than style. There wasn’t any expensive art on the walls, or collector’s items displayed to demonstrate their wealth. Anna clearly wasn’t up to the task of being the lady of the house if this was the result of her decorating skills. These guys wouldn’t get away with this if this were my home.
Green and Blue brushed passed me without a word, and I could feel the dark one glowering at my back. I put a little extra sway into my step as I followed after the twins. My ass was fantastic, and I might as well give him something to look at. He’d be a tough nut to crack, but they all do eventually.
My way in here was sitting on the living room couch next to a golden god of a man. I tore my eyes off the most delectable man-candy I’d seen in weeks and did my best to emote worry and happiness.
“Anna!” I said with a smile. “I’m so glad I was able to find you. I’ve been so worried about you with everything going on in the world right now!”
Green gave a snort, while Blue rolled his eyes, but I kept my gaze on Anna. There was something different about her. She’d always had a natural beauty and grace that was completely wasted on her, but she was wearing an air of confidence that I’d never seen before.
“Kelsey,” Anna said with a distracted smile. “Did you just get back from Europe?”
I waved my hand dismissively and took a seat next to her on the couch. “A while ago,” I told her with a graceful shrug of one shoulder.
I kept my gaze on Anna, but strategically positioned my body to hold the male eyes in the room. Anna would give me a foothold here, but one of these guys would give me everything I wanted. I was hoping for the man currently seated next to Anna. He laid his hand possessively on her thigh, but that would change. I remember briefly meeting him before, and that meeting didn’t go in my favor, but things would be different this time.
“I was so busy when I first got back that I knew I wouldn’t be able to care for the dogs properly,” I lied. Anna loved those two irritating creatures like they were her own children. All I had to do was mention them, and she always came running.
The dark one stepped out of his shadowed corner. “She means that she was fired from her job, had her home foreclosed on, her car repossessed, and was dumped by her rich lover.”
I fought to keep a pleasant look on my face. “You’ve been keeping tabs on me?” I purred. “I must have made an impression.”
“Not a good one,” Green murmured.
“Have you been keeping tabs on her, James?” Anna asked with a look of reproach.
James smiled, and it wasn’t pleasant. I narrowed my eyes at him. Did he have something to do with my string of bad luck?
“Someone sent compromising photos to my boss,” I told Anna as I stared at James, waiting to see his reaction to my statement.
His eyes lit with amusement, and I had my answer.
“You?” I asked in disbelief. Out of all the scenarios I’d imagined, Anna’s friends never once crossed my mind. I didn’t even remember their names.
“What photos?” Anna asked with a frown.
I opened my eyes wide and did my best to summon tears. “They were edited to make it look like I was being inappropriate with my clients.”
Anna sighed. “You are inappropriate with your clients.”
My eyes flashed angrily. “I do what I need to survive. You’re not any different.”
Anna’s jaw dropped, looking hurt. The three men who were standing took a step closer to me. Sensing I was pushing too hard, too soon, I backed off.
“Anna,” I said sadly. “I don’t understand. Why would your friend do that to me? He cost me everything.” A tear slid slowly down my cheek, perfectly timed.
Anna looked toward James in question, and it looked like the two of them were having a silent conversation. I didn’t like being left out, so I gave her hand a squeeze to bring her attention back to me.
“James,” the golden man said with a tone of command. “Explain.”
James scowled. “I originally had the photos taken as a precautionary measure. I knew that one would be back.”
I didn’t bother to hide the flush that came to my cheeks. No one had spoken to me like that in years. Not since I’d learned the