Page 53 of Restrained

I shake my head and look at her high cheekbones and then her nose. “Your nose.”

“What about my nose?” She looks really freaked out as she stares at me, and my eye stay fixed on her perfectly straight nose.

“There’s a bump.”

Her eyebrows pinch together. “No there isn’t.”

“Yes. There is.” I stare at the tiny, almost completely insignificant bump on the bridge of her nose, one I've never evennoticed before. Not until it identically matched another nose I saw earlier today.

One of a total liar.

“Lola, you’re freaking me the fuck out. What is going on?”

I stand up. “I have to go and see Hayden.”

“What?” She stands to face me, looking concerned. “You’re acting weird because you need to get laid?”

I shake my head, the nauseous feeling coming back. “No. I’ll see you tomorrow. I have to go.”

I leave her there confused and probably annoyed, but I don’t care. I’m in my car and driving toward Hayden’s house before anyone can stop me.

Because now I'm on a mission.

23

HAYDEN

The doorbell rings through my house and I glance at the clock, seeing it’s ten o’clock at night. I’m not expecting anyone, and I'm certain it’s not about business. My lips quirk into a sly smile as I make my way from my office toward the front door, hoping it’s Lola.

I don’t bother to tug on a shirt, having been about to go to bed and wearing only black sweats. I smirk, seeing Lola through the glass, standing on the other side of my front door and pull it open. “I thought we said tomorrow.” She’s still dressed in the same skirt and blouse she had on earlier. My eyes trail from her heels up to her face. “But I'm definitely okay with this too.”

Her hair is down, and her eyes are desperately searching mine with an expression that sends chills through me. She seems almost breathless, her lips parted as she stares.

“Lola? What’s wrong?”

“You.”

I swallow the bile that rises in my throat. “What?”

Her gaze stays glued to my face. “You’re Penelope’s brother? Or at least related to her?”

Shit. No.“Lola...” I start and see the anger and hurt in her eyes. I reach for her hand, but she instantly jerks away.

“Answer me.”

“Come inside.” I want to touch her, to calm her down, to plead with her to understand.

She folds her arms, staying put on the stoop outside my house. “No. Answer me, Hayden.” She closes her eyes briefly, and then they flutter open, landing on mine. “Are you related to Penelope?”

No more lies. “Yes.”

She looks like she’s going to be sick, and I want to hold her, but I don’t touch her. “Who are you?”

I look in her eyes, begging for forgiveness for keeping this from her. “I’m her brother.”

I think she’s going to slap me. I’d deserve it. But what I didn’t expect from the tiny, ultra-refined blond was for her fist to ball up and sock me right in the eye. Hard. I’ve been hit by a lot of men, and she packs a punch.

My hand flies over my eyes, but other than that I don’t move while she remains in place, furious. Her breathing is rapid as she shakes her right hand that has to be on fire. “How could you not tell me that?” She grits her teeth. “How?”

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