Forbidden Lust

It only took me a few minutes to devour the entire contents of my plate, not having that many carbs and fried food in forever.

Looking up, I noticed her watching me. “Can I stay a little longer?” she asked.

My cutlery fell with a clank.

“It will just be for a few more days till I figure out what I’m going to do.”

“Are you still thinking of staying out here for the summer?”

“Yes, my friends are here. I can’t let Hunter stop me from having fun, but I’ll just have to find somewhere to stay.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Was she nuts? The Hamptons were booked.

“Well, maybe Connor can pull some strings.”

“How about the Diamond house?”

“It’s still being renovated and sprawling with trades.”

Dammit.

“Would it be that bad if I stayed here?” Her voice was soft, but there was a hidden dare in her eyes I couldn’t ignore.

I needed to focus. Having Lourde here would be a distraction and a dangerous one at that.

“What would your brother say?”

“Let me deal with him. He’ll be fine.”

I glared at her.

“What brother is that?” I heard Connor’s voice. Leaning back on my stool, he walked up the foyer with a shit-eating grin.

What the fuck?

“Connor?” she shrieked and hopped off the bar stool, giving her brother a huge hug.

Seeing them so close made me miss my sister. I hadn’t seen her in months, blaming it on selling 21 Park, but the truth was, seeing her was so painful.

He dropped his duffle bag and threw his arm around her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“What on earth are you wearing?” He took a step back, staring at her t-shirt, or rather mine that draped just below her butt, showing off her long legs.

“My clothes are in Hunter’s room back at the house. And I couldn’t go back there last night.”

Connor strayed beyond his sister to me in the kitchen.

“Hey, man, I wasn’t expecting you.”

He walked over, casually dressed. I wondered why he wasn’t running Diamond Incorporated with his overbearing father today.

He stared at the two plates. “She made breakfast.” I shrugged.

“Jesus, why are you staring at him like that?” Lourde questioned. She saw his laser stare accusing me of something I hadn’t done.

“You made breakfast, and you're in his t-shirt,” he said.

“Jesus, Connor, calm down. As if I’d ever do anything with your baby sister,” I said.

“Good, that’s what I needed to hear.”

Lourde narrowed her eyes but said nothing. “I didn’t realize it was up to you, brother.”

He turned around. “When it’s my best friend, it is,” he snapped.

“Um, hello, don’t you think I’ve had enough failed relationships to last a lifetime? And with Mr. Mysterious over there, puh-leeze.”

Mr. Mysterious?A vein throbbed in my neck.

Connor laughed. “Barrett doesn’t do relationships, Lourde.”

“I love the unannounced visit, but why are you here and at eight in the morning?”

He picked up a slice of crispy bacon from Lourde’s plate and ate it. “I thought my sister might need me.”

“How about work? Did Dad flip about you leaving?” Lourde asked.

“No, I told him what happened with Hunter.”

“Oh, great. And Mom now obviously knows. She’ll be rubbing her hands together now, thinking of who she could pair me with next.”

Lourde lowered her body onto the stool, her back curving as she slumped her shoulders.

I laughed. “Surely not.”

“Mom, Dad, and I all want the best for you, Lourde. That’s why they suggest certain men. There's no harm in that.”

“There is when they all turn out to be cheating assholes.”

“Mom mentioned she was having lunch with the Crawfords this week. Do you remember Harry from prep school?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said.