Page 73 of Watching Her

“She’s beautiful, albeit a little young for you.”

I shifted in my seat, angry with myself at being surprised photographs had been taken of the two of us. When I shook my head, he laughed.

“Don’t worry, Christian, the pictures weren’t risqué, but I know your tastes very well.”

“Sure you do.”

“Please. You can’t tell me you’ve found the one, a girl who cut through all your bullshit.”

“Women aren’t on my radar for anything but physical enjoyment.”

“Which means you’re fucking with this girl’s mind. You’re still trying to prove you’re a real man just like our father. Right?”

These were the moments I hated my brother, four years younger and a constant thorn in my side. “As I just said. It’s none of your business.”

He leaned forward in his chair. “Didn’t you once tell me that either Sebastian or Xander was the cause of a woman committing suicide?”

I sucked in my breath. My brother had the memory of an elephant. “Unproven. And Xander felt terrible. He almost dropped out of college. And that was a very long time ago.”

“Uh-huh. I get it.”

“Is that all you wanted to share with me or was your main focus in yanking my chain?”

He steepled his hands. “Well, I do love catching you in the act of decency. However, you should also know one of the bidders already dropped out. I assume you pushed hard on the Henton Corporation?”

Now I smiled. “They were in way over their heads. Their financials were a lie.”

“Just remember, brother. We all lie about something. We all have weaknesses either in our past or in our present. You should know that quite well.”

“Is there a point?”

“Only that I know the look in your eyes. You’re drifting into a point of no return with this girl.”

His words made me laugh. “You don’t know me as well as you think you do, brother. She’s just a moment of sheer entertainment.”

“Please, Christian. I’m no fool. Something drew you to her.” His expression would make most people think he cared.

I debated telling him anything else. “She used to work with Covington.”

“Ah, I get it.”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

Kingston stood and leaned over my desk. I didn’t bother trying to stop him as he maneuvered my trackpad, pulling the application window into a full screen. “Wow, Christian. You’ve taken to stalking her now?”

“I’m watching her. Protecting her. There’s a difference.” Who the hell was I protecting her from? The troll on the internet or from a true dangerous predator?

My body tensed, every muscle aching almost instantly. He was one of the few people who I allowed to get under my skin.

“Is that what you’re telling yourself these days?” He pulled back, laughing as he did.

“You’re annoying, Kingston. Why don’t you worry about your love life instead of mine.”

“Is that what you’re calling this toxic representation of passion now? Love? At least I admit to having a healthy appetite of sadism.”

I kept my eyes on him, refusing to blink. Why he was dead intent on getting on my nerves today I didn’t know, but he’d picked the wrong day to do so.

With my lack of patience, the rearrangement for the meeting would continue grating my nerves.