Loved by You Read Free Page A

decaying as she got older. “Bijou, have you seen your sister? She’s not in the carriage house.”
    She resisted glancing to her right. “I haven’t seen her in a bit. Why?”
    “I invited someone over to meet her.” Her mom checked her watch. “He’s waiting in the living room, and I haven’t been able to find her. I don’t want her to stand him up like she did the nice boy I invited over yesterday.”
    She darted a glance at her sister, who shook her head so hard her hair flipped over her face. Sighing, Bijou returned her attention to Lara. “I’ll look for her, Mom.”
    “Thank you, love.” She blew a kiss and left.
    After checking to make sure the coast was clear, KT scrambled out from behind the counter. “Later, dude.”
    “Wait.” Flipping onto her stomach, she grabbed her sister’s leg as she rushed by. “Where are you going?”
    “To Scott’s. Duh.”
    “Scott’s on his honeymoon.”
    “It doesn’t matter. I’ll go hide in his house. Half the time I never see him anyway.”
    “What about the guy in the living room?”
    “You go see him.”
    Bijou shook her head, sitting up. “He’s here for you .”
    “Then he’s going to be waiting a long time,” KT said over her shoulder as she strode out of the gym.
    “You owe me,” she yelled after her sister, getting up from the floor. “ Big .”
    All she heard was the quiet whoosh of the door closing.
    “Fine.” She drank a swig of water, grabbed her hand towel, and dabbed at her face on her way downstairs.
    Bijou stumbled on the unsuspecting guy wandering in the hallway looking at the platinum records lining the entryway. She pasted a smile on her face and went to tell him KT wasn’t interested in dating him, cursing her mom for feeding these poor men to the wolves like this.
    Though this one, at least, looked good from behind. His faded jeans molded to him perfectly, and his black shirt showed off wide shoulders.
    He looked up as she approached, and she was struck still by his ultra-blue eyes. She blinked, feeling like she’d been slammed into a wall.
    Only then she saw the details—the thick leather necklace around his neck, his artfully messed hair, and just enough five o’clock shadow to look disreputable without being slovenly—and she frowned. He was so her type.
    Which made him all wrong for her.
    She straightened her spine and headed for him.
    He pointed to her parents’ records as she approached. “This is amazing,” he said.
    She glanced at the gleaming gold and platinum discs. One day … One day. She nodded. “It’s a life’s work.”
    “It’s a good amount of work.” He smiled at her. “Are you Karma?”
    She laughed, and then she laughed more; the thought of her being her sister was so ridiculous.
    “You have a great laugh, even when it’s at my expense.” Still smiling, looking more interested, he held his hand out. “Will Shaw.”
    “Bijou Taylor, Karma’s younger and more charming sister.” She shook his hand, ignoring the shivers that went up her arm and down her spine. She let go and stepped back.
    He looked beyond her. “Is Karma on the way?”
    “No.”
    He didn’t bat a lash. “Will she be on her way?”
    “I’ll just be upfront, because you seem like a nice guy.” Bijou put her hand on his arm. Strong. Ropy. Hot. She shook her head to clear it rather than in reply to his question. “KT sent me to run interference. I’m sure if she met you, she’d like you, but she’s not interested right now.”
    He frowned. “Lara led me to believe that KT had signed on to the idea.”
    “Mom can be overly optimistic.” So he wouldn’t feel bad, she added, “It’s not you.”
    “It’s her?” he asked with a grin.
    “Totally. You’re attractive and everything—”
    “You think so?”
    She sighed. “Unfortunately.”
    He arched his brow.
    “But don’t get any ideas,” she said quickly, raising her hand, “because I’m not interested in dating anyone now, either.”
    “So the Taylor