Page 41 of Steel

“He was bested by a seven-year-old yesterday,” Axe happily told my team member.

“You son of a bitch,” I said under my breath while ripping off my shirt.

Denver burst into laughter. “I always knew your brother was a softie.” He clapped me on the shoulder before heading out.

I merely turned my head toward my brother. “Are you finished yet?”

Axe huffed. “Maybe. Just answer me this. Is she pretty?”

“None of your business.” Around my brother, it was impossible not to feel his happiness. He kept telling me that’s why I needed to find a woman, so I could see the world with a brighter light. The classic example of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses.

No, thank you.

“Talk or the entire Zullie team will know you were bested by a child.”

I ripped off my gym shorts, tossing them into my bag. “Fine, not bad.”

“Not bad in your language usually means hot as shit.” Is that the case?”

Why should I answer him? Because my brother was a damn needler. “Fine. She’s incredible. Tall and voluptuous with longcopper hair that gleams when hit by a ray of sun, you know, like spun gold. She has long legs that are so shapely, they fill out a pair of jeans just perfectly. She even has a voice of an angel, unless she’s screaming at me, which she did a lot. But it’s her eyes that just… I never knew a woman’s eyes could captivate me so much. They do.” I glanced at the floor until I realized he hadn’t said anything. “What? Just say it. Get it the fuck over with.”

Axe lifted his eyebrows and the shit-eating grin on his face was one he was lucky he was keeping. And that I was in a decent mood for a change.

“I’m not saying a word. Not one word.”

“Shut up, dad to be. How’s Kenzie?”

“My guess is she’s made a nest in the bathroom since she can’t keep any food down.”

“Take her flowers to make her feel better. Trust me.”

My brother rolled his eyes. “Female advice from a man who hates women. Maybe heed your own suggestion with your sexy new neighbor.”

Still grinning, he walked away and grabbed a towel, almost to the shower when he turned and spun around mimicking some prom queen. “Okay, a few words. I think my big brother might be in luv. And that I’m following your ass to Ziggy’s because I know you. You’ll decide not to show.”

He laughed heartedly, the sound echoing as he headed into the shower room.

How fascinating. All I could think about was that it was the first time he called me his big brother. I’d been the middle brother,the one never referred to as anything but my name. And only if I was in trouble. Maybe our discussion on the mountain had done us both some good.

The thought hit me hard, more so than it should. So I shifted my thinking to my neighbor. Should I take her flowers? Wait a minute. I’d made a promise to myself that I intended on keeping.

Violet Livingston wasn’t just a troublemaker. She was karma kicking my butt.

And I wanted no part of it. None.

CHAPTER 9

Violet

“Mom.”

I heard Damon and knew he was talking to me, but I was already calculating the money spent on dog food, a collar and leash, treats and toys, and the groceries we’d purchased. Yes, I had a tidy savings and was getting paid, but as an incentive, Eric had decided to make the calendar a bonus situation with money earned on every calendar and promotional item sold.

Having a stake in the project was great except I had a mountain to climb before I could see a dime. The calendars wouldn’t even be on sale until late October. If the project went as planned. Every dime needed to be carefully calculated.

At least my pain in the ass boss was paying for the rental house. That was something.

I’d done my due diligence, asking the woman at the pet store if anyone had reported missing a puppy. So far, she’d heardnothing and I had a feeling based on her gregarious personality that she talked to lot of people.