Read Concealed - A Hiding From Love Novel #2 for Free Online

you and Marc had sex, baby sister?”
    “Oh my – I can’t believe – I’m just –” I sputter to a stop.
    She smirks at me. “That’s what I figured. Just because you have a boyfriend doesn’t mean you give up on how you look, Lex. If you’re going to be with him, maybe a new sexy you will jumpstart things, huh? Jesus, you’re not even twenty-one yet. You should be having sex like all the time. You two act like you’re forty. Live a little. Show some skin, hang on your boyfriend at the bar, lick his neck, and grab his dick under the table. You’re going to kill each other from boredom before you hit your thirties.”
    I turn and look at myself in the full-length mirror that hangs on the bathroom door. Here I am, unstyled dark hair hanging down my back, frumpy peasant blouse concealing my figure entirely, and worn jeans tangled around my ankles. Maybe she has a point.
    “Okay,” I say hesitantly. “So what should I wear?”
    “I thought you’d never ask!” she squeals a little too excitedly.
     

     
    Forty-five minutes later, I’m putting the final touches on my makeup as Beth wanders out the front door to stand on the elevated walkway that runs along the side of the building. I take one last look in the mirror. I have on a tight black knit skirt that comes to mid-thigh, a pair of black cowboy boots with multi-colored stitching, and a silver sleeveless mock-turtleneck with glittery threads woven through it. My sister has curled the ends of my hair and put the front up in a ponytail that cascades from the top of my head down to my shoulders. I’ve added big silver hoop earrings, smoky eyeliner, black mascara, sheer lip gloss, and a stack of silver bangles on my arm. I look pretty damn good if I do say so myself.
    I grab my tiny shoulder bag off the dresser and head out to the living room. The front door is partially open and I hear Beth’s voice from outside.
    “So you must be the infamous Gabe. I’m Alexis’s sister, Bethany.”
    Oh what the hell! How has she managed to find him in the last five minutes? Shit. I frantically grab for my keys hanging on the wall and run to the front door. There, in all her flirty glory, stands my sister, yelling down to the parking lot while Gabe and some huge guy wearing track pants and a t-shirt stare up at her, both of them grinning.
    I hesitate in the doorway, afraid to let Gabe see me. But he seems to have special powers, because as his friend is saying something to my sister, I see him lean ever so slightly to one side. His eyes travel past my sister and right to me. He very slowly looks me up and down, and his lips purse briefly before he breaks out into a huge wolfish grin.
    Seeing his face, Beth turns to look behind her. “Oh! There you are. I’ve met Gabe! I mean, finally. After everything I heard about him, it’s so great to see him in person.”
    I gape at her like a fish struggling to breathe out of water.
    Her left eyebrow lifts, challenging me to say something – anything. My eyes shoot over the railing to the parking lot where Gabe and his friend stand. His friend is saying something to him quietly and Gabe nods but keeps his gaze fixed on me.
    “Well!” Beth says loudly so the guys will hear her. “Lock your door and let’s go introduce me properly!”
     

     
    By the time we’ve walked down the stairs to the parking lot, I’m steaming mad. My face is hot, my stomach is jittery, and there’s a shooting pain traveling up my neck and into my head. I wonder briefly if there’s a special term for killing your sister or if fratricide covers it. Whatever the word, I’m going to do it. Yes, after tonight, I’ll be down to only a younger sister, because the lovely Bethany will be dead. My parents will be sad, but they’ll get over it. Just think of all the money I’ll be saving them.
    When we reach the parking lot, Gabe and company stroll over to meet us. He’s wearing a pair of faded jeans that ride his slim hips and a tight black t-shirt