Page 36 of Crossing the Line
Lake and I laugh.
Treasure shrugs jerkily. “You know what? Orion and I were a thing a long time ago. He’s moved on. I’ve moved on. He’s such an ass, though. He just screws around like I meant nothing to him.” Treasure looks anguished as she closes her eyes, shakes her head, and whispers, “He’s just an asshole.”
Lake reaches out and rubs Treasure’s back. I’m surprised my cousin is letting her do that. She never likes to be pitied or consoled. But I’m more shocked than anything that Orion is still able to make her cry. I can’t wait to be alone with Treasure so we can fully explore her emotional reaction concerning Orion Lord. It may explain a lot about decisions she’s made regarding other men.
“You know what? Men suck,” Lake declares. “But for the record, Mason is the only man who doesn’t.”
Treasure and I laugh, thankful for the comic relief. Treasure snatches a tissue out of the box sitting at the corner of my desk. “On a lighter note, when are you getting married?”
Lake rubs her palms together and flexes her eyebrows at me. “That’s why I’m here.”
I eye her suspiciously. Anything having to do with ceremonies gives me the heebie-jeebies. Something about the order and rules makes traditional ceremonies feel like insurmountable tasks.
“Okay…” I say.
“My lead bridesmaid up and quit because Amy is too impossible for her to deal with, which I understand,” she says, flipping a hand dismissively. “But you have thicker skin. But give me a while because I’m trying to figure out how to oust Amy and then ask you to be my maid of honor!”
I jerk my head back, feeling the sting of that little revelation. “No,” I say, shaking my head. “Bridesmaid—okay, well, yes. But maid of honor, no.”
“Deal.” Lake gestures excitedly. “And don’t worry about Hercules. You don’t even have to look at him. I’ll keep him far, far, far away from you.”
“Hercules?” Treasure asks with an eyebrow raised curiously.
Lake sighs. “He’s Mason’s best man.”
Treasure’s watching me with a smirk. “Ooh. The plot thickens.”
“Paisley, my office now,” Max’s voice booms through my office, making us all jump. He is standing in the doorway.
“Well, hello, Max,” Treasure says, sneering at him.
He takes a moment to regard her. Max and Treasure never got along. He thinks she’s a spoiled rabble-rouser who’s been a bad influence on me. She thinks he’s the mere definition of an asshole. However, he would do anything to protect her, and she knows it. And she would never throw him under the bus, and he knows it. In the end, family loyalty eclipses their dislike of each other.
“Treasure,” he says in a dull voice. “Why are you in town?”
“Good to see you too.” We both know she doesn’t mean it. Treasure checks her expensive watch. “And whatever you have to say to Pais, make it quick. We have dinner reservations in fifteen.”
I wrinkle my eyebrows, but he doesn’t see it because he’s checking his watch. But something’s off about Max. The blood has drained from his face, and when he looks up, his eyes appear glazed over.
“What happened this morning at the hearing?” he asks.
“What hearing?” Treasure asks, grinning like she knows her question will annoy him.
Max stares daggers at her as his jaw tightens. His gaze shifts to Lake and stays on her for a fraction too long. Then his expression softens.Oh, my God, he’s attracted to her.
Max is never attracted to anyone. Then I remember that Lake is an artist like Kiera, the one and only girlfriend Max has ever introduced me to. He has a type, apparently.
Treasure grins at Lake and then me. She too has probably noticed the effect Lake is having on my brother. Usually, Treasure would screw with him about it, but I think she’s enjoying watching Max’s discomfort.
“We’ll talk in the morning.” He spins on his heel and escapes my office so fast that he nearly leaves his shadow behind.
Once he’s gone Lake, Treasure, and I look at each other with wide, smiling eyes before bursting out into laughter.
