The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 203

Chapter 203

Sienna

The garage was larger than I had expected and definitely bigger than my parents house.

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It was long and high–ceilinged with the concrete floor polished to a dull shine that reflected the overhead lights.

Several cars sat in neat rows, each one gleaming like diamonds.

There was a low, sleek red one that looked like it belonged on a racetrack, its curves sharp and aggressive. Next to it was an elegant silver one.

Goodness, each car looked better than the previous one. I didn’t even know the names of half of them. I had only ever seen a few in movies or glossy commercials that played during late–night television when I couldn’t sleep.

My mouth fell open.

I walked forward slowly, the heels of my boots clicking softly against the concrete, and stopped beside the silver one. I reached out before I could stop myself and ran my fingertips lightly along the side, feeling the cool, flawless metal. There was not a single fingerprint or speck of dust on it.

I moved to the matte–gray one next and let my hand rest on the hood for a second.

For one wild moment I imagined sliding into the driver’s seat, turning the key, and feeling whatever ridiculous engine lived under that hood come to life.

But the thought of actually driving one of them made my stomach twist with a mixture of awe and pure panic.

What if I scratched it? What if I stalled it in the middle of the driveway while half the household staff watched? What if Connor came downstairs and found me sitting frozen behind the wheel of something that cost more than my parents‘ house which made me panic and I crashed it on the fountain?

No. Absolutely not.

I pulled my hand back as if the metal had burned me.

“Sorry,” I muttered to the empty garage, as if the sleek machines could hear me. “You’re all very pretty. But I’m not that brave yet.”

I turned away from the gleaming row of cars and walked back toward the open gate, the key still clutched in my fist. My own small car sat exactly behind Connor’s usual sleek black car in the driveway.

He had gotten a driver to bring it from my parents‘ home because I insisted even though it was slightly dusty, a little dented on the rear bumper but still mine.

I climbed in, closed the door, and sat there for a moment with both hands on the worn steering wheel, not feeling anxious of getting it scratched or dented, smiled and started the engine of my own car.

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16:13 Wed, Sep 16

The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

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Half an hour later, I arrived at the cafe to find that Jane was already at a table by the window with her arms crossed, one foot tapping against the floor impatiently.

I checked my watch and realized I was over forty minutes late and prepared myself for the lecture she would deliver.

I walked in through the main door and saw her open her mouth to rant but then she blinked, looked me up and down and her mouth fell open like the speech died somewhere in her throat.

“What happened?” I asked.

She pointed a finger at me, like I was a suspect in a lineup. “Who are you and what did you do to my friend?”

I slid in a chair beside her and was relieved I was spared from her lecture and could jump to the important discussion right away.

“Good question. Actually, I came to talk about…”

“And what are you wearing?”

I looked down at myself. “Clothes? How is that even a question?”

She still looked me up and down as I continued. “Now, I wanted to…

“You are wearing stylish clothes,” Jane interrupted me again, “that highlight every curve you have. Since when do you do that? I expected you to show up in your usual crime–scene jeans and some shirt with a hole in it that you refuse to throw away.”

“That shirt has emotional value.”

“I really doubt this is your choice,” Jane looked at me keenly. “So answer the question.”

“It’s a bit chilly today,” I shrugged. “So I wore a sweater. Now, can we please eat, I’m starving.”

I was not starving at all. Not after the breakfast and the little verbal spat between Aaron and Connor but redirecting Jane was a skill I’d developed over years of friendship, and food was reliably the fastest route.

She narrowed her eyes at me for one more second and grabbed the menu.

“Fries,” she scanned the menu and looked at the waiter who’d appeared to take our order. “And a coke.”

“That’s it?” I asked

“I’m not that hungry.”

“When are you not hungry? You once ate two huge pizzas by yourself and then asked if there was dessert.”

“That was a good day,” she replied wistfully.

“Get a sandwich too,” I advised. “You look like you haven’t eaten anything except junk food since yesterday.”

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16:13 Wed, Sep 16

The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

“Yeah and look what healthy stuff I am ordering now.”

“Cancel the fries and get a chicken sandwich without the coke.”

“No way!” she got all defensive and it almost made my mouth twitch into a smile.

“Fine,” I shrugged, “Eat whatever you want. Happy?”

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“Ecstatic,” she eyed me suspiciously over the top of the menu once the waiter had gone. “Why are you so invested in my caloric intake right now?”

“I’m not invested, I just care about your wellbeing as a friend.”

“You’re deflecting,” she corrected me. “I know deflecting because I invented it.”

We stared at each other for a moment, and then, mercifully, the food arrived, and Jane grabbed her sandwich like she was starving, while I picked at my fries without much interest in any of them.

“Okay.” Jane tried to speak around a mouthful, pointing half a sandwich at me. “Now tell me whatever it is you couldn’t say on the phone.”

“It’s nothing major,” I wondered where to even begin and the way Connor had handed me the card, called me his just to annoy Aaron then sent that text message of giving me what i wanted….it had been too much for me to process all at once.

“Just pack stuff and elders being a headache.”

“Sienna.” She set the coke down with a definitive clink. “Tell me what’s going on, or I’m calling Connor right now and asking him myself.”

My eyes went wide. “You wouldn’t dare!”

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