Page 173 of Boss of the Year
“The fuck you were!” Lucas spun, then grabbed his brother by the collar and hurled him onto the couch. “You didn’t evenseeher for ten goddamn years, even though she actuallywasin love with you the entire time!”
I sucked in a harsh breath. How did Lucas know that?
Because he knows you, some voice in the back of my conscience informed me.Because he knows you better than anyone does.
“I don’t know how you missed it,” he continued as he lurched over Daniel, then yanked him up and shoved him toward the door. “She’s the most beautiful thing on the planet, but younarcissistic piece of shit, you never even noticed her until she was just another shiny new toy you couldn’t have.”
Daniel broke free and swung again, this time catching Lucas in the ribs. “At least I’m not manipulating her for a tax write-off!”
“No, you’re just too busy blowing off your engagement to a senator’s teenage daughters to notice what’s right in front of you!”
Daniel went rigid, his face paling beneath the flush of alcohol.
“Stop it!” I finally found my voice, sitting up with the sheet wrapped around me like a toga. “Both of you, stop!”
The brothers froze, breathing hard, though Daniel, in his tousled clothing and slovenly state, looked considerably worse for wear than Lucas, even with the missing shirt and split lip.
They turned to me, as different as black from white. Lucas’s dark column of fortitude and fury next to Daniel’s bright-eyed blaze of vitality and righteousness.
How could anyone choose between them, these two gorgeous brothers who were somehow fighting over little mouseyme?
No one could, I decided.
Even if I knew I already had. Even if something more important had now grabbed my attention.
“What did you say?” I asked. “About a senator’s daughter?”
Lucas released Daniel’s wrist and stepped back; something like sorrow flashed across his features. “Her name is Emma Hubbard, and she’s engaged to Daniel. He should have told you.”
“We arenotengaged,” Daniel seethed. “That’s just what this jackass and every other viper in this family wants.”
“I don’t understand.” I glanced between them. “Why would Daniel need to get married to this senator’s daughter if he doesn’t want to?”
Daniel shot Lucas a look of pure hatred. “You prick. You couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”
“It’s a political favor,” Lucas said shortly, though he already looked like he regretted it.
I frowned. “In 2025? Would someone actually marry off his own daughter these days for a political opportunity?”
“He would when she’s pregnant,” Lucas said flatly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Emma Hubbard is three months along with Daniel’s kid.”
Beside him, Daniel deflated like a pricked balloon.
“Fuck you,” he said to Lucas. But it was clear his heart wasn’t in it anymore as he turned toward the minibar under the television. “Jesus, water? What kind of place is that?”
“I requested no alcohol,” Lucas said. His eyes still hadn’t left mine.
But I was still reeling from the other news about Daniel and this Emma person. “Pregnant? Daniel, were you—was this going on when I first got back?”
“I didn’t know it was mine then,” said Daniel, who rather looked like he wanted to jump out the window than answer my questions. “Not for sure. Honestly, I’m still not convinced.”
My mouth dropped. He sounded so cold about it. So heartless.
All the charm I’d ever associated with him had vanished.
“The tests say otherwise.” Lucas strode back to the bedroom and pulled his shirt off the floor to put on.
“Anyway, the senator demanded a wedding before she starts showing.” Daniel seemed to be sobering with every word. His anger had tempered to something closer to fatigue. “Too many deals to protect. Tax subsidies to be ensured. A bill that had to go through. And Lucas here made sure I had no choice by keeping you out of the picture and getting his dick wet in the process.”
