Page 34 of The Love Syllabus

Vic watches us with a soft smile playing on his lips before he and Ms. Vicky lead the way down the hall. I try to take in the bajillion rooms, but when we turn the corner, I suddenly come face-to-face with an extremely handsome, somewhat younger version of Vic.

“And you must be the beautiful Southern Belle everyone’s been talking about,” he says with a charming grin, taking my hand and lightly kissing it.

I catch a flash of irritation cross Vic’s face as his jaw tightens slightly.

“Whoa!” I laugh, pulling my hand back gently. “Well, I don’t know about theBellepart, but I’m as Southern as they come.”

“Please excuse my brother, Hudson,” Vic interjects sharply, his voice carrying an edge I haven’t heard before. “He’s not usually this unattractively forward, Ms. Kind.”

Hudson flashes a mischievous smile, not at all bothered by the rebuke. “Just couldn’t help myself,” he says with a wink. “It’s not every day we get such grace and beauty around here.”

Vic’s eyes narrow slightly, and he subtly steps closer to me. “Hudson, that’s enough. Hands off.” He says, the words low and firm.

A surprising thrill of excitement runs through me at his protectiveness. Is he jealous? Possessive, even? His complicated layers are peeling back faster than Iexpected. He’s disarmingly charming yet reservedand someone who clearly values what orwhohe considers his. As the brothers exchange contentious looks, it’s clear they enjoy pushing each other’s buttons, and I find myself amused, even flattered, to be at the center of their sibling rivalry.

“Kerry, I gotta get goin’, but I emailed your employment contract, NDA, and the agreement to be my son’s faux companion until your services are no longer needed,” Vicky says matter-of-factly, already gathering her things like this is the most normal arrangement in the world.

A bit taken aback, I nearly choke on air. “An agreement for that? I mean, is it really necessary?” I sputter, my voice pitching higher than I’d like.

“Yes.” She replies, simply offering no further explanation before striding out the door with the same authority she carried in.

When Vicky leaves, I’m left alone with two handsome Grimes men, each a formidable presence in his own right, until Vic clears his throat and glares at Hudson.

Hudson dramatically sighs, stretching like he’s been burdened beyond reason. “Guess that’s my cue to get lost. I’ll see you again, Ms. Kind.” He mutters, flashing me a wink and a lopsided grin before heading out, leaving me alone with Vic.

I giggle, caught up in the moment. “Indeed you will, Mr. Hudson.”

Once Hudson leaves, Vic’s demeanor shifts slightly; the light-heartedness fades as he leans in closer. “Not trying to be a hater or anything, but my brother’s bad news. Never serious about life. Always has a rotation of women on standby. Nothing but trouble.”

I play along, my voice lowering to a whisper, “Well, maybe I like a little bit of trouble, Mr. Grimes.”

He sizes me up, an intrigued smirk playing on his lips. “Noted.”

Before Vic can lead me to my room, he stops, turning toward me with an unreadable expression that makes my stomach flip.

“Give me your phone,” he says.

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“I need your location at all times.”

I let out a slow, exaggerated gasp. “Atalltimes? Wow, I didn’t take you for the possessive type.”

He exhales sharply, clearly unimpressed with my antics. “You’ll be with my daughters outside of the home. I need to know where you are. You could be going to see a boyfriend or…a friend with benefits during working hours.”

My lips twitch, but I fight the smirk. He’s watching me carefully, waiting for a reaction, but I don’t give him one.

Instead, I casually unlock my phone and pass it to him with a sweet smile. “Aww, if you wanted to know about my love life, you could’ve just asked.”

He doesn’t look up while his fingers expertly navigate my settings. “So, do you have a boyfriend, Ms. Kind?”

I lean in just enough to tease, but not enough to touch. “No.”

A look of satisfaction flickers in his eyes, a look of satisfaction. “Good to know.” He mutters, then finishes whatever he’s doing and hands my phone back.

I glance down and scoff. “You turned on our mutual location sharing? You do realize this means I now have access toyourwhereabouts, too?”

Vic smirks, stepping closer, his voice low. “Guess that means you’ll always know exactly where to find me.”

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