Page 249 of Damaged Mogul
“She didn’t.”
“Yes, she did.”
“I was worried out of my fucking mind.”
“I’m surprised you had time to worry about little ol’ me, considering you were enjoying Stockholm with the love of your life.” I bat my eyelashes to emphasize my point.
“Stop saying that.”
“It’s the truth.”
He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Have you ever heard of the expression smoke and mirrors?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“That’s why you and I are shouting at each other.”
“No. We’re shouting at each other because you should be in Sweden instead of here pestering me. I came here because Ineeded some alone time. Yet, here you are invading my space.”
“Whatever you saw on that video clip your father showed you was smoke and mirrors.”
It’s a struggle to maintain the expression of indifference on my face. “I thought you were different, but you’re no different than every other cheater out there. My father, included?—”
“Don’t you dare put me in the same bucket as Fisher Edgington.”
I flinch at his tone.
He runs his hands through his thick, brown hair. “I’m not a cheater.” His green eyes meet mine. “The woman—and for the record, I didn’t even know what the hell tawny brown skin meant until Nadine started throwing it around like confetti––”
“That’s how they say it in romance books.” I wince.
His lips flatten in a thin line. “The woman in the video is my sister?—”
“What do you mean she’s your sister?”
“I mean exactly that.”
I’m so shocked, I step back, but since I’m still standing on the stairs, I land on my ass.
Ouch.
Gage is by my side in a flash.
“Careful, angel.”
“Don’t touch me and stop calling me that.”
“This is no way to have a conversation. Can you please put down your weapons for a minute so we can talk as opposed to talking over each other?”
I consider him for a long beat.
He extends a hand.
Conflict bats its wings inside of me.
A few seconds tick by as I stare at his hand.
I accept it.
