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“No.” Braden shook his head, tossing his brother a glance over his shoulder. “I won’t do that.”
Damn it. What had happened to him? Three days ago Braden would’ve jumped at the chance to have Zara here preoccupied in his bed while Ryker went through her house. But now...well, now he couldn’t go through with it.
“You’re falling for her.”
Braden jerked around. “I am not.”
“I can’t blame you,” Mac went on as if Braden’s denial meant nothing. “She’s beautiful, sexy, a businesswoman. Clearly everything you’d ever want in a woman.”
Yeah, she was. That was part of the problem, because he couldn’t take things to the next level with her. For one thing, he’d only just gotten to know her, and when he said he wanted a wife and a family, he meant it. He didn’t just want a woman to keep his bed warm. Braden wanted that bond his parents had. But the obvious reason Zara couldn’t be that woman was because he’d lied to her from the get-go. Braden wanted a wife, a family, yes. But he wanted it to be the real deal, and there was no way he could start a relationship with someone he’d lied to, was continuing to lie to.
And how the hell had his mind gone into wife mode when he thought of Zara? That was ridiculous. She didn’t do relationships, and he was using her. Definitely no happily-ever-after for them.
“Don’t get carried away.” Braden rounded the desk, pulling his phone from his pocket to check his messages. “Have you heard from Laney?”
“Yesterday I did. I guess Carter is staying with her during the storm.”
Braden grunted as he scrolled through his email. “I need to take a shower and change from these clothes. Once Ryker gets here we all need to have a meeting.”
Mac nodded. “And what about your houseguest?”
Braden gripped his phone and eyed his brother. “She’s not your concern.”
“You know she’s going to find out what’s going on. You’ve brought her here, she’s going to hear talk or get suspicious as to why you want back in her house.”
Gritting his teeth, Braden was well aware of all the concerns in having Zara here, but he wasn’t ready to let her go.
“You let me worry about Zara,” Braden warned. “Once Ryker gets here, we’ll work on a plan. I’d be more comfortable if Laney was here, too, but she’s stubborn.”
“Carter wouldn’t let her come.”
Braden laughed. “The day that schmuck keeps my sister away from me is the day he disappears from her life for good.”
Mac nodded in agreement. “I’ll text her and tell her I’m having Ryker pick her up on his way here. She needs to be in on this meeting anyway.”
“Give me fifteen minutes. We’ll just meet in here. I’ll have the cook prepare a late lunch for us.”
Braden headed toward the doorway, then stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t argue if Laney acts like it’s a problem to come. Ryker will take care of any issues. Just text him.”
Mac laughed. “You know Laney and Ryker are like oil and water, right? Are you wanting a fight? It’s best if I try to run interference before he gets there.”
Braden shrugged. “I trust Ryker to take care of it, and Laney will know why we need her here. It’s none of Carter’s business, and I don’t give a damn if Ryker offends him.”
“Our little sister is going to arrive, and I’m pointing her in your direction when she unleashes her anger.”
Braden thought of the woman currently upstairs in his bedroom. “I can handle an emotional woman.” He hoped.
Fifteen
“I didn’t need to be manhandled by the family bouncer.”
Braden sat behind his father’s old desk, now his, and looked across to his sister who refused to take a seat. With her arms folded, she shot death glares between Braden, Mac and Ryker. She may not be happy, but she was here.
“If you’d just said we needed to have a family meeting, I would’ve had Carter bring me,” she continued, zeroing in on Braden. “I don’t appreciate being told I was coming and my ride would be Ryker.”
The man in question leaned against the wall by the door. His thick arms crossed, he’d yet to take his coat off, and he’d not said a word. Braden knew the man was processing everything, but he also didn’t have a care in the world...least of all an angry Laney.
