“Yeah. My date tonight. She better be hot.”
Her eyes flash. “Oh, she’s gorgeous. Just your type.”
“Young? Beautiful? Nice rack?”
The flush in her cheeks makes the dash of freckles stand out. “All that and more.”
“I trust you.” The smirk plays around my mouth. “You know my taste by now.”
For a second, I think she’s going to slap me. Instead, she turns on her heel.
“You better not drop the ball,” I call after Mandy, baiting her. “I want every man there to be jealous of me.”
Pausing, my assistant glances back over her shoulder.
“Don’t worry—she’s perfect. She even puts out.”
“Fantastic. You, the girl, and the dog need to be at my penthouse—”
“At five-thirty.” Mandy’s smile is sickly sweet. “Don’t you worry.”
It almost sounds like a threat.
9
MANDY
“The horrors persist,” I declare, “yet so do I.”
Jess snorts. “Sorry, I was on the phone when Little Miss Intern pranced in there. I couldn’t stop her. I’ll buy you an apology coffee.”
“Don’t bother. It will probably just end up all over my shirt.” Pepper jumps up into my lap—well, tries to, anyway. The corgi struggles then gives up and slides to the floor.
“So, who’s the hot babe you found for Salinger?” Jess waggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Also, how much is the going rate for an escort these days? I’m feeling like I need a new job, one that pays me to dress up and go to parties.”
Leaning back in my chair, I lace my fingers behind my head and allow myself a smirk worthy of Salinger Svensson. “Like I’m paying my sister.”
“You bad bitch!” Jess screams then claps her hand over her mouth. “But what if he falls in love with her?” She lowers her voice. “What if he becomes your brother-in-law?”
“Seriously?” Scoffing, I pull Pepper up onto my lap. “If he couldn’t handle Alma, there’s no way he’s going to want to spend any more time with my sister after the charity function.”
Gleefully, I continue. “I can just imagine his face when Lauren’s hanging on his arm, sprinkling her gold digger dust all over him, not-so-subtly telling him how a real man provides for his woman. He’s going to be so mad.” I laugh maniacally.
Jess nods approvingly. “The gloves have come off. Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
No one deservesto have my sister thrown at them… except one person.
Salinger Svensson.
He and my sister are a match made in cluster-B personality-disorder hell.
“You got me a date? Mandy!” Lauren motions me over to my bed, where she’s set up shop with her phone and laptop, posting breakup videos on social media. “Is he rich?”
“So rich!”
“Eee!” She kicks her legs under the covers. “I’m going to get nice presents, then I’m going to get married and have a baby. I’ve stopped taking my birth control. I’m not listening to a guy anymore when he says he doesn’t want kids right now. My clock is ticking.”
Alarm bells. Big, loud, out-of-tune alarm bells.
