Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“No, she didn’t. But you’re the only one looking at us like we brought dog shit in on your fancy rug, so that must make you the lone holdout… Chance.” It’s probably breaking ten different societal rules to speak so crudely and call him out so boldly, but I don’t give a fuck. I want him to feel like the outsider he’s trying to make me out to be. Well, I want to wipe off that smug smirk on his face with a solid jab-cross combo, but verbal sparring will do… for now.
There’s a beat of shocked silence and then the room erupts in laughter. “He’s got you there,” someone says. Carter, I think? I’m a bit iffy on Cameron and Carter, seeing as they’re close in age, background style, and again, look alike. The rest of the guys I have figured out.
Chance is not amused and frowns hard at the rebuff, but he’s dismissed as Kayla begins introducing us to everyone else.
Cameron, Riley, and Grace—the oldest brother, his younger fiancée, and the teenage girl in the floor, who seems extra interested now that there’s drama to consume and is slow to go to the kitchen with Riley when asked to leave the room for a few minutes.
Carter and Luna—the one who said ‘he’s got you there’, which means I was right, and his wife, who’s watching the show through large, round glasses with a soft smile on her lips.
Cole, Janey, and Emmett—the CIA type with a very particular set of skills, with closely cut blond hair and a shrewd gaze. She has a riot of red curls that the baby on her hip keeps trying to grab. Honestly, the kid’s cute as hell, too.
Kyle and Dani—he shakes my hand, giving me a wink of support before pushing a dark-haired, dark-eyed woman forward. Kayla was right in her assumptions—they both have on jeans and T-shirts, and I see a dog hair or two on Kyle’s.
Chance and Samantha—the tie-wearing, disapproving brother is still glaring at us, seemingly unaware that the brunette beauty at his side is glaring at him.
“Where’s Dad?” Kayla asks after we’ve done our handshakes and waves around the room.
“Here,” a voice says from the foyer a moment before a tall, barrel-chested man appears. “You must be Riggs and Maddox. Nice to meet you both.” He shakes both of our hands easily. Too easily. Kayla said her father was understanding, and I wanted to believe her, but there was a niggling little worry that maybe it was an act, because what father of a daughter would be okay with this? But Charles Harrington is smiling congenially as he greets us. “Scotch? Bourbon?”
“No, thank you,” I tell him. I’d really like a double shot, neat, to throw back for some liquid chill because I can feel the nerves bubbling up inside me, and my usual method of dealing with that—being an asshole to keep people at arm’s length—doesn’t seem like the best course of action in this case. But risking my mouth running ahead of my brain tonight is an even worse decision.
Kayla leads us to another couch, sitting primly in the middle. I exchange a glance with Maddox as we take our places on either side of Kayla, checking in that he’s doing better than I am and is prepared to run interference for us. Well, for me. I don’t think Kayla needs any help. She’s in her element, reigning supreme as her brothers sit back, their eyes drifting from her to Chance like people watching tennis, eager for the showdown to officially begin.
“Are we going to address the elephant in the room?” Chance looks around, searching for support.
Kayla stiffens beside me. If it were anyone else, I’d think they were uncomfortable with being called out. Kayla, though? I think she’s preparing a comeback that’s going to have her brother rethinking his entire life. Before she can speak, Kyle stage-whispers in a video game voice, “Goody Two-Shoes versus The Ice Queen, round one. Fight!”
Carter smirks and says, “My money’s on Kayla, obviously. Whoever’s playing bookie, put me down for twenty bucks.” He points at Cole, then Kyle, whose brow jumps before his expression returns to nothing more than vague interest. He’s apparently taking on the role of bookie. “Ding.”
Everyone expects Kayla to respond to Chance, but instead, Charles does. “You mean your sister exercising her intelligence and freedom, taking control of her life and finding someone… excuse me, someones?” Charles muses thoughtfully before nodding. “Someones she has found connection with? Is that the elephant you’re speaking of?”
Holy shit. Charles is not only supportive. He’s going to bat for Kayla.
The air is instantly sucked out of the room, each brother subtly looking from their father to Kayla before looking at Chance. If they were kids, I’d swear someone would be taunting ‘ooh, you’re in trouble’, but since they’re adults, they fight to hide grins.