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I almost come across the table. “Why the fuck are you poking in my personal life?”

She shakes her head. “I’m not attacking you. I’m merely doing my homework, and as far as I can see, Mr. Cook, you’re not free from sin, either.”

I barely bite back an ugly curse. “Nia is more than a warm body to me. And I certainly haven’t gone out of my way to impregnate her.”

Except I remember the night at the burlesque club. I didn’t do anything not to impregnate her…

“That’s not the point.” She frowns. “Are you really choosing a woman you’re sleeping with over the man who gave you life?”

I narrow my eyes. “Don’t manipulate me. If Barclay were in my shoes, he would sell, too. In fact, he’d have zero respect for me if I forfeited a fortune for anyone, much less a bastard I’d met once.”

Bethany presses her lips together. “So you don’t care if Lund is only using you to get to Barclay?”

“I still walk away with a billion dollars.”

Her face softens. “You think our father doesn’t care about you. He does. Admittedly, he’s not a warm man. But are any of the Reeds?”

“Did he send you here to make this ridiculous pitch? To tell me not to take a profitable deal simply so he can save face?”

“No, I’m trying to prevent you from having to watch Lund dismantle your business. That’s exactly what he’ll do, simply for spite. He’ll tear it apart in front of your face to see you squirm. There won’t be a damn thing you can do to stop him.”

The possibility that he’ll break Stratus apart occurred to me. In the past, I shoved the notion aside and refused to let it bother me. Now…I can’t deny a twinge of something like denial and regret. Could I watch that asshole disassemble everything I’ve spent years building? I would hate every minute. I also can’t stand that he’s trying to take Nia from me, too. Unless I can convince her to quit before I sign the papers, she’ll be out of my professional reach for two years. If she won’t marry me and won’t follow me to another endeavor, I may lose her altogether.

Too many possibilities scroll through my head. And this woman across the table might be my sister biologically, but I don’t think for one moment her ploy has anything to do with protecting me and my interests.

I need to do some digging, find some answers.

“I’ll think about it. I have a month to make up my mind. How can I contact you?”

“I’ve given you all the information I have.”

With a shrug, I study her, trying to figure her out. She’s got a more than passable poker face. Only her odd gestures give away her nerves. “Don’t you want to know what I decide?”

She taps a finger on the table, then reaches into her purse and pulls out a business card and a pen. Quickly, she scribbles something on the back. “Here’s my cell number. Call me once you’ve made your decision.”

Then she tosses ten bucks on the table, rises, and leaves before I can say another word. I’m left staring after her, wondering what the hell kind of rabbit hole I just went down and what will happen next.

Chapter Thirteen

I’m not in a great mood when I get back to Nia’s house. I managed to pick up some clean clothes from my place without waking Bas. I need to call my siblings, let them know about Bethany and our meeting that felt a hell of a lot like a chess match. But it’s still the middle of the night Hawaii time, so it will have to wait.

By the time I return to the cottage, it’s almost nine. Nia is up. A slow R&B tune blares from a Bluetooth speaker in the kitchen. She’s swaying to the sensual beat as she stirs something in a bowl.

Suddenly, I’m less interested in the things Bethany said to me and more focused on continuing the sexual exploration Nia and I started last night.

I approach her from behind and wrap my arms around her waist. She freezes for a second, then looks over her shoulder at me, closes her eyes, and smiles, hips still rocking.

“Morning,” she purrs.

“Morning, honey.” I try to move with her. “What are you making?”

“Pancakes. Want some?”

“I can think of other things I want far more.” I slide one hand down from her waist, over her stomach, then brush my fingers across her pajamas until I’m cupping her pussy through the cotton.

“Hmm. I like that. But I have to eat something first. You wore me out last night.”

A low laugh breaks from my chest. “Having trouble keeping up?”