Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
With that, the couple leave, and I’m alone to deal with my sister’s sudden and hard-hitting attack. “What the fuck was that, Cam? Timmons was in the middle of an emotional plea for his company, nearly in tears, and you simply space out like you couldn’t care less?” Her hissed words are quiet but spit out so harshly that the people at the table next to us—a couple celebrating an anniversary, by the appearance of it—simultaneously jerk their heads her way.
“I did not.” I absolutely did, but I instinctively deny it, lest my sister scent blood in the water. Or outright stab me so I’ll shed some.
The waiter slows as he walks by, probably trying to eavesdrop on the spicy drama, and Kayla throws him a sharp glare, scaring him off before he has a chance to interrupt her. As he scurries away, I almost call him back, just so I can get a moment’s reprieve, but I’m too proud to admit that I need assistance in dealing with my younger sister and her seemingly innate ability to cut you off at the knees.
Kayla narrows her eyes, staring at me like she can see into the depths of my depraved soul, which I’m honestly not sure she can’t do, so I drop my gaze first.
“Spill it. Now,” she demands.
“Nothing to spill. I’m fine. Great, actually. Closed the deal. Hired a nanny. Grace is great. I’m fine.” Even I can hear the lie in my voice as I rush to list out all the ways everything is going well, so Kayla will definitely catch it.
She’s officially worked at Blue Lake Assets since she graduated college, and she did her business internships there too, the same way I did. The parallels in our professional lives end there, though. I came up at Dad’s knee as he took Blue Lake from a monster into a beast in the global market. By the time Kayla started, she had to swim in the deepest parts of the ocean with mythological demons. She should’ve drowned, she should’ve run, she definitely should’ve failed, but no one ever bothered to tell Kayla that she couldn’t handle it, so she simply… did. And she’s done it remarkably well. When Dad does actually officially retire and pass the torch along, I will be proud to inherit it at Kayla’s side.
Despite her business acumen, her real superpower is in her intelligence, which she gets from our mother. Both can read a situation, a person’s intentions, and the fucking future like they’ve got a crystal ball in their tiny clutch purses.
Those are the skills Kayla puts to work now… on me.
“Tell me about the nanny. Janey says she’s amazing.” Kayla picks up her water glass and takes a dainty sip. She finished her wine with dinner, which was over an hour ago, so she’s stone cold sober and will be at her best, which means I need to answer thoughtfully.
“Riley’s great too.” Concise and accurate, with no room for interpretation. Good job, Cameron, I think to myself.
So why is a smile slowly blooming on my sister’s lips? “Riley.” She simply repeated her name, but she makes it sound like there’s particular significance to the two syllables.
“Yes, Riley. I wasn’t sure about her at first, but it seems Cole, Janey, and Grace were right. This time.” I tilt my head, remembering their unusual team-up to get me to hire her.
“You’re smiling,” Kayla informs me.
I force my lips into a frown. “No, I’m not.” But I felt the position change of my mouth as I did indeed stop smiling. “It’s just nice having help again,” I say by way of explanation. “And Riley’s better than I thought she’d be.”
Kayla’s perfectly done brows drop down over blue eyes that match my own. “Why would you think she wouldn’t be good? Janey said she’s worked with kids her whole life.”
I grunt, not sure I should confess the snap assumptions I made to my sister. She’ll ream me a new one, with some trite ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ bullshit, when we all know that’s exactly what a book cover is made for.
“Should I get us another round?” she asks, holding her hand in the air to get the waiter’s attention. Her voice is the picture of serenity, like she’s offering out of some sweet siblinghood show of concern.
“No,” I snap, pushing her arm down. When I meet her eyes again, I can see the glee there. She played me like a damn pro. Of course, she learned at both Mom and Dad’s sides, so I’m not surprised. “I don’t want another drink. I want to get home to see Grace before she goes to bed.”
“Are you worried about her?” she asks, her triumph evaporating in favor of concern.
Resigned, I sigh. “No, Grace really is doing okay. Better than she’s been in a while, honestly. And Riley… I wasn’t sure about her because she’s young and a bit…” I’m not sure how to describe her, so after searching for a description and coming up empty-handed, I finally shrug and just say, “She’s stepped in and stepped up, making everything at home run better than it was, though I’m not sure how she does it. I swear she basically flits from one thing to the next like a damn hummingbird, but somehow, it all gets done.” I shake my head in confusion because I truly don’t understand how Riley functions with zero calendar, no watch, and no schedule while seemingly existing in each moment fully with no regard to the next. “They’re having a pizza-movie marathon party tonight, and I spent half of dinner wishing I were there instead of listening to Timmons moan and groan about the best buyout offer he’s going to get.”