Free Lush by Lauren Dane

stupid.”
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    Ryan closed his eyes and she winked at Daisy, who tried very
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    hard not to laugh.
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    “Surely you didn’t think we were playing Yahtzee and mak-
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    ing s’mores.”
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    “I try very hard not to think about whatever you get up to
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    with your boyfriends. You’re our baby sister, we worry.”
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    She squeezed her brother’s hand. “Thank you. I appreciate
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    it. But I’m good.”
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    “If he hurts you, I’m going to crush his nuts.”
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    That made her laugh. “Deal.”
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    Amazing how fast a fl ight went when you were on a private
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    plane. Mary made a note to herself to make Adrian something
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    yummy in thanks.
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    There’d been a limo waiting for them at the airport as well.
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    It took them straight into the city to the hotel Adrian had 24
    arranged for them. She loved New York City. Loved the lights.
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    Loved the way the city simply never stopped. She loved the res-
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    taurants, the clubs, loved the museums and the shopping. The
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    next few days would be so much fun.
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    She’d barely gotten her toiletries out and on the counter in
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    Lauren Dane
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    the bathroom before people were at her door. She smiled as she
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    opened up to admit them.
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    Levi and Daisy stood with Jules, Gideon, Cal and Ryan.
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    “We want to see your view.” Ryan came in and everyone fol-
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    lowed. The view was pretty spectacular, she had to admit.
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    “One, I’m starving and two, it’s not that late, especially on
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    West Coast time. I want to go the Empire State Building. I hear
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    it’s open late.”
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    Jules nodded. “I looked it up. It is. I want to go.” She pulled
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    her phone out. “I want to check in with Gillian fi rst.”
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    Of course she’d looked it up. “Good idea.” Mary’s phone
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    rang at that moment and she saw that it was Damien.
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    “Hello.” She knew she grinned, but he made her giddy, so
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    why not.
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    “I hear your plane arrived. We’re making our way back to
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    the city. Do you have plans yet?”
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    “We were just talking about dinner and the Empire State
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    Building. Jules is checking in with Gillian to see what’s up with
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    them.”
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    “Will you call me and let me know where you’re having din-
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    ner? I’ll come down and meet you.”
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    “Sure. We’re doing the touristy thing fi rst, I imagine. Then
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    dinner.” She wanted to see him. Felt that little zing his presence
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    had brought with it. And then she was so getting naked with him.
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    “I’ll see you in a bit, then.”
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    She hung up to fi nd everyone staring. “No.” She sent Cal a
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    warning glance.
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    “No what, Tiny?”
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    Lush
    “Tiny, my patootie. You hush. You have a boyfriend and a
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    girlfriend. You don’t get to be judgy about my life. I support
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    your choices, butthead.”
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    Cal stepped closer, kissing her cheek. “Aw now, I’m not being
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    judgy. I just want him to be perfect. He’s got a reputation. I don’t 05
    want you to get hurt.”
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    Big brothers. Even when they were all adults they wanted to
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    protect her. Which she usually thought was sweet. “We went
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    over this on the plane. I’m not getting hurt. I know what he is.
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    This is fun. This is sex and hanging out with someone I enjoy.
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    I have a life. I’m not giving that up to hitch my wagon to some
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    hot- stuff bachelor. When I settle down, I know the difference
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    between right now and Mr. Right. I’m not stupid. We have good
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    chemistry. That’s all. And that’s all it needs to be.”
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    “Leave her be, Calvin. Your sister is a smart one. She’s per-
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    fectly capable of managing her life.” Jules sent him a look and
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    he rolled his eyes