“Hey,” I said, extending my arm in a peace offering. Apprehensively, he shook it, then let it go.
“Hello, Barrett,” he said with poison on his tongue.
“What can I do for you both? Like I said, I’m busy.”
“Well, that’s no way to treat us now,” Lourde tsked.
“Said by my sister, who was screwing my best friend behind my back?”
She put her hands on her hips, and her ass moved deliciously. Okay, now wasn’t the time to think about all the delicious things I could do to her peachy ass.
“We were going to tell you, Connor. I’m sorry you found out the way you did, but you are just going to have to accept we’re not going anywhere. I love him, and Barrett loves me. Let’s just try to be adults about this.”
Connor looked from his sister to me as we loitered in the foyer like strangers.
“Look, Connor, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to find out like that. We had no intention of this happening. It just happened.”
He let out a nod and a sigh. “Yeah, tell me about it.”
Wondering if we were still talking about us, I glanced at Lourde, who shrugged, then pushed past him into the living room.
“Where on earth is your housekeeper?”
We followed her into the main living area with a view to the kitchen, where dishes stacked high in the sink. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’d ever seen his place so unkept. There were clothes on the floor, hanging off furniture and stuff everywhere.
Lourde picked up some of the clothing on the floor instead of stepping on it. “It’s like a tripping-hazard in here.”
“Is everything all right, Barrett?” I asked him quietly—this was so out of character for him.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just busy, and my housekeeper has the flu.”
“So does Pepper,” Lourde said, overhearing our conversation with the hearing of a bat. “Must be going around.”
He ran a hand through his hair, and was that a bead of sweat bubbling on his brow?
“Must be. Now I’ve got a mountain of files to review before the board meeting tomorrow, so I think you guys should leave.”
“Leave? We just got here!” Lourde said, ignoring him and making her way into the kitchen. “At least let me have a quick espresso.”
Connor looked at me, and I shrugged. There was no point arguing with her, and he knew that.
“Make it quick. You know where everything is, Lourde.”
“Well, Jesus, not through this mountain of plates and glassware. It’s like you had a party here or something.” She clattered around, opening cupboards. “Do you guys want one?”
“Yes,” we said in unison.
“Thanks, Lourde,” I added.
“So, is Alfred busting your balls again?” I asked, taking a seat in his tan chesterfield lounge.
“Always.” I waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. He just sat on the edge of the seat, looking very uncomfortable.
“Usually, I’m vague as fuck, not you.”
The sound of the coffee machine cut through our exchange.
“I’m just busy doing board stuff, you know? So tell me, what’s happening with you? Any closer to finding out who’s after you and determined to ruin you?”
“Getting there. But are we seriously going to talk about this right now, or are we going to address the beef between us?”
“What can I do? You fucked my sister. I can either punch you out or accept it.”
“Okay, for starters, you know you couldn’t punch me out. I’ve got at least twenty pounds of muscle on you.”
He let out a laugh. “It’s not about brawn, and I'd call it ten even.”
“I know I’m not what you and your mom wanted for her. I'm not old money. But we’re happy. I promise you, she means the goddamn world to me, and I'd do anything to protect her. I love her, Connor. She knows me, she knows everything about me, and she accepts me for who I am. She doesn’t want to change me. She loves me. Do you know how rare that is for guys like us?”
Lourde placed two coffees in front of us. “Thanks, hun.”
“You guys are the real deal, aren't you?” Connor questioned, looking at me, to his sister, and back to me.
“I’m all in when it comes to your sister.”
She gave me a heart-melting smile. “Me too.”
Connor took his espresso to his mouth, an expression of resignation appearing on his face. “Well, then, fuck it, I can’t stop you.”
I looked at Lourde, and her expression mirrored mine. “Are you serious?” she asked.