Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“I just wanted to say hi, and Brad was in the neighborhood.”
“Well, hi.” I sip my coffee and stare him down. “I should probably get back to work. Don’t you have an empire to run?”
“You’re always more important,” Max replies and pulls me in for a tight hug. “And I think you’re the bee’s knees.”
“I think you’re the cat’s meow,” I say begrudgingly. “A meddling cat.”
“Hey, it’s what I do.” He pulls back and grins, then steals my cup and takes a sip. “God, how can you drink this so sweet?”
“Get out,” I reply, shooing both brothers out the door. “I’m glad you’re home, now go away. Call Willa. Take her out on a date.”
“Willa doesn’t want to see me,” Max replies and offers me a sad smile before leaving. “And stop trying to make that happen.”
“Love you.”
I shut the door and turn to Christian. “Sorry about that.”
“You give him too much shit,” he says and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Why?”
“Because he’s your brother, and he just wants the best for you.”
“Not you, too.” I roll my eyes and move to walk past him, but he catches my arm, keeping me next to him.
“Why do you have issues with being protected?”
“I don’t,” I reply. “I understand family looking out for family. My father was the police chief of Cunningham Falls before Brad. Protection is what my family does.
“But, sometimes, Max goes overboard with it. He was flat out rude to you, and there’s no need for that. I’m pushing thirty for godsake, Christian. I do have it together, and I can sleep with whomever I please, as long as it isn’t hurting anyone else. My brothers have a tendency to see me as weak. They won’t admit it, but it’s because I’m a woman, and let me tell you, I’ve had it up to my waxed eyebrows with being placated for my gender. I have to fight contractors, sub-contractors, and everyone else you can think of in my job to be respected as a businessperson.”
“They’re not contractors,” he says. “They’re family.”
“Exactly. They should know better.” I pull away and walk a few feet into the living room then turn back to him. “Why are we arguing about this?”
“I just think it’s nice that you have family that looks out for you. Sometimes, we take it for granted, and I’m pointing that out to you.”
I take a deep breath. “Max makes me crazy.”
Christian’s lips twitch. “He’s your brother. That’s his job.”
“He excels at it. Always has. We’re pretty close in age.”
Christian’s phone rings, and he pulls it out of his pocket, still looking at me. He doesn’t check the caller id when he answers.
“This is Wolfe.”
He smiles and holds his hand out to me, and I immediately take it. He spins me once, then pulls me into his arms and hugs me.
“How’s it going, Luke? Yeah, things are good here. It’s an awesome resort.”
He’s chatting with his friend and slowly dancing me around the floor, making me giggle into his chest.
His very hard chest.
“Let me ask her, just a sec.” He pulls the phone down on his chin. “Do you have room for Luke and his wife next week? They’re flexible on dates.”
“Here in the tree houses?”
Christian nods, and I mentally check the calendar. “I do have room in the Spruce unit Wednesday through Saturday.”
“Did you hear that?” he asks into the phone. “Great, I’ll have her pencil you in. See you soon.”
He hangs up, tosses his phone on the counter, and immediately dances me around the room, faster than I’m comfortable with, but he’s excellent. Poised. So damn charming.
“Who am I penciling in?” I ask, my breath coming faster.
“Luke Williams and his wife.”
I trip over my own feet. “Luke Williams the movie star?”
Christian laughs. “I hate to break this to you, but you’re dancing with a movie star right now.”
I blink quickly and try to gather myself. Grace always had a crush on Christian, but Luke was my crush, and he’s going to be here on Wednesday.
In my place.
“Are you going to be okay?” Christian asks. “Also, I should add that this isn’t great for my self-esteem.”
I laugh and push up on my toes to kiss him. “I’m going to be great, and I don’t think of you as a big-time movie star.”
“No? How do you think of me?”
His blue eyes are doing that smolder thing again as he effortlessly moves me around the room.
I’m falling in love with him.
I swallow hard and smile up at him.
“You’re Christian, a sexy man who’s come into my life and made it exciting. Sexy.”
He leans down to press his forehead to mine.
“Safe,” I add as he moves in for the kiss of a lifetime.
“We’re both safe here.”
Chapter Eight
~Christian~
“GETTING HERE ISN’T EASY,” Luke says the following Wednesday as he and his wife, Natalie, climb out of their rented SUV. They’re both smiling and looking around, taking it all in. “But it’s fucking beautiful here.”