The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 30

“Aaron, she literally just shoved this girl to the ground…” I began.

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“I’m sure it was an accident,” Aaron cut me off, his tone taking on that placating quality that made my blood boil. “Sandra wouldn’t hurt anyone. Right, babe?”

Sandra nodded against his chest, throwing me a triumphant look over his shoulder that he couldn’t see.

Her tears had already dried up because they were never real to begin with.

“Aaron!”

“Sia, please. Just… Can we not do this right now? My parents are going to be here in a few hours, and I need everything to be perfect.”

He looked at me, his expression almost pleading. “Can you just let this go? For me?”

Let it go. As if I was the one being unreasonable so I had to suck it up.

I stared at him, feeling something crack inside my chest.

“Fine,” I said flatly.

I turned to the florist girl, who was still standing there looking shell–shocked.

“Pack everything up,” I told her gently. “Take it all back to Marie. You can go.”

The girl’s eyes widened in fear. “But Miss Miller, Marie already gave me my instructions. If I don’t complete the job, I might… my pay might get cut.”

“It won’t,” I assured her. “I’ll call Marie myself and explain. This isn’t your fault. You did everything right.”

“Oh, how generous of you,” Sandra’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Spending the Ashford pack’s money like you’re already the Luna. Just because Aaron chose to be your friend doesn’t mean you get to make financial decisions for his family.”

Apparently, Aaron’s words had only emboldened her further to keep taking a dig at me. Well, he might be in love with her, I wasn’t.

I whirled on her. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” Sandra stepped away from Aaron, her tears completely gone now, replaced with a cold smugness. “You don’t belong to this pack Sienna. You’re not family. You’re just… a guest who seems to have forgotten her place.”

“Sandra, what are you even…” Aaron started, but she held up a hand to silence him and he did shut up.

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15:10 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 30

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“No, Aaron, it needs to be said. And based on how your mom is so lenient with everyone, I can see why it can turn into a problem in the future. But not anymore. I’ll be the Ashford pack’s Luna soon but that doesn’t mean I can start taking the responsibilities right away!” She looked at Aaron expectantly, waiting for confirmation.

Aaron’s face went carefully blank as he stared from her to me. Oh boy, I was not going to help you with that. You are on your own buddy.

He didn’t confirm it but he didn’t deny it either.

Sandra’s smile tightened, irritation flashing across her features.

“Right, baby?” she pressed, her voice taking on an edge.

“We’ll… we’ll talk about this later,” Aaron said, running a hand through his hair.

“Later?” Sandra’s voice pitched higher. “You can’t even commit to this in front of her? What am I to you, Aaron? Just another fling?”

Aaron looked like he would cry and the first time in my life, I wished he actually did.

“Sandra, please, not now”

“Not now?” Her eyes flashed with hurt. “It’s always ‘not now‘ with you! When is it going to be now, Aaron? When?”

“Baby, please!”

“Don’t ‘baby‘ me!” She spun on her heel and stormed toward the door. “Call me when you figure out what you actually want!”

“Sandra, wait!” Aaron shot me one last look which seemed a lot like ‘Look what you did‘ before running after

her.

I stood there in the middle of the grand hall, surrounded by scattered flowers and broken vases, and felt absolutely nothing.

Numbness had settled over me like a blanket.

After a few seconds, the florist girl touched my arm hesitantly, reminding me she was still there.

“Miss Miller? Should I talk to my boss?”

“Go,” I said softly. “It’s okay. I’ll handle this.”

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She nodded gratefully and hurried out, leaving me alone in the wreckage of Sandra’s tantrum.

I should have turned around with her and got in my car and driven home as well to forget this entire disaster and let Aaron deal with it.

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15:10 Thu, Jul 23

Chapter 30

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But something caught my eye through the floor–to–ceiling windows that overlooked the backyard.

Someone was in the outdoor gym and because I needed to take my mind off I walked closer to the window and felt my breath catch.

Connor was working out in the huge open gym.

He was shirtless, wearing just his training pants and his body was glistening with sweat as he worked through what looked like an intense training routine.

He was lifting weights and kicking the target placed high in the air, swinging himself around and landing perfectly on his feet every time. He moved with a fluid grace that was mesmerizing to watch.

And just like that the memory of him stepping out of the bathroom, water droplets trailing down his back, flashed through my mind.

But this was different.

This was raw power and controlled violence and muscles flexing with every movement.

Toweled Connor had been attractive.

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