Falling For His Proper Mistress Read Free

the corner of his eye Guy watched her intercept a tall, well-built stranger. His mouth twisted as she flung her arms around the man and kissed him on the cheek, before stepping away with a beaming smile.
    It certainly hadn’t taken her long to find company.
    â€œWho’s the man beside Avery Lancaster?” he demanded. His twin knew everyone worth knowing. Blake’s networking skills and business acumen were unsurpassed.
    â€œLooks familiar.” Blake frowned with concentration. He snapped his fingers. “Got it. A vintner. From California—I think. But I can’t recall his name.”
    â€œWhich winery is he with? Does he grow good grapes?” It seemed important to establish a flaw in the stranger who stood too close to Avery for Guy’s comfort.
    Blake shook his head. “Can’t remember. It will come to me. Why the interest?”
    Guy refused to admit that he was fishing. Whoever Avery’s quarry was, his highly polished Italian shoes and the avant-garde designer-label tuxedo he wore were a testimony to his wealth. It would be good to know that he had some weakness that could be exposed when needed. “Always good to know who’s making the best wines.”
    â€œInformation always gives us an edge over the competition,” agreed Blake.
    At that moment Avery threw her head back and laughed at something the Californian said. Her earrings danced and her eyes sparkled.
    Unexpectedly, anger ignited in Guy’s belly.
    He swung away and told himself he should be relieved to be rid of a gold digger like Avery. So why the hell was he so damned annoyed? He’d always been easygoing about relationships, shrugging philosophically when they ended. And usually remaining friends with his former lovers.
    But this time it was different.
    Blake asked him something. He grunted his assent without any idea about what he’d agreed to. Then he told himself Avery had declared war by running out on him in New York without an explanation of why she’d seduced his business partner, his friend. He’d deserved to know. She might think it was over between them. But he wasn’t through with her yet.
    Not by a long shot.
    No one betrayed him, then ran out on him…and Avery was about to learn that.
    When Erica joined him and Blake, Guy shifted to get a clear view of Avery again as she accepted a glass of champagne that a waiter offered. She didn’t take a sip.
    A heartbeat later, Avery’s head turned his way. Guy found himself blurting out to Erica that she’d done a great job with tonight’s cocktail party before Avery could catch him staringat her with puppy-dog eyes. He didn’t even notice his half sister’s flush of surprised pleasure or Blake glaring daggers at him, reflecting the uneasy relationship between the Jarrod brothers and their new-found half-sister.
    Another furtive glance showed that Avery had set her untouched glass of champagne down on the edge of the table behind her and was talking, gesturing with both her hands to illustrate what she was saying. When her fingertips settled on her companion’s jacket sleeve, anger stabbed deep in Guy’s chest. Forgetting to pretend disinterest, he assessed the easy familiarity of the gesture through narrowed, bitter eyes.
    Maybe not a stranger after all.
    A former lover? Someone she’d been pursuing even while she passed time in his own bed?
    Bile rose in the back of Guy’s throat.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    Guy started. Erica was gazing at him with concerned eyes.
    He glanced around.
    â€œDon’t worry, Blake’s not here. He’s gone to fetch me a glass of water. I’m hot and thirsty. It’s been a long day.”
    That made him feel curiously uncomfortable. He hadn’t been aware of Erica’s discomfort. Or his twin’s departure. Because he’d been too damned busy devouring Avery with his eyes. Was he so transparent that even the half sister