Preferably with a woman in his arms. And yes, waking up and sliding inside her and—
“So what do you think of the proposal?”
Without blinking, Finn promptly replied.
“I think it’s too damn early and we should all go back to bed.”
James frowned at him, those dark brows meeting in the middle. He turned serious brown eyes at Finn and opened his mouth to speak – or lecture, more like – but Finn stopped him before he could utter a single word.
“We should definitely go with the Japanese dealers and their new branch proposition. The Russians sounded too eager.”
James kept frowning at him.
“Or we can go with what you want, brother. You’re the expert.”
“You’re the chef,” James pointed out.
“You’re the president,” Finn shot back. “And you’re older. You decide.”
There was a very distinct sigh as James adjusted his glasses, directing his frown from his brother to his notes. Unfazed, Finn merely gave him a mock salute before a thought formed in his head.
"Serena?"
Their fifteen-year-old cousin, who was very busy studying the drawings of the comic pages she was reading, snapped up to attention.
"Yes?"
"Want some chocolate pancakes for breakfast?"
Serena brightened. "Do I ever!"
Breakfast, then he was out of here. Finn smirked. "I guess we have to go, bro."
Serena was already dashing for the kitchen, probably already sweet-talking their resident chef to get all ingredients ready. The kid always liked her food overloaded, for some reason.
From the corner of the door, he saw James' new additional secretary passing by - a gorgeous creature with the longest legs he'd seen in a while. He could already imagine her greeting him sweetly, and perhaps more. It didn't hurt to go see what lay there.
Perhaps those long legs could wrap around his hips in time.
Interest perked, Finn stood up, ready to go.
James opened his mouth, ready to lecture.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Lilah breezed in with a tray of what smelled like blueberry muffins in her hand and wearing...a dress. All thoughts of the secretary vanished as he stared at her outfit in amazement.
There was no other word to describe what she was wearing except that...well, it was an abomination. Neon-colored and very pink, it flared at the bottom with polka dot designs - which would have been okay if she hadn't paired it with blindingly shiny silver wedges.
Lilah ignored Finn and gave James a very sweet smile.
Dear God. She was anything but sweet.
Oblivious to her outfit, James gave her a pleasant smile back. "Hello, Lilah. Nice to see you back."
She blushed. The reaction brought a lovely tint to her cheeks as she demurely looked at James. Then those green eyes whipped in his direction and a frown marred her face as she saw him remain in the room.
"Don't you have somewhere to be, Finn?"
"Nope."
Her frown deepened. It was exactly the same frown she'd always given him since they were kids, when he basically disagreed with everything she'd uttered. Oh, but she'd always been fun to tease. With a slow, wide grin, he deliberately sat back down.
"I saw Serena downstairs. She's waiting for you."
"She'll be fine distracting the cook."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep."
He could practically hear her grinding her teeth, but she kept her calm and determinedly faced James. She started chatting about this new book she'd read that she thought he'd like, and promised him he'd...expect more. James nodded and said that was nice.
She crossed her legs, showing off more exposed skin and angling her butt. A flash of his hands on that ass – and its unexpected plumpness – had Finn almost choking into his coffee.
James' eyes did not even stray.
She spritzed quickly on her neck, and he already knew what the scent would be. Then she sidled closer and looked over James' shoulder at what he was doing, craning her neck to the exact spot she'd spritzed on.
"That is...fascinating."
Another choke, as Finn tried to disguise his laugh.
Lilah glared at him. Then she pulled out her next weapon.
"James...would you like to try my muffins?"
Jesus. Finn hadn't been this amused in a long time.
"I would definitely like to try your…muffins," he replied in his brother's stead – as innocently as he could, of course.
She glared at him again. Then she reluctantly handed him one, and practically tried to force-feed James. It was a testament to his brother’s polite nature that he merely blinked when he bit on the muffin that had the texture of rock, and choked only once.
Frantically, Lilah got water from the water station and rushed it over to them – only to stumble on her wedges and spill the water on James’ lap.
“Oh, my God! I’m so sorry.”
His brother merely smiled, mesmerizing Lilah enough to have her freeze and stare. Dear God. She was really hooked, wasn’t she?
“It’s no problem, Lilah. It was an accident.”
“Pretty klutzy,” Finn commented offhandedly, trying to chew his own bitten-off muffin. Yep. Rock.
The day went on. It was an hour of Finn trying not to laugh as Lilah kept up with her disastrous seduction plan.
And James remained completely oblivious.
---
It was disastrous. So disastrous that Lilah wanted to bury her head in the sand and never come out. Or repeatedly bang her head against the wall until said incident was forgotten. By everyone.
Preferably by James.
A shadow stood in her view, obviously with no intention of going away soon. As the love of her life has already left the office to go to some important meeting, said shadow could only to one person.
“Go away.”
There was silence, but the shadow was still there. The silence was then broken by a heavy sigh, as the shadow disappeared and the couch dipped beside her.
