ietta's almost here," Alexander said

out yourself first." She tossed that back smoothly while arranging her mixed salad o

he 'key players' in Alexander's life-including his shadow, Luca

d, looking a bit stunned, like he wasn't

ut your name's kinda twisty. Can't expect me to remember it every singl

married Alexander, she used to speak to him all polite, always

unpredictable. Best

ugher than before. At least she wasn't the same woman w

sleek Bentl

s he helped Henrietta-a regal woman, decked out in de

on Samantha with a frown. "Samantha, are you pregn

oll. What is this-Game of Thrones?

le and lightly took Henrietta's arm, g

ay after should be your optimal days. I had Mr. C

s Perkins fam

table full of dishes. Her voic

level boss was on about. Ethan never mentioned anything

e. The anger in her tone was uncannily similar to Alexander.

t,

People actually talked about periods and o

even had a boyfriend before this-now she was g

nd didn't test at all?" Henrietta's stare shar

etta slammed the hot towel she'd been holdi

nvested, your stepfather's company would've died a long time ago! You won't giv

et out a s

to say that in front of everyone-like she never saw m

lf-he's my stepfather, not even blood-related. So why should I be the on

to fight back. Her face turned shades of red and purple as she snappe

lowly as she said, "Come on, with how sharp you are, you think I could fool you, really?

r face twisting with rage. "

, you didn't hear about that? Everyone knows Alexander isn'

and stood up angrily. "Watch your mouth! If word gets out, how's the family suppos

ng because Samanth

ls? Yeah, they'd been going around forever. She kne

ily-never touched. Alexander had never had a

ages. She couldn't do a thing about her

t felt like confirmation. Henrietta's face flushed then went pale. "Say on

No way. You track my cycle every month-you even know my ovulation days better than I do. E

by lightning. She collapsed onto her c

ew. There are plenty of women out there, and I'll help you marry whichever one you want. But you can't d

Dire

le so faint it almost wasn't there. Getting u

I'll drag you

th tension-nobody da

st thrown a grenade at the dinn

her lose it, his arms cro

ing to bring him into

heart sinking a little as he looked to

lamb chop, like nothing had happened-mouth curved into t

someone fueled by beachside margaritas and mai