“No problem. Thanks for helping me out. If it’s any consolation, you’re helping her, too.”
“The reason I’m agreeing to this shit show is because we’re family. Plus, if Corinne gets things squared with her brother and the blowback from the movie dies down, we can get back to business.”
“I’ve got the cash set aside so when it’s time to fund our venture, we’ll be good to go.”
“We’re done with everything else, so that’s the next and final step before we announce it to the world.”
I’m looking forward to diversifying from straight portfolio management to true wealth building. Property and real estate value has its ups and downs, but it always has intrinsic worth. Time to offer that dependability to my clients. I had to scrimp and save for a couple of years to be ready for this step, but we’re almost there… “It’s going to be great.”
“It should be. Just…don’t fuck up.” He sighs. “Keeley and I will serve cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres at six. We’ll invite the right people. Let me know if there’s anyone Corinne wants to attend. You two come prepared to look wildly in love.”
We have to keep working on that. “Thanks. What are you going to tell your wife?”
“Nothing more than she already knows. If Keeley understood the whole scheme, she would only scold you. Besides, it doesn’t affect her much, except to give the B and B good PR. But it impacts business, so I have to tell Griff. Plus, he and I didn’t talk for three years because of a supposed secret, so we agreed never to have any between us again.”
They wouldn’t be speaking now—or have a thriving real estate business—if they hadn’t sworn to be honest. “I get it. I just hate lying to the rest of the family.”
“But telling them serves no purpose except to put your plan at risk. When it’s over, spill whatever you like. Until then, the fewer people who know, the better.”
He’s right, except… “What about Bethany?” Technically, I still work for her. “I can’t even give the appearance of dishonesty, especially after what she went through with Barclay.”
“She’s already seen the pictures of you and Corinne together.” Despite that, Maxon’s tone tells me he’s plotting. “But if you’re putting off the announcement of your partnership until this shit dies down, then everything is just business as usual. So if you tell Bethany when she’s recovering from childbirth and barely sleeping, it’s just more crap on her plate she doesn’t need.”
Clint will be pissed when he finds out, and I’m concerned about breaking the trust between Bethany and me. I’m risking a lot for revenge…
Are you really just after revenge anymore?
I stifle that question. “I don’t love it, but all right. When this is over, I’ll make it up to her.”
“Hell, if you come out of this with a better image—totally doable, in my estimation—this ploy would be a net positive she’ll congratulate you for. Our sister might be pretty and soft-spoken, but she can absolutely swim with the sharks.”
I know she can. I’ve seen it firsthand. “Good point. I owe you—big.”
“You’re fucking right, you do. Make sure this doesn’t blow up in your face.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“No thanks necessary. Family is supposed to have each other’s backs, remember?”
“I don’t have as much practice as you with that, but yeah. And I’m here for you.”
“Good. We might need a babysitter during football season,” Maxon teases.
“Bite my ass.”
With a laugh, he hangs up. I find myself smiling, too…until I realize the situation I’m in. The world has gone quiet for a few hours while everyone sleeps. Tomorrow morning will be an explosion of curiosity, nosiness, and ugly innuendo. Corinne will hate it. I need to shield her or she might give in to Parker’s bullshit just to make the gossip disappear.
Until then, we have the dark. The still. The silence. I should be exhausted after barely sleeping last night. But I’m wired since I’ll soon have Corinne next to me in bed. Even if I don’t touch her, she’ll be achingly close. How will I resist her?
Rising from my chair, I tiptoe down the hall. My bathroom door is still shut, telling me she’s inside.
Damn. Relieving my tension is a must. I’d rather not do it alone, but if I’m going to keep my word and keep my hands off of her, I have to take the edge off.
After grabbing her underwear from my desk, I slide into the bathroom attached to my office and lock the door. Hand lotion in a delicate pump stands beside a matching decanter of soap. I shove Corinne’s panties against my nose, yank down my shorts, slam a dollop of cream in my palm, and slather it onto my aching cock.
Then, as I slowly stroke myself, I open my thoughts to all the filthy things I’m dying to do to her.