LITMIR.BIZ

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someone else and was caught in a clinch by a friend and then a picture was plastered all over Twitter and Instagram. The paparazzi had fun for days with that story. But the news was out of the headlines almost as quickly as it was in. And days later, Paolo had taken a job as sous chef in Paris and left the country without saying goodbye or collecting his toothbrush from Rafe’s apartment. That was a year ago, but Rafe had no reason to believe that Paolo had left Paris.

      “I’m sure he is,” Rafe said.

      Elana’s eyes sparkled. “Well, maybe it’s time you guys talked.”

      “Not interested.”

      His sister sighed. “You don’t have a forgiving bone in your body.”

      “I do,” Rafe said quietly. “I just consider cheating unforgivable.”

      Rafe knew the idea of cheating was a sore point with his sister, since she was still seeing that jerk-off Jarrod. Rafe didn’t understand why his sister would risk everything she had with Thom for the sex-obsessed, married Hollywood sleaze. Sure, Jarrod was good-looking and probably oozed excitement to Elana...but he was a schmuck. A douche. A freaking cliché, with his fancy car and movie-star wife.

      “Paolo made a mistake. People do, you know. Even people as perfect as you.”

      “I’m not perfect,” Rafe assured her. “Far from it.”

      She smiled sweetly. “You are to me.”

      Guilt licked between his shoulder blades. Sometimes he wished he had the courage to tell Elana everything. About how he’d slept with her now fiancé so many years ago. But he never would. Family was...family. And with their father still in a coma, with Luc acting all alpha and Gabe being his usual brooding and mysterious self, he knew he and Elana had to stick together.

      “Thanks. I think you’re pretty special, too.”

      She grabbed his arm as they walked out from the salon and hit the pavement. Rafe roped an arm around her waist and hugged her close. The afternoon sun was bright, and there was a faint breeze following them as they began walking down the street. Breeze, accompanied by a couple of nosy photographers. But there was nothing unusual about that. Elana’s incessant tweeting made being inconspicuous impossible. Rafe grabbed her hand and kept walking, keen to duck the prying eyes of the media.

      “We’ll be on Instagram within the hour. I can already see the headlines,” she said and gave a brittle laugh. “One half of ‘Thelana’ paints the town red.”

      “That’s such a stupid name for you and Thom,” Rafe said and grimaced. “Nowhere near as cool as Kimye.”

      Elana laughed loudly. “Because I’m not as cool,” she said. “And Thom can be such a dork sometimes. But at least this is nothing more scandalous than a shopping trip. Unless,” she said and gave a cheeky grin, “we head to Oscar’s so you can hook up for a quickie in the cool room with he who shall not be mentioned.”

      “Don’t push your luck,” Rafe warned playfully. “The last thing this family needs right now is another scandal. Besides, we don’t want to have to call in the Fixer.”

      “Ha,” she laughed. “I don’t have the number. I’m not even sure he exists.”

      “He?” Rafe’s brows shot up instantly. “Maybe it’s a not a he. Maybe it’s a she.” His eyes sparkled. “Maybe it’s you?”

      “Me?” Elana laughed again as a photographer snapped a few shots as they walked up the street and headed around the nearest corner. “Hardly. That job sounds way too organized for me. I can’t even balance my checkbook.”

      “Maybe it’s Luc,” Rafe said and shrugged.

      He didn’t look convinced, but Elana wasn’t about to admit she’d been thinking the same thing. She tried to make her voice as casual as she could. “I suppose it makes sense... Luc’s Daddy’s favorite. I mean, besides me. And Gabe,” she added and grinned. “And he gets to hear all the good gossip when he’s nipping and tucking all those celebrity housewives. He’d know who needs to be bailed out of trouble.”

      “As he constantly informs me, he does more than boobs and Botox.”

      “I know what a do-gooder our big brother is. There’ll probably be a HBO special on his work with Doctors Without Borders.”

      Rafe’s mouth twisted. “You sound jealous. Worried that Luc might steal the limelight from you?”

      “Ha, no chance. I’m the bride-to-be at the wedding of the year, remember?”

      “I remember. But he might beat you to the altar with Blondie.”

      Elana screwed up her face. “I really don’t like her. She’s got cold eyes...like a fish.”

      “Or a shark?”

      “Yeah,” Elana said and laughed again. “And she’s been circling our brother like he’s a tasty meal.”

      “She moved into his apartment...he must like her a little.”

      “He’s a boob man,” Elana said crassly. “He likes her assets. I just hope he knows what he’s doing. Imagine having to spoon that icicle every night. She must be good in bed, that’s all I can guess.”

      Rafe chuckled. “Say what you really think. Incidentally, if you think Luc is the Fixer, why didn’t you call him out on it when you had a chance?”

      “I didn’t say he was,” she said, suddenly more serious. “You did.”

      Rafe shook his head. “I don’t know anything anymore.”

      “So, speaking of a special someone,” Elana said as they crossed the street and headed for a small café.

      “Is that what we were doing?”

      “Sure,” she said and chuckled. “I said you were special. You said I was...blah, blah. When are you going to get back in circulation?”

      They were seated and had ordered coffee before Rafe replied. “I’m in circulation,” he assured. “Well and truly.”

      She made a face. “I don’t believe you. And I can’t believe someone hasn’t snapped you up. I could set you up with someone.”

      “No, thanks.”

      “How about him?” she asked and discreetly pointed to a good-looking, well-dressed young man who strode past and glanced their way.

      “For me?” he inquired. “Or you?”

      Elana waved her left hand, and the huge engagement ring sparkled. “Just because I’m getting married doesn’t mean I’ve lost my eyesight.”

      He laughed. “I guess not. So...how does Jarrod feel about the wedding?”

      She shrugged, looking faintly embarrassed for a second, but quickly composed herself. “He doesn’t care.”

      Rafe didn’t believe her. “You sure about that?”

      “Positive,” she replied and drank some coffee. “He’s married...so why shouldn’t I be?”

      His sister’s logic was illogical. “And Thom? Does he know you clearly have no intention of being faithful?”

      Her brows came together. “What makes you think I won’t be?”

      “I know you, Elana. Are you hoping that Jarrod will leave his wife? It that why you’re marrying Thom? To force Hollywood’s hand?”

      She shook her head. “I don’t believe in fairy tales.”

      “He might leave her,” Rafe said quietly. “With the right kind of ultimatum.”

      “I don’t want to,” she said, her voice firmer. “I love Thom. I’m going to marry him.”

      It sounded like a lie. But

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