The shrill of a high-pitched voice came from one of the approaching doorways, and there was a blur of blonde as a little one came running toward Hayden.
“My Abbi girl.” He lifted her into his arms and hugged her. “I’ve missed you so much.”
I didn’t move from where I’d halted, staring at the face of Abbi with anI.
If she was here … then …
I glanced beyond Hayden toward the doorway where Abbi had just run from, and there was another blonde standing there. One with the deepest, most beautiful blue eyes. But her eyelashes weren’t batting at me, nor was there warmth or lust in her gaze. Sophie was glaring so hard that she didn’t even blink. And the look on her face told me I was thelast person she’d expected—and also the last person she’d wanted—to see.
“Colson”—the sound of my name dragged my attention back to Hayden—“this is my niece, Abbi.”
“Hi, Mr. Weston.” Abbi waved.
“Nice to see you, Abbi with anI.”
She giggled.
“You two know each other?” Hayden asked.
“Ellie is my bestest friend, Uncle Hay!”
“Ellie’s my daughter,” I told him, shifting my weight. “She’s in the same gymnastics class as Abbi.”
“Ah,” Hayden voiced. “Small world, I guess.”
“In ways you can’t even imagine,” Sophie groaned.
As she crossed her arms over her chest, she hid her tits—tits that I had missed since our last meetup at Lush, considering how intimately acquainted I had become with her nipples. If I’d thought she looked incredible in that silver dress, that was nothing compared to the casual attire she had on now. Her hair was down and straight, unlike the long curls that normally framed her face. She wore a thin, low-cut tank top and cutoff jean shorts—an outfit that naturally showed her curves, but didn’t exaggerate them. I was obsessing over every inch.
Fuck.
Hayden turned toward his sister. “I didn’t expect you to arrive until later.”
“I ended up booking an earlier flight.” Her tone had improved. It was softer. Loving even. “Surprise.”
Hayden hugged Sophie while still holding Abbi, and he finally looked at me. “I’m sorry about this, Colson. I normally don’t have family at the office, but when Sophie comes to town, she always heads to me first, wherever I happen to be.”
I nodded. “No worries. I get it.”
Sophie held out her arms to take Abbi from him. “You’rebusy with”—her head nodded in my direction, but she didn’t look at me—“so I’ll get out of here.”
Hayden glanced from his sister to me and then back at her. “Yeah, all right, I’ll see you later. Where are you going to be?”
With Abbi now in her arms, she replied, “My condo. Call me when you wrap things up with him.”
Hayden kissed Abbi’s cheek. “See you later, princess.”
“Bye, Uncle Hay!”
As the ladies left, Hayden laughed, his face turning a slight shade of red. “Because I know my sister so well, I have to ask … are things a little icy between you two?”
I laughed. “What gave you that impression?”
“For her to so blatantly ignore my client—regardless of whether your pasts have intertwined and what that result or exchange happened to be—that could only mean one thing.”
“She despises me?” I chuckled.
I could tell it pained him to nod.
