Page 34 of Ice Princess

Stewart Kinsey is a grimy, selfish, manipulative human being.

I despise his creepy smiles, suggestive comments and, I willneverforgive his outrageous ‘advice’ to April after her ex cheated on her. However, he never crossed the line with my mother or me.

Not that it means anything.

Kinsey may not have done anything illegal, but I doubt that’s for lack of trying. He’s a ticking time bomb. The question isn’t if, butwhenthe explosion happens and who’ll be in his path when it does.

“Maybe another time, Uncle Stewart,” Gunner growls.

I swing around to watch my fake boyfriend.

Nothing’s out of place.

Gunner’s leaning back in his chair, so tall that even when he slouches he still looks intimidating. His square jaw is relaxed. Blue eyes bored as ever.

So what’s with the tension I’m picking up here?

“Why not? Don’t want to eat with your old uncle now that you have a pretty lady at your side?”

“Rebel and I are on a date and we’d prefer to be alone,” Gunner says firmly.

Stewart’s playful smile drops a smidge.

I glance between the two of them. Gunner Kinsey is as cold and hard to read as always, but there’s no mistaking the warning in his tone. It sends a chill down my spine. I thought the Kinseys all loved and covered for each other.

Does Gunner know something about his uncle that I don’t?

“Rebel doesn’t mind.” Stewart flashes me an oily smile. “She’s been running around in my shop, getting underfoot since she was knee-high. Why, we’re practically family.”

My fingers coil into fists. “With family like you, Stewart, who needs enemies?”

Stewart Kinsey bursts out laughing.

Gunner arches a brow at me.

Mauve clears her throat. “C-come this way, Stewart. I’ll see if I can find you another table.”

“No need, Mauve. I’ll sit with my nephew.” Leaving no room for argument, Stewart pulls out the chair next to me and plants himself firmly into it.

I scoff in outrage.

What on earth does he think he’s doing?

“Stewart—gah!” The chair I’m sitting on suddenly lurches to the side. I flail my arms to keep my balance as the ground shifts underneath me and my body jerks to the left.

The chair legs scrape the floor so loudly that the entire diner stops to watch us. Pink stains my cheeks and I frantically look down at the hand gripping the underside of my chair.

My eyes drag up that pale hand, to the tattoos peeking out from Gunner’s wrist, up to his neck and finally to his face. Gunner pulls me steadfastly around the table until I’m so close to him that my arm brushes his massive shoulder.

He says nothing. Not a word. And yet, the statement he made in that one move is so loud that my ears ring.

Stewart struggles to smile. “Calm down, Gunner. Do you think I’ll bite your girlfriend or something?”

“Or something,” Gunner mumbles.

My eyebrows fly up in surprise. There’s definitely animosity between the Kinsey’s. But why? It can’t be because of someone as irrelevant as me.

Stewart turns to Mauve. “I’ll have a burger with onion rings, Mauve. Burn the onions and hold the ketchup. You know how I like it.”

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