Lilah, who had her head buried in her palms, turned in Finn’s direction and glowered.
Finn merely gazed at her thoughtfully.
“You really like my brother, huh?”
“None of your business,” she muttered.
“What if I make it my business?”
“You can’t,” she snapped.
“Well, at least let me give my opinion.”
“You’re going to give it whether I say yes or no.”
Finn grinned – a sight that had her catching her breath before she realized he was trying to turn on the charm like he did with all his so-called women. It was probably the smile of a man who tempted you to join his side – and you were sinning before you realized it.
Idiot, arrogant playboy.
“Fine. Tell me your opinion.”
Those long, muscled legs stretched beneath his pants, almost as if he was settling in comfortably. Then he listed them down, voice calm and precise. Oh, but he was brutal.
Her dress was an abomination (his words).
Her shoes were horrible.
She baked terribly.
She flirted like a teenager with weird words.
Her temper was the death of her.
She obviously needed help.
Lilah raised a brow. “And I assume you think you’re the kind of help I need?”
Confidently, Finn inclined his head, a shock of black hair falling on his forehead. “Of course.”
“And what kind of help are you planning to offer, exactly?”
If he said he was going to seduce her or something to that effect, she was going to sock him so hard. Lilah was about to say so, but he surprised her by leaning forward from his relaxed position on the couch and regarding her with a serious gaze. It was the first time that he’d leveled her that kind of look, and it shut her up.
“Are you serious with my brother?”
She wanted to laugh it off li
ghtly, but there was nothing light about her feelings for James – James, who’d carried her when she stumbled and gently comforted her when she’d cried. That was years ago, when she was but a child, but one never forgot. He’d always been so gentle with her, so beautiful, and she knew deep in her heart it couldn’t be nothing. There had to be something there, and she wasn't ready to give up.
“Yes,” she replied quietly.
Finn regarded her for a few more seconds, those gray eyes intense before he sighed.
“Fine. I’ll help you.”
“I don’t need—”
“Trust me, you do need. I’m his brother. I know what he wants.”
“Fine. Humor me. What does he want?”
“Classy girls, for one. No too-colorful outfits and ridiculous wedges. Keep it simple.”
She harrumphed.
“As his brother, I’ll help you by helping you dress properly and say the right words. And cook properly.”
“What does cooking have to do with anything?”
“Lilah, have you tasted your own muffins?”
“They’re delicious.”
“Oh, I have no doubt,” he said mockingly, gaze straying down to her chest – enough to make her turn red – before amusedly looking back at her. “But we’re talking about your blueberry muffins—”
“You perve—”
“—and they’re awful. I’ll teach you how to make actual good ones.”
This, she considered. After all, he was a chef.
“And how to seduce properly. Nice and slow, as my brother wants. None of that hurried nonsense you’re doing.”
“And why would you help me with all this?”
“He’s my brother, Lilah. I want him happy. If you think you’re the girl for that, so be it.”
She eyed him warily. Was he really offering to help her?
There was only one way to find out.
“If this is some kind of prank in the end, I’m going to give you hell live you’ve never had before.”
That slow grin came again, as dangerous as it was dark. He held out his hand. Lilah looked at it, then at him, for a few second longer before she held out hers and firmly shook his.
“Deal.”
She dearly hoped she didn’t just make a deal with the devil.
Chapter 4
The second step to seducing the person you were in love with: draw his attention to your mouth.
Monday was dress shopping day, an event Lilah grumbled about endlessly as Finn piled the clothes in her hand and ordered her to get them all. Then there was the stiletto-walking practice, which she did with curse words filling the air.
Tuesday was touch day, where he discussed with her the erotic points in a man’s body with no holds barred, deliberately milking out the session as he watched her turn redder and redder. It couldn't be helped that along with the embarrassment came arousal, which she cursed him for.
Wednesday was baking day, and it took Lilah three scorched batches before he finally declared it a waste of time, and besides, the true way to a man’s heart was through his coc—
She called him an ass and hit him.
Thursday was Lilah’s big bookstore event, where James was supposedly invited. He was busy, so Finn went in his place – much to Lilah’s disappointment, though she tried not to show it. Disappointment turned to irritation as Finn tried talked his way into one of her employee’s…er, panties - which Lilah venomously barred before anything could actually happen.
“If you dump her and she quits, I’m going to sock you.”
Friday was a no-go, because apparently it was his night. Weekends, too - although she tried to get him to teach her more on Sunday, even showing him her seduction book. He read it for a few minutes before grinning wickedly and setting it on fire. Ugh.
The routine repeated the next week, and the next. On the third week, Lilah refused to talk about a man’s body’s erotic points (because Finn was relentless with his teasing torture) and finally perfected her cookies, much to his mocking relief.
She was ready.
