Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
And now it was her turn to work hard at keeping her face just as blank.
"So it's taking our I.T. team more time to scrub my digital footprint," Ethan finished.
"I see."
Ethan glanced down at Anah. "That's all you have to say?"
"I'm sorry it didn't work out between you two." Anah meant every word even though her heart was still breaking at the knowledge that Ethan's ex was "someone famous". A.K.A. someone she could never hope to compete with, Anah thought, and the realization made her heart squeeze even more—-
The sound of Ethan's snort interrupted her thoughts, and when she glanced up, she was startled to see him smirking down at her. "What?"
"You just found out I'm a billionaire," Ethan drawled, "and you were more concerned about my single status."
Anah couldn't help giggling. When he put it that way, her priorities did seem a little skewed.
Ethan ruffled her hair. "You're a good kid, little Anah."
Aidan watched with interest as Ethan and Anah finally joined them in the patio. The two took up a couch and barely seemed to notice the rest of them. They were deep in conversation, heads bent close, and with one or the other occasionally breaking out a smile or a laugh.
Before tonight, Aidan couldn't even remember the last time he had seen his younger brother smile. Perhaps...six years ago, before Ethan had started going out with Guilia? Either way, he preferred the Ethan that he was seeing now. It was like having the old Ethan back, and if the only way to keep things like this was to keep the teenager around...
Aidan made his move as soon as their guests had left. "Would you say Anah's the trustworthy sort?"
"She'd have to be," Thornton said dryly, "since she just found out about our biggest secret."
Both Aidan and Ethan grinned at this, especially since it was rare for the former soldier to crack any kind of joke.
"Are you seriously concerned, though?" Ethan couldn't help asking with a frown. "She's a good kid."
"I actually think so, too," Aidan murmured, "which is why I was wondering if perhaps we could get her and her grandparents—-"
"Parents," Ethan corrected his older brother. "She knows they're her grandparents, but she doesn't think of them that way."
"Duly noted." For Ethan to care enough to make such a distinction clear was a very good thing, and Aidan was privately encouraged by this. "As I was saying, we could get Anah and her parents to move to Wyoming. Her parents could stay here in Jackson or Laramie if they wish, but the end goal is to get Anah as a permanent resident of Hartland."
Ethan's expression cleared. Beefing up Hartland's local population was one of their high-priority targets for this year, and he already knew how fond Anah was of Hartland. However...
"You do remember she's still in high school?" Ethan questioned.
"So? She can finish high school here, and we can even get her parents jobs. Margery's already on the local school board. We can get her to open up a slot for Anah's parents."
"That could work," Ethan acknowledged, remembering how Anah had mentioned that both her parents were professors.
"Good. Do I tell her or..."
"I'll do it," Ethan said right away. "I'll call her now."
Thornton waited for their younger brother to be out of earshot before raising a brow at his twin. "Are you playing matchmaker or godfather to the kid?" If the girl and her parents agreed to becoming part of The Hartland Initiative, they'd be set for life and never have to worry about money again.
"Time will tell, I suppose." A shrug of Aidan's broad shoulders accompanied the casual response, but Thornton was far from fooled. Aidan was the typical big brother in the sense that he often acted with the unassailable belief he knew better than most. It often turned out to be true as well, but with Ethan and the girl...
Thornton thought about all those times that he was in the same room as Ethan and Guilia, and how they had always appeared to him like a train wreck waiting to happen. Ethan and Anah, however...it didn't even seem like they were running on the same tracks.
His lips tightened as a realm of possibilities occurred to him. It was possible that things between Ethan and the girl would eventually change, but if it didn't...
Thornton was certain that Anah would be the only one who'd end up hurt.
Chapter Three
Anah had gotten used to pinching herself ever since Ethan Blackwood came into her life.
When he had first broached the idea of moving to Wyoming, she had thought it the most heavenly dream. Live close to Ethan and get to see him 24/7? Since she'd be happy to move to the ends of the earth with him if it was what he had asked for, the offer of relocating to a scenic small town in Wyoming would've been just that: the most heavenly dream.