Chapter 147

“I Kenneth hesitated, his eyes fixed on Charlotte as his heart pounded in his chest. Was it really okay to call himself her cousin just because she looked so much like his aunt? It felt like he was jumping the gun.
He took a deep breath and tried to play it cool. “I just can’t stand seeing a girl getting picked on.” His fingers tightened nervously, but he didn’t look away from Charlotte. His eyes practically sparkled, and his voice was soft-almost too soft. “Especially when she’s this cute, this pretty.”
Charlotte paused, her snack halfway to her mouth. Her clear eyes flashed with a warning that was hard to miss. Anthony’s face went cold in an instant, his glare landing on Kenneth and making the temperature in the room drop. Cute and pretty? What did that have to do with Kenneth? Charlotte was his Lottie. Her looks had nothing to do with anyone else.
But Kenneth didn’t seem to notice Anthony’s mood at all. He was way too focused on Charlotte, totally caught up in her beauty and the aura she gave off. The Gates family genes really were something special. He couldn’t help but remember the last time she’d left him in a cloud of exhaust fumes-she was so cool. He’d seen old videos of Nora when she was young, handling a race car with one hand at fifteen and looking absolutely stunning. Charlotte was even more impressive.
He leaned in a little, trying to sound casual. “Lottie, can I ask you something?” He grabbed a plate of crispy dates from the table and scooted closer, grinning in a way that was way too eager.
Lottie? Charlotte’s brows pinched together, and she instinctively moved closer to Anthony. Her rejection was quick and clear. “No, you can’t.”
The second Kenneth called her “Lottie,” Anthony’s expression iced over. He uncrossed his long legs, letting his hands rest on his knees, his posture tense with irritation. His fists clenched tight. The anger was building.
Kenneth just kept going, acting like Anthony wasn’t even there. He leaned forward, his eyes glued to Charlotte. “I just wanted to know, who else is in your family?” he asked, sounding way too interested.
First he steps in to play the hero,
then he offers snacks, and now he’s poking around about her family right in front of him. Anthony was about ready to lose it. Was this guy guy really trying to steal his girl right in front of his face?
Charlotte hadn’t looked at Kenneth once. Her annoyance was obvious, and she was running out of patience fast. Finally, when Kenneth reached behind her, trying to grab a strand of her hair, she sprang up. In one smooth move, she grabbed his arm and, without a single pause, flipped him over her shoulder.
“Aah-!”
Kenneth, who was well over six feet tall, crashed to the floor with a yelp, pain shooting through his lower back. So much for thinking his little sister was shy or delicate.
Anthony watched Kenneth writhing on the floor and his bad mood vanished almost instantly. He took a slow sip of wine before standing and strolling over to Charlotte’s side. “Good girl. Wait for me outside, I’ll be out in a minute.”
Charlotte shot Kenneth a dirty look, her almond eyes smoldering with barely contained fire. She turned on her heel and stomped out, looking somehow even cuter when she was mad.
A few seconds later, the door closed behind her. Anthony took his time walking over to where Kenneth lay groaning. He bent down and hauled him up with one hand.
“Ow, ow, ow Kenneth grabbed Anthony’s arm, the other hand rubbing his sore backside, his face twisted in pain.