Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
But while he didn't regret fulfilling his duties, Ethan couldn't help feeling regret over not being able to say goodbye to little Anah. If he were not mistaken, today was her last day on the job, and after this she would be flying home to Texas.
He knew he could simply look her up online to reconnect, but he was reluctant to do this for some reason. If fate decreed that they were not to meet again, then maybe that was all for the best.
It was already a few minutes past seven by the time Ethan left the office and drove back to the family ranch. The main house was ablaze with light, and the sound of laughter ringing out from the open windows of the dining room belatedly reminded him about tonight's welcome dinner for the McGregors.
John had been in his family's employ for as long as he could remember, and the older man had also served as a father figure of sorts for Ethan and the twins when their parents passed away. A smile already curving on Ethan's lips, he strode inside the dining room and saw right away John, and beside the older man could only be the new Mrs. McGregor, who was seated next to...
His eyes widened. "Anah?"
"That was exactly her reaction, too," Aidan said with a smirk, "when we told her we had a younger brother named Ethan."
TWO HOURS LATER, AND Anah was still doing her best to come to grips with this new version of Ethan as she followed the others to the patio. "So, let me get this straight..." She glanced up at Ethan, who was keeping pace next to her. "You and all those guys are billionaires who pooled your resources—-"
"Founding members, in other words," he supplied.
"To start a company—-"
"The Hartland Initiative," Ethan named.
"And use it to buy up every inch of land of Hartland, Wyoming—-"
"Right so far," he confirmed.
"Because you guys want to eventually lead ordinary private lives—-"
"Don't forget safe," Ethan said lightly. "The less info you have on the web, the safer you tend to be these days."
"So if I Google your name," she said skeptically, "nothing pertinent's going to show up?"
"If you searched for the twins' names, I'd say yes. But my case is slightly different." Anah couldn't help noticing the way Ethan's handsome face had suddenly turned expressionless. "I used to date someone famous."
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."