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Carina tried not to glower as she hid in the entryway to the kitchen and spied "What’s up, sweetie?" Maggie asked "You look pissed"
She cleared away her cranky expression and forced a s out Max’s flavor of the week This one looks serious"
"Hie stuck her head out of the kitchen and watched as the men chatted and Max made the introductions "Oh, that’s Victoria Windsor Her daddy is duke of so, so she’s some type of royalty Max had a few dates with her before She must be back in town"
Carina blinked Her hatred swarmed to monstrous proportions "Oh"
Her sister-in-law sharpened her gaze and her claws "Want et rid of her? Just say the word and I’ll blah escaped her lips "No, of course not I told you I’ in the air "Yeah, and next I’ll sell you the Brooklyn Bridge"
"Why would I buy a bridge?"
Maggie waved her hand "Neverabout our ridiculous American expressions" She lifted the salad off the counter and carried it to the dining rooe open space held an oversized cherrywood table, with fashionable leather seats, and a learabbed a few bottles of wine from the full bar in the corner The for, and gorgeous watercolors of Tuscan landscapes adorning the walls Fresh flowers made up the centerpiece Fehout her brother’s once bachelor mansion, and Carina loved the contrast of soft and hard, sih the house
Alexa waddled in and groaned "I ine so bad I can taste it You guys better bring me a bottle when you visit at the hospital Who’s that with Max?"
"Seeie drawled "Name is Victoria, Max’s current date"
Alexa shuddered "She’s too skinny I don’t like her"
Satisfaction pulsed through her system at the declaration Anyone who didn’t eat was suspect in the fah and she’s actually nice Maybe it’s a sign"
Carina gritted her teeth Da with a frikkin princess she would have at least worn a dress She’d donned a pair of casual jeans, white tank, and Keds Knowing she looked about twelve, she cursed her stupidity Wo up their game Round one to the bitch
The clatter of heels echoed and Max appeared in the dining rooain, and nodded at her as if they never had their tongues down each other’s mouths "Carina, this is Victoria Carina is a close family friend"
She cocked her head "Yep Real close Nice to meet you, Vicky"
The woave her credit when she nodded "Lovely to meet Max’s family The last time I was in town it was too brief, and we only did for?" Bloody red nails stroked his arer"
Max smiled, but she saw the humor didn’t reach his eyes He al to prove a point that there’d never be anything between theht in the eye and res she used to pick up ould tilt their heads to avoid full contact To avoid the truth of their circumstances Denial esome in all species
Nick strolled in with a platter of penne alla vodka "Hope everyone is hungry" Carina bit her lip as the woure, but she led the charge and rubbed her hands together
"Bring on the carbs, boys" Maggie and Alexa grinned and they sat at the table Carina’s gut told her there was a daht her to dinner, and she was about to find out "So, Victoria, what do you do?"
"Mostly charity work at this point I graduated fro wasn’t as satisfying as helping I cofounded a children’s orphanage in London"
Max straightened up in his chair as if about to make a presentation "Victoria is both educated and street savvy Her foundation helps hundreds of teens with nowhere left to go Once they hit a level in the systeer help"
Alexa nodded "Yeah, like that Batht Rises, remember, Nick? The Bruce Wayne Foundation explained that problehed at his wife’s ability to relate everything to books, movies, or poetry
Victoria ducked her head and said to Max, "Darling, you flatter me I had a safety cushion behind me You worked your way up to the top, so you deserve all the kudos"
Carina wondered if she’d get a cavity from all the sweetness between them Yet, he never touched her Max was always affectionate, especially toward sos for How many times had she watched him pet and fondle his escorts? But he kept his distance as if he dined with royalty rather than family Hands flat on the table Respect and adn of lust to tu