Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Dad—” I go to interrupt, but he lifts his hand to halt me.
“I can see in the way you look at her this isn’t just another of your attempts to rebel against me. She’s not on my list of wives for you, but I see the fire in your eyes, she’s something special.” His words stun me into silence.
I stare at him. I expected all-out war when he got me alone. I’m thrown for a moment as my brain tries to figure out if this is one of his tactics to derail my plans. Only, I see the sincerity in his eyes as he looks back at me.
“She is special.”
My father’s face softens, he reaches to pat my cheek. I watch as his anger defuses completely. My hackles are up. My father never relents. However, before I can assess the situation any further, my youngest brother strolls in, throwing an arm around my shoulders.
“Hope I’m not late,” Cane croons lazily.
“Right on time as always,” I mutter, sarcastically.
“Always. Where are the sisters-in-law?”
“So you haven’t met either of them either?” my father asks with narrowed eyes.
“Sorry, Dad, I have a life. I don’t run behind my big brothers and their conquests.” Cane shrugs nonchalantly.
“Where’s Clooney?” My father inquires sternly.
As always he’s the only person who calls Gregor, Clooney. I’ve called my big brother Brodi for as long as I can remember. It has only been recently that I’ve started to call him Gregor, due to business dealings. Gregor hates being called Clooney. It drives him insane.
“Gregor couldn’t make it.” I frown. “Got a text, he’s on his way to Dubai.”
I don’t like prying into my brothers’ lives, but Gregor has been keeping secrets. Something is going on in Dubai and I don’t think it has anything to do with business. When I tried to dig, I hit a wall. A sure sign my brother is hiding something big. I know he would never shit on me in business, so I let it go, for the time being.
I have this feeling that when the curtain is pulled back, something ugly will be lurking. I’m ready. I will always be there to cover for my brothers. I will do whatever’s necessary to make sure they’re okay.
“Um,” my father replies.
I can see the gears turning in his head. Brodi cutting out may not have been the greatest idea. My father will be watching these engagements closely.
My brother should tread lightly. I don’t know his endgame with Chloe. I have a feeling there’s so much more there, but I’m not going to stick my nose in that one. If Chloe is who I believe she is to my brother, things are bound to get very interesting.
“I’m starving.” Cane pats my stomach instead of his own. “Let’s get to the meat.”
I chuckle at my little brother, always the one to sense tension and just as quick to defuse it. I love that about him. He’s a good kid. His demons just ride him closely. I keep an eye on him.
I’m not willing to allow him to self-destruct. Although, lately, I have a feeling I need to watch him through a finer lens. It’s on my list of things to make right.
He knows it. It’s why he’s been avoiding me. I’m the problem solver in the family. I get to the root of the problem and then I make it go away. I get the feeling Cane has some things he doesn’t want me getting to the bottom of.
“You and your brother will have a proper engagement party. I will not hear of anything less,” my father grumbles beside me as we head to the dining room.
“Ah, there’s the old man,” I mutter under my breath.
“I have your fucking old man. I’m wiser than I look. You boys keep trying me, I will have the last laugh,” he says with an eerie gloat in his voice.
A chill runs through me, his words have omissions, I feel. I halt my steps, watching my father as he swaggers his old ass into the dining room. I narrow my eyes at him.
“I never underestimate you, old man,” I mutter to myself.
Chapter 12
Houseguests
Sidney
“It was lovely to meet you, Dear. You have to come by so we can have tea soon,” Eileen says as she kisses my cheek while Clayton helps me into my cape.
“It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having me.”
“Anytime. I haven’t seen Clayton smile so much in a very long time. I think you’re good for him.”
I look up at Clayton and find him smiling down at me. I can’t help but return the smile. I drop my gaze to his lips. My body has been on fire all night as he’s been stealing kisses and subtle touches.
“I look forward to getting to know you more,” Clayton’s father says.