Page 36 of Lovely Deceit

He grins. “If you walk out to my car like a good little girl, I won’t have to throw you over my shoulder.”

Oliver looks between us both but doesn’t stand up for me. Probably because this also gets him what he wants. “I call shotgun?” he asks like we both know he won’t get it.

“No,” Leo and I snap. I straighten my shoulders. “If I’m going to be chaperoned, I’m sure as hell not sitting in the back seat.”

Oliver shrugs. “Where I’m from, if you ride in the back seat, you’re important.”

“Good. Get your ass in the car,” Leo smirks. “You can pretend like you’re someone important.”

Oliver steps forward, his chin held high. He loops my hand around his arm like he knows he’s someone important then hands me my crutches.

We’re walking down the front sidewalk as Leo sets the alarms, and I lean toward Oliver’s ear. “Remember, Leo can’t know we’re asking questions about Delilah.”

“I thought you were just going to talk to him about marrying Keegan. Which I’m irate over, by the way.”

I glance behind us and find Leo watching, gaze narrowed. I kiss Oliver on the neck before saying against his ear, “Two birds, one stone.”

18

Eden

We stop first at my father’s office building. After arguing with Leo for ten minutes that he’s not following me inside, I go in only to find my father is not there. His sickeningly sweet, young secretary tells me he went home for the day already.

When I come out only minutes later, the tense quiet in the interior of the car makes me sigh. Both men are sitting with their arms crossed over their chests, and I want to roll my eyes.

“Well?” Leo asks.

“He’s not there. His secretary said he went home.”

He puts the muscle car in drive and cuts someone off as he pulls out into traffic. The blaring horn aimed Leo’s way only serves to make him smile.

When we’re closer to my parents’ house, I turn toward the two of them. “I know you both want to come in with me, but my father’s going to feel ganged up on if you do. Plus, you’d see if anyone else came up to the house while I’m inside, so you’re really better off watching from afar.” I smile at Leo.

“You’re lucky I was watching you,” he retaliates. “Who knows what else Leon Forbes would’ve done.”

“I prefer the term stalking.” Turning around, I find Oliver smiling at Leo. “You were stalking Eden.”

“I’m going to stalk you right out of my fucking car.”

“You can’t. I’m the most important one here.” He stretches his arms in the cramped backseat as if he’s riding in a golden, horse-drawn carriage. It would be more believable if his head wasn’t mere inches from the roof of the car.

I chuckle at him and shake my head. I don’t know what I would do without him. Honestly.

“And of course I’ll stay in the car if that’s what you want, love.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re pussy whipped.”

“I’d invite you to watch, but I know how jealous it makes you.”

Leo grabs the steering wheel tighter, tension spreading over his jaw, and he’s not the only one. My core turns to molten heat as I think about Leo watching. Sex with Oliver is amazing, but it was dangerously sexy when Leo barged in on us. The tension radiating off him made me feel hotter than ever, heightening every awareness I had.

My breaths shallow out the more I think about it until Leo announces that we’re here. I blow out a breath, reaching up to touch my cheeks and finding them scalding. I get myself under control as Leo maneuvers his car around the circular driveway of my childhood home.

It doesn’t take much to forget about the sexy scene in my head when I focus on the task at hand. The Forbeses. What a bunch of self-satisfying bastards. For all I know, they have the same rule in place that the Jarvises do. Maybe Leon will test the goods before Keegan marries, like it’s his right.

Disgusting.

Turning toward Leo, I see the darkness in his gaze. He’s an angry, bitter person who thinks he’s right about everything, but I don’t think his depravity reaches as far as his grandfather’s. Luckily.

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