Lust & Lies Box Set-Sexual Awakenings, Excess, Predator & Prey

Aiden was new, fresh, exciting, and completely single. I had slept in his bed, dined in his home. He seemed an open book. I was the one who had been hesitant to share. Now I had questions, and so many of them I was reeling. I’d jumped into another sexual relationship without asking the important ones.

I Googled Aiden and found nothing but a small mention in an article about his band.

I already knew enough about Devin to know he didn’t have any brothers. Even if they were estranged, there was no reason for Devin not to have mentioned it in the time we spent together. Then again, Devin wasn’t the most reliable source.

Aiden, Devin, it seemed obvious someone had matched their names purposely this way.

Cousins? I put my head in my hands with a groan. If I asked Aiden and he questioned me, it could be disastrous. Would he be disgusted? Could he overlook it? Could I?

FUCK YOU, LIFE!

I didn’t need to jump to conclusions. McIntyre was a pretty common name. They did not resemble each other in the slightest. The confidence they both shared wasn’t necessarily a reason to panic. They were both amazing in bed, but I was sure that had nothing to do with genetics.

Okay … so I could ask Devin, except less than twenty-four hours ago I told him I never wanted to speak to him again. How would he interpret my sudden twenty questions? Did it matter? Was it just a coincidence?

I wasn’t that fucking naïve. I dialed Taylor. “Boss,” she said, breathlessly. “Taylor, did I catch you at a bad time?” I asked with a smile.

“No.” She exhaled slowly. “Just working out.”

Something in her tone told me different, but as always, I didn’t prompt. “I have an issue.”

“Okay, hit me,” she said, her breath now under control.

“How do I find out if two people are related without asking them directly, or anyone else? I guess I’m asking you if we are able to get a background check?”

“Why are you question-marking the end of that sentence and who are you afraid of?”

“No one,” I said quickly. “This is personal.”

“Go ahead,” she said with humor in her voice. I felt my cheeks heat as uncertainty raced through me. Well, fuck it. If I were going to be in limbo, I would be armed with the right information. “I think I might’ve bagged a set of brothers.”

“Oh God, that bastard has a brother. Lord help us all,” Taylor said comically. “I don’t think so. I mean, I’m not sure. So can I get one on the both of them?”

“Of course you can. You have enough to buy the info, Nina. I know just who to call. Send me everything you have on them both.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief. “You still haven’t signed that paperwork on the land. It was couriered over this afternoon.”

“I will in the morning,” I said as Carson pulled up to my drive.

“It’s a shame,” she said, sounding forlorn. “It was beautiful.”

“And more trouble than it was worth,” I said, thinking it ironic I thought the same of Devin. “It belongs to Devin’s wife’s family. So there’s that. I can meet you at the office now.” I sat in the backseat, ready to direct Carson to my building. I needed to accomplish something, to distance myself from the situation. I felt like it was a sudden lifeline.

The sooner I got rid of Devin and his wife, the sooner I could breathe easier. “I…”

Taylor had never been speechless. “Taylor?”

“I’m in Savannah,” she admitted then sighed apologetically.

“The morning, then,” I offered after a brief pause.

“I’ll be there early,” she replied, guarded.

“I won’t, so don’t worry about it.”

“Goodnight.” She hung up without responding.

My wheels were already full speed, so I didn’t have time to wonder about Taylor’s whereabouts. I sat back in my seat as a message came through.