Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
SINCLAIR
I wake up to the sound of voices.
Female voices.
My eyes pop open and I realize I’m alone in the massive bed. I have no idea when August left, but his side of the mattress is cool so it’s been a while.
Sitting up, I shove my tangled hair away from my face and look around the room before rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I hear the voices again, a little louder this time, and I recognize August’s deep baritone. The distinct sound of a feminine laugh.
My stomach twists, and that’s not from hunger. There’s a woman in his apartment, possibly two and he abandoned me in his bed to go…what? Entertain them? What time is it anyway?
Spotting my phone on the nightstand, I reach for it and see that it’s past ten in the morning. I have texts from Elise, all of them growing more insistent.
Elise: How was your date with Lancaster?
Elise: Did he fuck your brains out? Please say yes, even if you have to lie .
Elise: I bet he’s got a giant dick.
Elise: Sorry. I didn’t mean to piss you off, talking about your man’s dick.
Elise: Sinclair! Where are you?
Elise: Please respond before I call the cops.
Elise: SINCLAIR MILLER YOU BETTER ANSWER ME OR I’M GOING TO THINK AUGUST MURDERED YOU AND LEFT YOU FOR DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF MANHATTAN.
I hurriedly tap out a response to her, not wanting her to panic any more or worse, actually call the police.
Me: I’m fine. I spent the night at his apartment and I just woke up. Drank too much last night and threw up on the side of the street. I’ll give you all the deets later.
Another giggle from the mystery woman sounds and I clutch the phone so tight, my fingers turn white. Who is that? How dare he flirt and talk to someone when I’m still in his bed? God he’s the absolute worst.
I knew the way he acted last night was too good to be true.
Huffing out a loud exhale, I throw back the covers and jump out of bed, not caring if my hair is a mess or that I’m in one of his T-shirts. Maybe that’ll make a point—I’ll look freshly fucked and whoever this woman is will know it. Possibly be devastated by my appearance.
Good. I’m borderline devastated too.
I march across the cavernous bedroom and open the door, striding toward the voices, realizing they’re all in the kitchen. I’m fuming, my breaths coming fast, my entire body going hot at what I’m about to see. August having a grand old time with other women. The asshole.
I clench my hands into fists and strut into the kitchen, hoping I look like I’ve had the most spectacular night of nonstop sexual escapades, even though that’s a lie. The illusion will have to be good enough.
But the moment I spot who’s talking to August, my heart bottoms out and I wish I’d never walked into this room looking like this.
“Well, good morning.” The amused voice belongs to his freaking sister, Iris, who’s watching me with dancing eyes. “Sinclair, right?”
I want to shrink into myself and disappear because I know, I just know, the older, absolutely stunning woman standing beside Iris is their mother.
“Yes. Um, hi, Iris.” I duck my head, hoping she doesn’t notice the way my face flames with embarrassment.
“Sinclair.” August sounds surprised and I’m terrified to look at him. I probably wasn’t supposed to make my appearance known. Did he leave me a note somewhere? He definitely didn’t send me a text asking me to stay in the bedroom. “How are you feeling this morning?”
I chance a look at him to see he doesn’t seem bothered by my appearance at all. “Much better, thank you.”
His smile is faint. “Good. I was just telling my mother and sister what happened to you last night.”
“Sounds awful.” Iris is relishing this moment. I can tell from the devious expression on her face.
“You poor dear. I can’t imagine how terrible that must’ve been.” Their mother approaches me and I freeze, my lips parting but nothing comes out. “It’s nice to meet you, Sinclair. I’m August’s mother.”
“Uh.” A gargled noise leaves me and I try to swallow it down. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Lancaster.”
“Please, call me Summer.” She pulls me in for a hug and I return the gesture, surprised at how warm and kind she is. Though I suppose she has to be a saint to tolerate her husband. The rumors about Whit Lancaster abound. If I think August is intimidating, I’m sure his father is ten times worse. “It’s wonderful to see you here. August never brings a girl around.”
“Because you do stuff like this,” August says once his mother lets me go. “I should’ve known you’d check my location and show up here unannounced.”
“Iris and I were in the neighborhood to go shopping.” His mother lifts her chin, looking as dignified as she sounds. “I saw you were at your apartment and we had to stop by.”
“Oh yes, we did.” Iris sounds like she’s going to start laughing at any second while August just scowls at her.
