. “I couldn’t resist taking a dip. It’s such a beautiful day.”
“You swim very well.”
You swim very well?
What kind of a comment is that? Jesus. Whoever thought I was a smooth lady-killer should see me now. Ava has me so tied up in knots, I sound stiff as a board. Hell, Iamstiff as a board. This is ridiculous. I’m acting like I’ve never seen a woman in a swimsuit before.
