Page 65 of Push

“Can you be offended?”

He responded with a wink and strolled past me into the kitchen like he owned the place. Calculated eyes scanned the room, the tips of his long fingers skimming over the wooden island, the modern country touches amusing him.

“Dear sister, your home is most…charming.” He purred the words, but it didn’t sound like a compliment. “Why, it’s like a magazine.” He dropped his precious contract on the counter next to the vase of fresh lavender. “Not a tattered lace curtain or the stains of childhood misery anywhere in sight.”

A flicker of annoyance flared in my chest when he leaned over to sniff the flowers.

The lavender was another of Toby’s failed attempts to apologize. Why did he insist on rocking up on my doorstep with flowers I didn’t want? He stuck out his hand every time with a plea not to throw them in the trash. He was right to be worried. The temptation was always there.

“Won’t you introduce me to your pretty friend?” Liam asked. When I stood there, staring blankly at him, he switched his evil smile back on. “Please.”

I watched him through slitted eyes. “Uh, Liam…this is…”Weird? Unhinged? All of the above?“This is my best friend, Marnie.”

“Marnie.” He dipped his lashes before offering her the hint of another smile. “Gwen has told me so much about you.”

Liar.

He hadn’t known about her existence until a few minutes ago. He’d walked away before I’d even met Marnie, and it wasn’t like he’d cared enough to seek me out after he’d left. This was a con job.

“Has she?” Marnie breathed.

“It’s always a pleasure to meet an artist,” Liam said. “I’m sorry to say I don’t share any of your creative abilities, but I can appreciate the talents of others.” He leaned closer to her, the honeyed rumble of his voice dropping even lower. “Particularly a talent that shines as lovely as yours.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Whatever magic Liam tried to weave, Marnie fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. She giggled like a giddy schoolgirl.

I wedged closer to him and hissed, “What the hell are you doing?”

“I told you,” he gritted back. “I’m getting rid of her so your attention is on my contract.” He turned back to Marnie with oneof his pretend smiles. “I must apologize for interrupting your morning. Sometimes, business can’t wait, and now that Gwen’s part of the family again… Well, I’m sure you understand.”

Marnie’s laugh was breathy. “Of course.” She waved him off. “You only interrupted Gwen’s attempts to kill me with one of her smoothies.”

“This?” Liam nodded at the vegetables dumped in the blender. “Little Gwen always did enjoy playing mother hen. I heartily recommend her meatloaf, although it doesn’t look much more appetizing than this concoction.”

I glared at him. “If you’re finished insulting me in my own ho—”

“I’m only teasing.” Liam slid the contract toward me on the counter with a pointed look. “I forget my manners sometimes. Perhaps a different type of drink is in order. A coffee. Elias asked me to stop at the café at the end of the road, but I disappointed him in my rush.”

“Elias?” Marnie’s eyebrows bunched together. “The short guy you’re always with in the photos?”

Liam’s lips thinned, but only for a moment. “He’s in one of hismoodsand refuses to come inside. Perhaps…” He tapped his chin. “Itisa lot to ask… But a beautiful woman may be just the distraction he needs. Could you walk with him to the café and let him spoil you with a treat?”

Marnie blinked up at him in a daze. “I love walking.”

I snorted.Since when?Certainly not twenty minutes ago, when she’d dragged herself along that exact path, whinging the entire way.

Marnie snapped out of her fog long enough to spear me with a warning glare. She was never short of attention, but she was loving this.

“Now, I must warn you,” Liam continued. “Eli is terribly shy, but you won’t be disappointed if you coax him out of his shell.He makes up for his lack of height with a boyish enthusiasm.” He plucked a piece of cucumber from the blender, nonchalantly adding, “And it probably doesn’t hurt he has an eight-inch cock,” before he popped it in his mouth.

All the air was punched out of my lungs. I started wheezing in complete disbelief. Marnie didn’t seem bothered by the inappropriate words flying out of my brother’s mouth. I’d never seen her scramble off a stool so fast. She tripped over her own feet, beaming a smile at Liam until she disappeared outside.

He turned a lazy grin on me but was met with narrowed eyes. I folded my arms over my chest.

“What the hell was that?” I demanded.

Lifting a shoulder, he was distracted peering into the blender. “Women insist size doesn’t matter, but dangle a well-hung Spaniard in front of them, and there are never any complaints.” Another piece of cucumber disappeared into his mouth.

“Are you crazy?”

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