---
The Brody’s annual brunch was usually filled with food to last for days, talkative family members and hyper kids running around, and this year was no different. At this event, the Jones’ were always invited – Lilah and her parents, and any of her cousins whenever they were around. At the moment, only the parents were there, plus her cousin Margaret and a young teenage male cousin that he remembered being a toddler before. Adam. Yes, his name was Adam – and he was following Serena’s every move like a lovesick puppy, with said female being completely oblivious.
Ah. Serena was going to break his heart.
Unless Finn broke Adam’s legs first, if the boy tried anything funny.
Finn kept his quiet observation in check behind his sunglasses. James was in the middle of the brunch table laid out in their backyard garden, talking to Lilah's father with a relaxed expression on his face. Not business talk, then. Probably something equally serious. Remembering Lilah's passion for practically everything that mattered to her (including her so-called love for his brother and her books), he decided that she was definitely the woman James needed.
Besides, it would be fun to see James’ feathers ruffled, for once.
He was in this train of thought when in walked the she-devil herself, dressed in something infinitely better than the horrid outfit she wore previously.
It was a light green slip of a sundress, decent enough for a family gathering but casually sexy enough to perhaps catch his brother's attention. White flip-flops replaced her wedges. Good.
She scanned the area, her gaze pausing at him to tip her head in acknowledgment before settling in on James, warming considerably. Good.
She strode with confidence, a plate of freshly-baked cookies in her hand. Dark chocolate chips, the kind she'd perfected. Good.
She sat beside James and touched his arm, catching his attention as she smiled at him and offered the cookies. There was an easiness between them, one brought about by their years of knowing each other and James’ obvious affection for her – whether it was brotherly or more was yet to be determined. His kindness kept her temper in check. He took a cookie, and this time, smiled in pleasure upon tasting it.
Good.
She bit into a cookie, chewing almost daintily – an action that had Finn scoffing, because she ate like an ox in front of him.
Then her pink tongue came out to lick her lips, and the scoff froze in his throat.
He…didn’t remember teaching her that.
For a split of a second, Lilah turned her head in Finn’s direction. Then her eyes lit up in triumph and she smiled at him so warmly that he blinked, and paused from drinking his scotch.
Odd woman.
Minutes went by, with her nodding at whatever James was saying and lightly touching his arm from time to time. Then her easy smiles lessened a bit as she frowned in Finn’s direction. She stood up, and indicated her head to the right – a signal. Then she excused herself and left in the direction her head had signalled, shooting him a pointed glance as she passed him by.
Weird, weird woman.
Finishing his scotch, Finn followed a few seconds later.
---
Female voices filled the kitchen as Lilah hid in the Brody’s tiny closet and waited for the person she’d just signalled at. His voice floated in the air a full five minutes later, and she waited for the female voices to trail off and disappear. Most did, except for her cousin Margaret’s.
He was talking to Margaret, and her cousin was giggling.
His tone lowered, turning intimate and whispery. So did Margaret’s.
Lilah scowled in her spot.
Silence followed – the kind that was punctuated by muffled sounds, almost as if…
No. Hell, no.
Lilah fumed.
More silence, then—
“Not now – later, Finn. When we’re alone."
"I don't think-"
"Late
r."
Another giggle, then the female voice trailed off as Margaret left the kitchen. Another pair of footsteps passed by the closet door, and without further ado, Lilah jerked the person inside. Then she closed the door and glared at Finn.
“If you touch a single hair on Margaret’s head, I will maim you.”
Finn looked partly irritated, partly confused. Then, he went calm. “If your cousin Adam so much as looks at Serena the wrong way, I will maim him.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“He already is.”
Huh. She didn’t know that.
“He can decide for himself.”
“So can Margaret—”
“Oh, no, you don’t—”
“—and I didn’t do anything – not that I ought to explain that to you. She came on to me and I politely tried to disengage.”
“So the muffled sounds were you trying to unstick your tongue down her throat?”
His expression hardened. “My tongue was nowhere near her throat. I don’t take on teenagers. Do you think that low of me?”
Lilah winced. “I’m sor—”
“Now why exactly are we inside our goddamn closet, whispering to each other?”
Calming herself, Lilah took a deep breath and paused. Then she rushed her words.
“I want to practice this seduction thing.”
Silence, as Finn’s dark expression turned to disbelief in an instant.
"In the closet?”
Lilah waved her hand impatiently. “Yes. Just a few minutes. He’s talking about business. Damn it. I want him to stop talking about business with me and I have a plan.”
“A plan.”
“And I need to practice. Humor me.”
Finn shrugged. “Okay.”
“And I absolutely need – oh. Okay.”
She took a deep breath, not expecting him to instantly agree. But she wasn't going to argue. Calming her nerves, Lilah started.
“So I have this – why are you coming closer?”
His warm body was suddenly very close, but his look was casual. Her back was on the wall, so there was nowhere to go. “Don’t worry. You’re not my type. This is practice.”
Lilah sneered. “You’re not my type, either.”
A Fall From Grace. Mail Order Bride Western Page 58
