The Switch Read Free Page B

if he wasn’t so
completely freaked out. She always did have a secret hate-on for
Rose. Nice to see some things hadn’t changed. Or maybe not so
nice…
    “If you’ll excuse us,” he said to his
friends, clasping his sister by the elbow and leading her to a set
of doors at the back of the ballroom.
    “Really, Grayson. Next you’ll be having the
butler escort me out.”
    “Sorry.” He released her arm, but continued
to lead her into a private sitting area. “I didn’t want an
audience,” he said, closing the doors behind them.
    “That’s a change,” she said dryly.
    He ignored the jab and walked over to a
small wetbar in the corner. “Can I get you a drink?”
    “No. Thank you,” she answered.
    Then why the hell are you here? he
wanted to demand.
    “Is everything all right with Mom and Dad?”
he asked, turning and leaning against the bar.
    Something in her face relaxed for a second
before closing up again. “They’re fine, considering. I mean,
health-wise and all.”
    ‘ Considering.’ Grayson barely managed
to not snort out loud. He wouldn’t take the bait. This wasn’t some
heart-rending family reunion. Olivia’s reasons for being there were
sharp and intent. She’d never sully the soles of her shoes with
such a visit, otherwise.
    He shrugged a silent question. Then what
is it? Why have you suddenly burst into the shaky remains of my
life, and at Corbin’s request, of all things?
    Olivia’s left eyebrow flicked upward. She
turned from him, making a deliberate perusal of the room. “You look
good,” she said. “I trust life is treating you well?”
    “Well enough. You?”
    “I’m fine. I’m engaged, again.”
    ‘ Again.’ Ouch.
    “Things didn’t work out with the marketing
exec?” Guilt warred with anger. They were brother and sister, damn
it. Even if they didn’t get along, he should have been there for
her. But then, she was the one who’d sided with their parents,
eventually shutting him out altogether when it became evident he
wasn’t going to change to suit their purposes.
    “His tastes were a bit too unconventional
for me,” she said, smoothing away a nonexistent wrinkle in her silk
blouse.
    Grayson thought of his membership at Club
Ten. Then he thought of Marion in her Bettie Page costume.
‘Unconventional’ was the story of his life.
    “Particularly the teenaged girl I found him
with,” she added in a dry but brittle tone.
    Anger bloomed to protective rage, tamped
down only by the awkward, stifling propriety that defined their
upbringing. His shoulders tensed as he struggled not to fidget.
    “I’m sorry,” he finally said.
    “Don’t be. Best I found out ahead of time,
before Daddy spent money on the wrong wedding.”
    He gave a grunt and pushed away from the bar
with his hip. “Who’s the lucky candidate this time, then?” he
asked, turning to assess the stock of glasses and bottles. She
wasn’t there to discuss her love life, he knew. It was only a
matter of time before they got to her point.
    “Andrew Barrington. He works at the
Baltimore firm. Daddy’s having him groomed for Senior Partner.”
    “He’s not doing it himself?” Impossible to
keep a note of snark out of his voice. He turned back to face his
sister.
    Olivia glanced up from her perusal of a
Tiffany lamp on the side table. “He has his hands full with the
campaign.”
    The campaign. Of course. Grayson waged a
silent bet that this was the reason for their sudden reunion.
    “Speaking of…”
    Bingo.
    He muttered a curse under his breath.
“Olivia, don’t. Whatever it is, you know I can’t change who I
am.”
    Her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into
a thin line before she spoke again. “Can’t or won’t, Grayson?”
    “You know the answer to that.”
    “Well, maybe it’s time to grow the hell up
and try. You’re not a kid anymore. It’s time you set aside these
little acts of rebellion and take your place in this family once
and for all.”
    “Whoah - ‘acts of rebellion’