CHAPTER 4 NICK

The look on her face when she saw her glass was empty dissolved any trace of anger or irritation I might have been holding in since we sat down. That girl was anything but predictable. I was surprised by how easily she lost her cool and how just a few words could throw her off. Her cheeks with their little freckles turned pink when she realized how ridiculous she looked. She stared at me, then at the glass, and then to both sides of her, as if hoping to reassure herself that no one had seen what an idiot she was. Leaving aside how funny the situation was—and it was funny as hell—I couldn't let her act like that with me. What if the glass had been full I couldn't let some snot-nosed seventeen-year-old even think about trying some stunt like that with me. She was going to find out what kind of big brother she'd lucked into. I'd let her know how much trouble she'd be in if she tried to play with me again. I gave her a winning smile, and she looked back at me warily. I enjoyed seeing the fear hidden in her eyes between those long lashes. "Don't do that again," I said calmly. After a few seconds' pause, she turned to her mother, and the evening went on without any more incidents. Noah didn't speak to me again, she didn't pay me any attention at all, and that bothered me and pleased me at the same time. While she answered my father's questions and talked unenthusiastically with her mother, I made my observations. She was a simple girl. But I could tell she was going to cause me problems. She made funny faces when she tried the shellfish they'd served for the table. She barely tasted a bite of it. No wonder she looked so thin in that black dress. She'd made me pause when I saw her come out of her bedroom, lingering over her long legs, her narrow waist, and her breasts. She was pretty hot considering she hadn't gone under the knife like most chicks in California. I had to admit it—she was good-looking, even more so than I'd thought at first, and that and other thoughts clouded my mood. I couldn't let a person like her distract me, especially not if we were living under the same roof. I looked at her face again. She didn't have on a jot of makeup. Strange… All the girls I knew spent at least an hour in their rooms on their makeup alone, and this included girls ten times hotter than Noah, but there she was, not worried in the least about going to a luxury restaurant without even putting on lipstick. Not that she needed it—she was lucky to have taut, almost perfect skin. And those freckles gave her a girly look, reminding me she wasn't even out of high school. Before I knew it, Noah was turning to me with an irritated expression. She'd caught me staring. "You want a photo" she asked with that acidic humor I was starting to realize was a trademark. "Yeah. Nude, obviously," I said, enjoying the slight redness in her cheeks. Her eyes shone angrily, and she turned back to our parents, who hadn't even noticed the little dustup that was taking place a foot away from them. When I brought my soda to my lips, I could see the waitress looking at me from behind the bar. I checked to see if my father noticed and then excused myself, saying I was going to the bathroom. Noah seemed to follow me with her eyes, but I ignored her. I had something more important to deal with. I walked to the bar and sat on a stool in front of Claudia, the waitress I slept with once in a while. I had dealings with her cousin, too—more complicated but beneficial nonetheless.

Claudia looked at me with a tense smile, leaned on the bar, and offered a partial view of her breasts. As much as she could manage with the uniform she had on. "I see you've found another girl to spend time with," she said. Funny. "She's my stepsister," I said, and then looked down at my wristwatch. I would be seeing Anna in forty-five minutes. I looked back at the brunette in front of me, gawking. "I don't know why you care," I added, standing up. "Tell Ronnie I'll be waiting for him tonight on the docks at Kyle's party." Claudia clenched her jaw, probably pissed at how little attention I was paying to her. I couldn't get why girls expected a relationship with a guy like me. Didn't I warn them I didn't want a commitment Wasn't it clear that I'd sleep with whomever I felt like Why did they think they could change me I'd stopped sleeping with Claudia for that very reason, and she still hadn't forgiven me for it. "You're going to the party" she asked, sounding slightly hopeful. "Obvs," I responded, ignoring her irritation before I headed back to the table. "Me and Anna. By the way, try to do a better job of pretending you don't know me. My stepsister's already figured out we've slept together, and I'd prefer my father not do the same." Claudia pressed her lips together and turned around without a word. I got back just as dessert was being dropped off. After ten minutes, with my father and his new wife hogging the conversation, I decided I'd played the role of good son enough for one day. "Sorry, but I need to go," I said, looking at Dad, whose brow furrowed briefly."To Miles's place" I nodded and tapped my watch. "What's going on with the case" I struggled not to sigh with resignation and lied as best I could. "His parents have left us in charge of all the paperwork. I guess that means we've got a real case, and with just us working on it, it'll take years," I replied, aware that Noah was observing me with interest. "A real case What are you studying" she asked. She looked surprised, even a little disconcerted. "Law," I said. She seemed impressed. "Does that surprise you" I was putting her in a corner with that question, and I enjoyed it. Her attitude changed, and she looked down her nose at me. "It does, honestly. I thought that was a major that required having a brain." "Noah!" her mother shouted. That little snotnose was trying to taunt me. Before I could say anything, my father butted in. "You've both started off on the wrong foot." His expression was icy. It was all I could do not to stand up and walk out with no explanation. I'd had enough of the happy family for one day; I needed to bounce and stop trying to fake interest in all that bullshit. "Sorry, I've got to go," I declared, getting up and dropping my napkin on the table. No way I was going to lose my cool in front of Dad. Noah got up, too, without an ounce of elegance, and threw her own napkin down, not even trying to appear polite. "If he's going, I'm going, too," she affirmed, glaring at her mother, who started looking from side to side, overwhelmed and upset. "Sit down," her mother ordered between clenched teeth. I couldn't waste time on this nonsense. I had places to be. "I'll take her with me," I said to everyone's surprise, Noah's included. She looked at me with suspicion, not believing me, as if she thought I were concealing my true intentions. Honestly I couldn't wait to lose her,and if taking her home would make that happen faster, then so be it. Especially if it meant I could get away from my father as well. "I wouldn't walk five feet with you," she said proudly, enunciating each word. Before anyone could respond, I grabbed my jacket, and as I slipped it on, I said to everyone in general, "I'm not in the mood for these grade school games. I'll see you tomorrow." "Nicholas, wait," my father commanded. "Noah, go with him and get some rest. We'll be back in a while." My new sister seemed to be wavering. Then she sighed, scowled, and said, "Fine, I'll go with you."