Page 14 of Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
The about-our-age-blond guy looked like he stepped off the cover of a California surfing magazine. Rolled sleeves held up his otherwise loose long white shirt over cargo shorts. A glance at his feet proved he wore the kind of expensive sandals made to look cheaper. His slightly too long hair fell over his brown eyes in a way I didn’t doubt women found charming.
“Well,obviously. Then again, the text you sent me this morning was intended to get me up and moving fast. This her? I mean, clearly it is. The girl you were taking to the library, right?” He smiled at me but there was no mirth in his gaze. It only took him a second too long to offer his hand to shake. “Jeremy Lent.”
I blinked.Jeremy Lent, Julian’s twin brother. He’d said his brother was blond and he wasn’t lying. Bleach blond would be a better description. Despite them being about the same height, Julian’s dark, chocolate hair seemed almost black, his eyes a brighter blue compared to his brother’s brown.They really don’t look anything alike.
I never would’ve guessed they were brothers as Julian had said was the case.
I shook his hand. “Hi. I’m Alatheia Winder.” His fingers were callused, which surprised me because his shoes said he didn’t do much besides laze about. Julian’s had been, too. What did they do to earn the roughness? I pulled my hand back as quickly as would be considered polite.
“So, you’re the girl who shares my brother’s incessant interest in this place?” His gaze roamed dismissively over the palatial library.
Julian shook his head. “Go easy. You know you’re not upset with her. I’m your target.”
He’s upset? With me?I blinked twice, not sure what Julian meant. Wasn’t it moments ago, I sat peacefully reading? Facing off with an angry twin who was, I remembered suddenly, Julian’s ride or die was a jarring change of pace.
Deciding none of it had anything to do with me, I tried to make my exit. I held the book to my chest and turned to leave.
“Is she leaving?” Jeremy asked Julian.
Julian practically snarled, “Probably. She tends to be a little skittish, and you’re at your worst at the moment. Thanks for that.”
Yep. I am out of here. The door closed behind me with a satisfying click.
5
Imade it outside before it occurred to me that I didn’t know how to get back home. I had a little cash, because Dina had insisted I have some on me today. I could find a taxi to get home, probably. I couldn’t walk—I had no clue which way to go, nor did I know how to navigate the subway. No phone of my own meant I couldn’t just use a rideshare service, either. I swallowed, shaking my suddenly sweaty palms and taking a deep breath. It wasn’t like I was stranded. I would just find a taxi. I spotted a few parked nearby, so I walked toward them.
“Hey!” A hand grabbed my arm, and instinctively I jerked free. I turned and sighed out a breath of pure adrenaline when I saw Jeremy. At least I knew what to expect from his type—the ultra-rich, the ones who acted like they were allergic to people like me. They wanted me to disappear, as if I should be punished for even getting to see inside their special bubble.
I swallowed. I knew his type, but that meant I also had armor against him. “What?”
I wondered if he would spout some manly speech about how I should stay away from his brother.Like it is my fault. For whatever reason, Julian decided to step out of line by spendingtime with me, but I fully expected Jeremy to bring our time together to an abrupt end. I got it. I could have predicted the dialogue if I gave it more than a few seconds of thought. It was okay; I would stop seeing him. Neither of them could change their grandmother, but she would probably be considered eccentric anyway. Besides, I doubted she would care what her grandsons thought.
We didn’t need to have the conversation, though.
“Don’t run away.” He held my eye contact. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.”He totally did. But I wasn’t willing to give him any more ammo.Better if I just go away. Julian appeared on the stairs behind him, so I quickly added, “I’m going to go. Don’t worry. None of you have to see me again. I’m still going to see your grandmother because we’re working on a project together, but I can stay away from your brother. Just let me find a cab and you can get on with your life.”
Jeremy’s brow crumpled. “What project? Never mind. It’s not important right now. You can tell me all about it over dinner. I’m sorry if I gave you a bad first impression. My attitude had nothing to do with you, so let’s just go from there? Julian mentioned you planned to go for steak. I love steak. They like me better over there than they do him anyway.”
He showed me a lot of straight, white teeth when his lips curled into a smile. I recognized the illusion of the gesture and knew despite Julian seeming so kind, he grew up in the same world as this guy. Jeremy didn’t bother with the pretense. Jeremy was a predator.
I shook my head. “No, but thanks. I’m just looking for a cab.” I nodded toward the nearby taxis.
“It would be easier to order a car, but I really wish you wouldn’t go. Come on, give me a second chance to make a firstimpression.” He smiled again, a somewhat more sincere gesture, if not by much.
“She doesn’t have a phone.” Julian sighed, reminding me of his presence. I jumped, surprised I forgot he was there.
“Alatheia, this is my twin brother Jeremy, and he’s not usually such an ass. He’s mad at me because I left him in the Hamptons with our family and didn’t come back. I texted him that we were going out today, so he figured you might be my excuse for not going back to the Hamptons.” He shot Jeremy a look. “I’m hoping he’s realized the situation isn’t what he expected. Jeremy, this is Alatheia. She lives in the building with Granny and is working for her this summer. Alatheia lives with her aunt, Tricia Samuels. The situation is complicated, though, so I’m trying to show Alatheia I’m not an asshole. Stop fucking this up for me.”
Another look passed between them. Julian added, “Seriously. It’s important.”
The city screamed around us, New York never truly silent. Honking, skidding of cars, airbrakes and more filled the air around us as Jeremy stared at Julian. A light mist hit my face, and I wiped it away, wondering if it was the first hit of a coming downpour.
“I see.” He nodded and then looked back at me, one brow cocked. “Yeah … Sorry. It’s complicated. Let’s have dinner. I’ll do better. I’m actually nicer than he is, believe it or not.”
Julian slid his arm around my shoulders. “He’s not. He’s absolutely not.”
