Page 49 of Cruel Revenge

She’s laying it on too thick.

Grady chuckles and tucks his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket as the cool breeze picks up. “I’m not so sure that he would say it’s a pleasure, but yes.”

Emily rolls her eyes and stands with her arms crossed, though by the look of things, she should be trying to hold down the impossibly short dress she’s wearing. Maybe it’s just a shirt, andshe forgot to wear the rest of her clothes because one wrong move and New Jersey is going to be able to see her ass.

Skyla leans into my side. “I don’t know, I would think that he enjoys his job. Although, I am sorry I robbed you of the opportunity of being family.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh as Emily’s eyes nearly bulge out of her head.

Her hands curve into talons at her side, and she looks like she’s seconds away from starting a catfight until Grady shifts slightly in front of her, blocking the straight path she had to Skyla before I have to get between them.

Good.

If I had to get in the middle of two women trying to kill each other because Grady can’t control his daughter, then I’d be giving some serious thought to my importing agreement with him. Though on the other hand, it might be better to egg them on into a fight just for that purpose.

Emily turns her nose in the air. “Enjoy the marriage while you still look young-ish.”

Grady looks to the sky and takes a deep breath, like he knows his daughter is going to speak that way to the wrong woman one day and get herself killed.

Skyla gives her a saccharine smile. “Well, there is an appeal to older women.”

“Pension checks?” Emily’s tone is sharp.

Smirking, Skyla eyes her like she’s nothing more than a child. “We don’t have to chase men who are already taken, and we don’t need to run around sleeping with whoever is willing.”

Grady’s face turns a deep shade of red as Emily turns and walks away, muttering under her breath.

As Grady swipes a hand down his face, I know I’m probably going to get a phone call about this later tonight, but I don’t care. It’s worth it to see Emily put in her place for once.

My fingers skim along Skyla’s bare shoulder blade as I press a hand to her back.

I clear my throat. “We should get dinner sometime soon, Grady. I’ve been interested in upping the amount of product I’m receiving.”

It’s enough to placate him for the time being.

He nods before taking off after Emily, no doubt going to tell her that sooner or later, I’ll leave Skyla, and she can have me.

Like I’m nothing more than a piece of meat. Or a status symbol.

But even if the cost of letting go of Skyla wasn’t having to deal with Emily, I’m having too much fun trying to learn who the woman beside me is.

Sighing, I turn to Skyla. “You know, you didn’t have to go there with her.”

“She started it. If she wants to play with the big kids, she better learn how to take what she thinks she’s dishing out.”

“I’m going to get a drink. Try not to make more of a mess of my work life before I get back.”

As I weave through the people and over to the bar, I do my best to look happy and relaxed even though Skyla has me on edge.

She’s unpredictable at best.

I should’ve put more thought into who I was going to pretend to be married to. If I had, I might not be trapped with her psychotic but delicious ass. Then again, I would be stuck with Emily.

And as psychotic as Skyla may be, there is something about her that keeps calling to me, and apparently I’m too weak to just walk away from her.

I approach the bar and order one of the specialty cocktails her sisters planned for the event. While I wait, I look around at the people gathered.

My eyes stubbornly insist on going back to the corner where I left Skyla.

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