Free ScandalandSin by Lynn LaFleur Page A

she didn’t know how to let loose and have
fun. Her whole life consisted of numbers and spreadsheets. Alaina had lived
with the two women for three years. In that time, she couldn’t remember Kelcey
having one date.
    Emma, on the other hand, dated a new guy
practically every week. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Alaina saw the petite
brunette was still curled up in the backseat, sound asleep. Alaina had woken
Emma at six-thirty this morning, much earlier than her friend normally rose
after the dinner shift as a chef at one of Dallas’ finest restaurants. She’d
grumbled about people who woke up at the crack of dawn until she got in the
car, where she promptly went to sleep.
    “What do you know about this construction
firm?” Kelcey asked, bringing Alaina back to the present.
    “I know they have a sterling reputation.”
She’d debated whether or not to tell her friends that she knew the Colemans, or
had known them when she was a young girl. She’d already decided she wouldn’t
tell them about the incident with Rye in Stevens House. Emma would think it was
cool, but Kelcey would harp on Alaina about having spontaneous sex with a man
without knowing his medical history. “I went to school with them when I was
barely a teenager. I trust them to do a great job on my house.”
    “Went to school with whom?” Emma asked.
    Alaina glanced in the mirror again in time
to see Emma yawn. “The Coleman brothers.”
    “You didn’t tell us that,” Kelcey said in a
tone that implied Alaina was hiding more information.
    “I didn’t know until I saw Rye. I assumed
his father owned the business. It was a shock to walk in Coleman Construction
and learn that Rye, Dax and Griff own it.”
    “Rye, Dax and Griff.” Emma released a sexy
growl. “Damn, I love those names. And you said they’re triplets?”
    Alaina nodded.
    “Three brothers, three of us. Perfect.”
    “Rye is single,” Alaina said, taking a
right on the road that led into Lanville. “I don’t know about the other
brothers.”
    “I’ll find out.”
    “Not for me,” Kelcey told Emma over her
shoulder. “I’m not interested.”
    “How do you know you’re not interested
until you meet one of them? A Coleman triplet might be the perfect man for
you.”
    “I don’t have time for men. Besides,”
Kelcey said, turning in the seat to look at Emma, “we’re both going to be busy
helping Alaina.”
    “We can help Alaina and still have fun. You
are way too serious, Kelc.”
    “And you’re way too easy, Emma.”
    “What, I’m easy just because I don’t shy
away from a man I find attractive? I like orgasms, Kelc. Maybe you’d lighten up
if you had more of them.”
    “Okay, that’s enough, children.” Alaina
turned onto County Road 311. “We’re three miles from the house. Play nice.”
    Emma leaned forward and wrapped her hands
around the headrests. “I can hardly wait to see it. What does the kitchen look
like?”
    “A mess. The whole house is a mess, but
there’s so much potential there. It’ll be amazing when the refurbishment is
done.”
    Alaina’s breath caught in her throat when
the house came into view. That happened every time she saw it. She still had
trouble believing it belonged to her.
    She wished she could snap her fingers and
all the remodeling be done now.
    No, that wasn’t true. If it was done now,
she wouldn’t have any reason to see Rye.
    Alaina drove around to the back of the
house and parked. She took a deep breath and faced her friends. “What do you
think?”
    Emma’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I
love it. I agree with you, Lainy. It’ll be amazing.”
    Alaina turned to her other friend. Kelcey
didn’t look nearly as excited as Emma. “What do you think, Kelcey?”
    “I, uh… Well. It’s definitely… Hmm.”
    “C’mon, Kelc, show a little enthusiasm.
This means a lot to Alaina.”
    Kelcey looked at Alaina with concern in her
eyes. “I’m worried you’re getting in over your head. You’re going to