Secret Sin

11

“You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, Pip.” “I know, Daddy. Thank you.” He sighed heavily. “I suppose I should have talked to you before asking him to dinner.” “Dinner? Tonight?” Bishop was coming here to eat with my family? Dad stood. “You’re right. It’s too quick. I’ll give him a call and tell him we need to reschedule.” My hand shot out instinctively to clasp Dad’s forearm. “No, that’s okay. I was just surprised.” Seeing Bishop again after two days of silence was too tempting. The tease of his intoxicating presence was too alluring. I couldn’t send him away. “If you’re sure, he’ll be here in an hour.” Dad studied my face as if searching for doubts. I smiled softly. “Okay. Thanks, Dad.” I was glad my father was on my side, even if he was overbearing at times. He always meant well. Dad lightly tapped the faint cleft in my chin before leaving me to my dizzying thoughts.

Bishop had gone behind my back and spoken to my father. He’d disregarded my objections, then brought my parents into it without any consideration as to how that might make me feel. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. The underhanded asshat had tried to force my hand by inserting himself into the equation. I liked the guy more than I should have, but he would have to learn I wasn’t the object of a negotiation. I had thoughts and feelings and desires, and not one of them appreciated being disrespected. If he wanted to win me over, my opinion was the only one that mattered. Not my mom’s. Not my dad’s. Mine. And I would not be bullied into anything less. Bishop needed to understand that I wasn’t the pawn on his chessboard or even the king or queen. I was his opponent across the table. We both had equal stakes in the game, and cheating wouldn’t be tolerated, which was exactly what he’d done when he’d gone behind my back. I needed to send him a message that he’d messed up—show him that he wasn’t the only one who could play dirty. Thinking fast, I dialed an old friend from high school. Thanks to Dad and my love of basketball, that was all any of the guys from school were to me. I had been Queen of the Friend Zone. I’d hated it at the time, but it meant I had been accepted as one of the guys, and it was time to finally cash in on that unfortunate designation. “Pipsqueak! Long time no see.” A beaming grin lit my face. “Hey, Archer. I need a favor.” OceanofPDF.com Nonviolent might have been an odd characteristic for a boxer, but that was how I would have described myself. I wasn’t quick to anger, and I certainly didn’t have a lust for blood. I liked competition, physical exertion, and the strategy required to take on an opponent one-on-one. That was me in a nutshell, but the second I walked into the Revello dining room and laid eyes on Pippa seated next to another man, I saw red—blistering, boiling, crimson licking at the edges of my vision. Gino Revello stilled beside me in the arched entry. “Pippa, I didn’t realize we had another guest. Perhaps you should introduce us.” Each word was laced with irritation almost imperceptible to the naked ear. Almost. She smiled, unfazed, as though the sudden tension in the room had been her plan all along. What was her goal? Was she making a statement to her father or me? If I was her target, she had a thing or two to learn about the Bohanan iron will. I lived for a challenge, and Pippa’s antics only spurred me on. If she was trying to deter me, she’d gone about it all wrong. “I’m so sorry, Daddy. Archer was getting ready to head back to college, and this was the last night we could catch up. I hope you don’t mind.” She placed a hand on the asshole’s shoulder, her words saccharine innocence. I stepped forward and extended my hand toward Archer. “The more the merrier, I’d say. Name’s Bishop.” My smile was practically lupine, but I couldn’t help myself. This was going to be fun. “Mr. Revello, I hope I’m not intruding,” he offered to Gino in a voice cracking from the pressure. This guy was no competition. In fact, the notion was laughable enough to help rein in my temper. “Not at all,” Gino assured him. “Guests are always welcome.” He turned to me with a thin smile. “Please, have a seat.” He motioned toward the empty place setting next to where his wife would presumably be sitting. The seat directly opposite Archer. Perfect. I took my place and noted Pippa fiddling with her hair—a nervous tell. She’d put on a bold front so far, but uncertainty worried her insides. I had to admire her efforts. She was dedicated to paving her own path. Few people knew themselves with that sort of conviction and stayed true to themselves. Reluctantly, I turned my attention from Pippa to her friend. “So, Archer, how do you know Pippa?” “We hung out at school. We both played basketball, so we’d see each other at practices.” His eyes cut briefly to Gino before he fidgeted in his seat. Pippa took a sip of wine. “You would have met him before, Daddy, if you hadn’t been so strict about me not dating.” Archer’s eyebrows rose as he peered at her in surprise. He recovered quickly, but the damage had been done. These two hadn’t been remotely intimate. Had he wanted a relationship? Why hadn’t he pushed for it? Their situation was intriguing in a morbid, nauseating way. Had I not known Pippa was a virgin before she met me, the uncertainty of their past would have eaten me alive.