Craving The Wrong Brother (Sloane and Knox)

CHAPTER 022 Get Wax Out Of One's Kars

CHAPTER 022: Get Wax Out Of One's Ears

I think I've forgotten how to breathe.

Victoria's words are still echoing in my ears, heavy and unsettling. You'veep Finn

for poser

If you'd asked me two weeks ago, hell, even two days ago, if this was what I wanted, I'd jump at the idea. Find's own mother

is hand-delivering the fantasy I've kept buried for years, telling me that Finn feels the same way feel soothen

But I'm not feeling thrilled.

Not even close.

I'm mad.

It's the kind of anger that burns beneath the skin, smoldering through every layer.

I don't even know why. Mafebecane the offer feels transactional. Maybe becausenoveldrama

I'm tired of being everyone's tool-Finn's and now Victoriels

Victoria is still watching me. Expectant, Calm.

"I believe I've rendered you speechless, she says. "If this means you're considering my offer, then by all merce speechless."

"You want me to make sure the wedding happens?"

"The wedding's already happening. I just need you to distract Finn from doing anything stupid"

There's not a single stammer in her words, not a flicker of regret. She actually believes this is a reasonable thing to ask of

1. me.

She goes on. "You're a very beautiful and strong woman, Sloane. I've admired your selflessness for a long time, but I'm asking you to be selfish this time. And I'm not asking you to do it for free. I'll pay. Say the amount, and I write you a check My spine straightens, "I don't follow. You want me to distract Finn enough for him not to sabotage the wedding, and you'll pay me?"

"You say that like it's such a bad thing."

"I'm offended. He's my friend. You could've worded it differently, and I would've done it for free."

"The money's just an incentive."

"An incentive to help my friend?”

Victoria's expression doesn't change.

"You do know what I'm asking you to do, right?" she says. "You're to provoke a reaction out of him. He already carries these feelings. All you have to do is bring them out. Seduce him."

I stare.

Is she serious? At least I now know where Finn inherited some of his brazen audacity.

Mercifully, a knock comes on the door.

"Sloane, are you ready?"

Finn.

I've never been more relieved to hear his voice, even if my anger toward him hasn't fully cooled.

"Thank you for stopping by, Victoria, I say. "I have to go prepare for the rehearsal dinner."

She nods. "Great. I'll leave you be. Think about it. The wedding's tomorrow. I'll be at the rehearsal as backup."

"Sloane?" Finn calls again. "I'm coming in. Hope you're decent.”

"Yeah," I reply, "I am."

Victoria smiles like she hasn't just tried to turn me into a paid mistress and walks to the door just as Finn opens it. He halts in his tracks.

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"Just having a little chat with your friend," she says smoothly and walks past him.

He frowns, watches her leave, and then closes the door behind him. Now that I can see him clearly-beyond the rage of being propositioned to seduce him-he looks good. He has on a charcoal gray suit that fits him like a second skin. The top button is undone. His hair is still slightly damp, and fifth his mother is now directed at me.

Successfully unlocked!

"What was that about, Sloane? And why aren't you ready?"

"I got distracted," I say, already walking toward the bathroom.

He starts to follow. "By distracted, do you mean my mother? What was she in here for?"

CHAPTER 022: Get Wax Out Of One's Ears

I stop at the door of the bathroom and look back at him. "Are you going to follow me in?"

"What?"

"I'm about to get dressed. So sit down and wait."

He backs off, muttering something and heading for the bed. Then he flops down, eyes still on me.

The moment I shut the bathroom door, I release a long breath.

It's a good thing I already moved everything I need for this event into the bathroom I don't trust Finn not to go rummaging through my things the second I'm out of sight, searching for Knox's gift. Sure enough, I hear the sound of drawers sliding open. The light creak of movement. He's trying to be subtle, bless his heart, but subtlety was never Finn's strong suit. I smile to myself and turn toward the mirror. My book is still open on the counter, but I shut it now. I've got work to do. Time passes. My legs are shaved smooth, my hair flat-ironed into glossy submission. My makeup is flawless-not too much, not too little. Just enough to make me look like I'm not trying too hard.

And then there's the rest.

Knox's gifts are all on me. Every single one. I still don't know if that's a good idea, but I can't help it. The necklace gleams against my collarbone. The shoes are stunning, a deep nude shade that I keep looking down at, unable to stop.

The vibrator sits where it should, in the pocket of the lace panties. Quiet. Sinister. Waiting.

I throw on a simple ankle-length fur coat to keep my exposed back hidden until the right moment. My glasses are off, tucked neatly into my purse. I'll squint my way through the night if I have to. Myopia, behave.

I take one final look in the mirror. My reflection doesn't look like me. She looks like

a version of myself I haven't met before. When I walk out, Finn is lying stomach-

down on the bed, scrolling through his phone.

"Took you a million years," he says, still typing away at his phone.

"What matters is I'm ready now."

"Give me a second. My boss is being needy."

Still standing in front of the bathroom, I watch him. A strange feeling settles in my chest.

I have this sudden revelation that I'm losing myself in this place. Asheville is reshaping me. Things that would normally excite me-like spending a weekend with Finn, even though in pursuit of another woman-are getting replaced by thoughts of a tattooed man I should be avoiding. I have on this ensemble he practically ordered me to wear. The dress. The necklace. The shoes. The mouse-like device that's making me edgy with anticipation.

I'm way too excited about being sexually tortured by a man I should be running from. Knox isn't even my type. He's the opposite of the clean-cut, emotionally available fictional men I fall for in books and movies.

And yet-

Maybe if I leave now, I'll be able to save myself from falling too far down the rabbit hole.

"Let's go home," I say suddenly.

Finn lifts his head from his phone, frowning at first. But as his eyes fall on me, the frown softens into surprise.

"You look... different."

"You mean bolder."

He sits up, pulling himself to the edge of the bed. "Definitely bolder. And not your style. Though it's glorious. You look beautiful, Sloane. Now I'm thinking we should get you a rich tycoon as a husband."

"Haha. Funny, I want us to go back to New York, Finn."

"We will. It's not like I'm planning on staying here forever. As soon as we succeed

in doing what we came for, hopefully by tomorrow, we'll be off."

"I mean right now."

This makes him pause. Then he stands and begins walking toward me. "Are you upset? Was it my mother?"

"No. I just want to be back in the comfort of my own home."

"Sloane, you can talk to me." He Comes closer, placing his hands on my

shoulders. “I need you. Stay in Asheville and help me. But if you choose to go back, that's all right too. I'll just do everything on my own, feeling lonely that my best friend

abandoned me."

"Stop trying to manipulate me, Finn."

"That usually works."

CHAPTER 022: Get Wax Out Of One's Ears

"You're losing your touch."

He smiles. "Side effect of being heartbroken."

"Whatever. Just go downstairs. I'll meet you there in a minute."

"Great. We're stealing my dad's car."

He leans forward and pecks me on the cheek, then turns and heads for the door.

Don't stay too long, Sloane."

As I watch him go, something tightens in my chest.

Maybe it's time I stopped playing everyone's fixer and became a little selfish. If

this party will be about me seducing any of

the Hartleys, it will be the wrong one. There are several ways to get wax out of

one's ears. One of them is by getting poked.

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