Twisted by Emma Chase Read Free Book Online

flinches, like he’s been given an elec-
    tric shock.
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    E m m a c h a s E
    Old women have a thing for Drew.
    It’s completely hilarious.
    he gives Mrs. Robinson a harsh look. She just wiggles her eye-
    brows. Then he rolls his eyes before looking away, spotting me in
    the process.
    Drew excuses himself and comes out into the hall, relief shin-
    ing on his face like a beacon. “For the love of all that is holy—
    thank God you’re here.”
    My lips slide into a smirk. “I don’t know; Mrs. Robinson seems
    to be enjoying your company.”
    “Yeah—if she tries enjoying it any more, I’m going to staple
    her hands to the conference table.”
    Then he looks me over, concerned. “Don’t think I’m not over-
    fucking-joyed to see you, ’cause I am. But what are you doing here?
    You’re supposed to be in bed.”
    I shrug. “Must’ve been a three-hour bug. I feel fine now.”
    Drew cups my cheek and palms my forehead, feeling for a
    fever. “You sure?”
    “Yep. Right as rain.”
    he nods, but his eyes are suspicious, not totally convinced. “All
    right. Oh—we’re supposed to have dinner at my parents’ tonight.
    Think you’ll be up for it, or do you want me to cancel?”
    Dinner at the Evans’ is always an interesting affair.
    “I should be good to go.”
    he hands me the Robinson folder. “Okay. Your investment
    strategies got them all quivery. They’re wet and spread-eagled, just waiting for you to nail them.”
    his imagery is slightly disturbing.
    “That’s gross, Drew.”
    he’s unperturbed. “You say tomato, I say tomahto.” Then he
    kisses me quickly. “Go get ’em, killer.”
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    he walks away and I head into the conference room to seal
    the deal.
    So you’re starting to get it now, aren’t you? The problem, the big picture? I know it’s taking a while, but we’re getting there.
    Enjoy the good times while you can—they won’t be lasting
    much longer.
    The reason I’m showing you all this, is so you’ll understand
    why I was so shocked. how accidental—unintended—it all really
    was.
    I guess life is like that.
    You think you have it all under control. Your path so perfectly
    mapped out. And then one day you’re driving along and Bam! You get rammed from behind on the freeway.
    And you never saw it coming.
    People are like that too. Unpredictable.
    No matter how well you think you know somebody? how
    confident you are of their feelings, their reactions? They can still surprise you.
    And in the most devastating of ways.
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Chapter 4
    Visiting with Drew’s family is never boring. Coming from a
    single-child home, I found the family gatherings a little over-
    whelming at first. But now I’m used to it.
    Drew and I arrive last.
    Frank Fisher—Matthew’s father—and John Evans stand by
    the wet bar in the corner, trading stock quotes. Delores is perched on the arm of the recliner beside Matthew, watching the football
    game, while Drew’s sister, Alexandra, aka “The Bitch,” and her husband, Steven, sit on the couch.
    Mackenzie, Drew’s niece, sits on the floor. She’s changed since
    the last time you saw her. She’s six years old now, her hair is longer, her face a little thinner—more girlish, less toddler, but still adorable. She’s playing with a gaggle of dolls and miniature nursery
    accessories.
    Drew’s mother, Anne, and Matthew’s mom, Estelle, are most
    likely in the kitchen. And if you’re wondering where Steven’s wid-
    owed father, George Reinhart, is, we won’t be seeing him until later.
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    As we walk into the room, Steven greets us and offers us both
    a drink.
    We settle on the love seat, drinks in hand, and watch the game.
    Mackenzie pushes a button on one of her dolls, and an anima-
    tronic voice fills the room. “No, no, no! No, no, no!”
    Mackenzie’s head