I take the pair in, noting how they’re dressed to perfection with not a hair out of place and I’m a wicked mess with bedhead and clad only in August’s T-shirt. This is not the first impression I wanted to make on his family. Hell, I never even thought about impressing his family because I didn’t believe I’d ever get the chance to meet them. It wasn’t on my radar.
“Well, you two should go on with your shopping then.” His tone is polite, but I hear the faint ferocity in August’s voice. He wants them gone. Is it because he’s embarrassed that they caught us together? I can’t blame him. He seems to keep his private life extremely private, even from his family.
“I suppose we should.” Iris and her mother share a look before they turn toward me, a united force while I stand there gaping at them like an idiot. “It was lovely meeting you, Sinclair. Hopefully August brings you over for dinner soon.”
“I hope my brother redeemed himself in your eyes,” Iris says, her focus only on me, though I know she can hear August growling at what she said. “What he did to you back in high school was just…appalling.”
Summer Lancaster glances over at her daughter with a frown. “What did he do? Oh God, do I even want to know?”
“I’ll tell you in the car.” Iris pats her mother’s arm and they approach August, wrapping him up in hugs that he ducks out of, the faint disgust on his face obvious. “Bye, Augie!”
His mother kisses his cheek and they exit the kitchen, leaving behind a cloud of expensive perfume. I stare at August from across the room, shifting my feet, not speaking until I hear the door click and I know the women are gone.
“Um.” That’s all I can manage to say.
He crosses his arms, leaning against the edge of the counter, his amusement at my bumbling making me fumble more. “What did you think of my mother and sister?”
“They’re beautiful” is all I can come up with.
“They’re a pain in my ass.” He shakes his head, but his tone is full of affection. “I should turn off my location for my mom. I’m sure she told Iris I was here after checking where I was at. And I’m positive my sister had a suspicion you would be with me.”
“Wait—you’re saying they came over here to meet— me ?” I squeak, resting my hand against my chest.
“I don’t let just any woman into my inner sanctum. I told you this.” He pushes away from the counter and drops his arms to his sides, making his way toward me. “I’ve never had anyone here before. I don’t like sharing my space with a woman for too long. They start to get…ideas when I do. Not that I ever have.”
“What do you mean, ideas?” If he’s completely playing me, I’m going to be pissed. Seriously. Though why would I think that? I’m here. He’s sharing his private space with me and introduced me to his mother and sister. This means something, doesn’t it?
It just might mean everything.
“That I’m serious with them. If I let a woman spend more than a few hours with me, the next thing I know she’s picking out our wedding china and making lists of our future children’s names.” He shrugs. “I’d rather not deal.”
“What if I told you I have a list of baby names that I like. ”
His brows shoot up. “Are those names you came up with while imagining that I’m the father?”
“Well…no.” Ugh, he got me there.
“Then I’m not fazed by it. Maybe you’ll share the list with me someday.”
I rest my hands on my hips, feeling sassy. Which means I’m also feeling a lot better compared to last night. “You really want to see my favorite baby names list?”
“I might like some of the names. Who knows?” His gaze narrows as he contemplates me. “You should change into something more decent.”
“This is all I have.” I throw my arms up in the air. “And I’m not about to put that dress back on.”
He tugs on his lower lip, his gaze roving over me, sparking my skin everywhere it touches. “I’ll buy you something.”
“Wait a minute—” I rush after him when he turns and exits the kitchen. “I don’t need new clothes.”
“You do right now.” He barely glances at me from over his shoulder. “Don’t bother arguing with me, Sin. Let me do this.”
“But—”
He whirls on me, grabbing hold of my arms and giving me the slightest shake. “I think you enjoy fighting with me.”
I clamp my lips shut because…he’s right.
I do.
“I’m going to order you some clothes. What are you?” His gaze drifts down the length of me once more. “A size 4?”
Oh, isn’t he generous. He should know considering he bought that dress for me. “I’m more like a size 6.”
“Hmm.” His hand drops to my butt and he palms one ass cheek, like he’s checking it for size. “I like that you’re not stick thin.”
“You really shouldn’t?—”
He speaks right over me .
“Makes it easier when I throw you around in bed.” He dips his head, his mouth inches from mine. “I know you can take it.”
August lets go of me and walks away, tapping at his phone before he brings it up to his ear. I don’t hear who he’s talking to or what he’s saying. I’m too rattled by what he just said to me.
And all the promise I could hear in his voice.