Power Play: A Romance Collection by Landish Lauren

Author:Landish, Lauren [Landish, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

After Nathan’s phone call, we manage to get everyone moved into the living room, which helps us girls with the whole lack of a dead body in the middle of the floor. Even Claire, who I know has seen dozens of dead bodies, seems understandably affected by it being her partner lying motionless this time. Carly and I huddle on the couch, untouched tumblers of scotch in our hands, as Nathan and Kyle stand facing Claire like some sort of Old West showdown.

Thankfully, Caleb and Jake arrive in minutes, and I wonder how close they live. Claire has been demanding answers and Nathan has been putting her off, saying he’ll tell the story once his brother gets here.

Caleb struts in like he’s making a red-carpet appearance, obviously confident and trying to throw a few more ripples in the pool, probably to break the tension.

“Ladies and gentlemen, what’s shaking?”

But he catches the tight vibe of the room, that jokes aren’t going to lighten the mood, and immediately drops the act. “All right, what do we have here?”

Caleb’s eyes narrow at my sister. “FBI, huh? You don’t look like an FBI agent.”

“Like I haven’t heard that before,” Claire sneers dismissively. “It’s 2019, asshole. Agents can look however they look as long as they can shoot.” She doesn’t lift her gun, but I see it twitch slightly like she’s fighting the urge to aim at Caleb. “Shirts up. Spin.”

Caleb’s grin is pure flirt, machismo, sex, and eye rolling goofiness all rolled into one. “If you wanted to see me topless, all you had to do was ask.”

But he and Jake pull their shirts up, spinning to let Claire visually check for weapons.

“Pants legs too,” Claire says, all business. The guys slowly bend down, hiking up each leg to show they don’t have weapons stowed in their boots either.

“So do I get the same? Are you going to pull your shirt up and do a spin for me? I apologize for not bringing any cash,” Caleb jokes.

Claire flushes in anger, and for once, she looks like she’s going to shoot someone besides Nathan. “I’m already armed and dangerous. No need for me to hand out free tit shows to prove it.”

Caleb laughs loudly and talks sarcastically out of the side of his mouth, eyes on Claire. “Emma, I like your sister. Probably better than you, even. Not that I like you in the least.”

I roll my eyes at his antics, knowing it’s his schtick to make people underestimate him. I saw how smart and slick he was in Brazil.

Claire cuts her eyes to Nathan. “Spill it.”

Nathan looks at Caleb, who keeps his face relatively impassive for him, although I can tell he’s got plenty of questions.

“Kyle and I have been talking tonight,” Nathan starts with a sigh. “By the way . . . Caleb, Kyle. Kyle, Caleb. Jake, can you go take a look in the kitchen? No touching.”

Jake nods, turning to go, but Claire calls out again, “Don’t touch him.”

Jake looks from Claire to Nathan and then disappears down the hall.

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