Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“How long is the drive?” she asked when I buckled her in.
I hesitated. “Twelve hours.”
I didn’t mention we’d have to cut through the mountains.
She turned her eyes forward, resigned. “Any chance you’ve got a change of clothes for me? I don’t want to be in this dress another second.”
I didn’t. All I had was a bottle of water, which she took and gulped down.
Her haunting eyes locked on mine, full of love, and it came out as a half-truth. “I guess I’ll have to ride naked.”
Her statement was so unexpected, so needed, it punched a relieved laugh from my center. “You won’t hear any complaints from me.”
I put my mouth on her then, my whole body flooding with warmth at the connection. It was one I’d never get enough of, and I wanted to make it stronger. Lasting.
“When we get to Munich, you’ll need to change your name,” I said.
“Okay.” It came out borderline annoyed because I’d paused kissing her.
“And I figured,” I whispered against her lips, “you could take mine. If you wanted to.”
49
TEN MONTHS FROM NOW
SHAWN
My sister-in-law made a valiant attempt, but she butchered my favorite language.
“Your German is improving,” I remarked after the waiter left.
“Is it?” L asked, brightening.
“No.” I laughed. “Not at all.”
She rolled her eyes at my joke.
There was no way she could go back to America. Even though Frey was gone, the people he worked for were still searching for her, and it was easier for Jason to hide his wife across an ocean.
My brother gave up his job for the woman he loved, and while I could never do that, I respected it. I’d put him in charge of security at the brewery headquarters, and it was a surprisingly good fit. Deep down, he was an Osterhägen, after all.
L had given up her career too . . . sort of. There had been discussion about whether she could keep performing, and after an audition and an interview, she was announced as the technical director of Munich’s Premiere Ballet. Under her new name, Liesl Dunn.
Apparently, L had been a big fan of The Sound of Music growing up. It didn’t seem to matter much to change her first name. My brother allowed everyone else to use her nickname.
She glanced at her husband. “Did you tell him he’s not a third wheel tonight?”
“Oh?” I asked. “I thought Mom was in New York.”
His expression was cryptic and unsettling. “Not Mom.”
My confusion disappeared when a woman made her way to our table. She was tall. Blonde. American. I could tell because they had an attitude I could spot a hundred meters away and was weirdly drawn to.
And this American? She was absolutely gorgeous.
I rose to my feet, although I was unsure why, until I noticed everyone else at the table was standing. She brushed a kiss on Jason’s cheek, either overly friendly or trying to be European, and then turned to hug L tightly. The resemblance was obvious.
“You must be Kara.” I held out a hand. “I’m Shawn Dunn.”
“Yes.” Her handshake was surprisingly firm, as if refusing to be dominated by mine. “I’ve been warned about you.”
I grinned. “It’s all lies.”
“I’m sure.”
It hadn’t been difficult to locate her once Jason discovered she’d moved overseas for business. The Netherlands, to be precise. Her marriage had ended so badly she couldn’t stand to be on the same continent as her ex.
My brother said it only took a seven-hour train ride to repair the relationship between the sisters. Time and perspective had already done the hard work. There had been apologies and tears, and then a resolution to put it behind them.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I glanced around, searching for our server. “Or are you pregnant like your sister?”
L’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“Was I not supposed to figure that out?” I asked. “Sorry. Go ahead and tell me. I’ll act surprised.”
“L’s pregnant,” Jason said dryly.
I barely feigned it. “What? You don’t say.”
“Congratulations.” Kara’s gaze flicked to mine, her expression conveying she thought I was rude.
When the waiter passed by, I ordered a drink for her. Her icy blue eyes zeroed in further, a displeased look crossing her face. She didn’t speak German, and she absolutely didn’t care for anyone making decisions for her.
“What was that you ordered?”
I didn’t have to answer. The waiter was quick and set a pint of beer in front of her.
Her lip curled with disinterest. “Yeah, sorry. I don’t drink beer.”
“You don’t drink beer?” I pointed to Jason and myself. “You do know who we are, yes?”
“Why? Are you someone important?” She cut me off before I could answer. “Someone who’s worked hard to make something of himself? And not someone handed a job and enormous wealth simply for being born?”
“Kara,” L chided.
For a moment I was offended. I worked hard and was amazing at what I did. But instead of getting angry, I gave her a smirk, the one that usually made women swoon.