Page 9 of Last Man Standing

Tears burn my eyes, stinging until my breath catches in my lungs. But then more messages come.

Lincoln:

Nova hid an entire loaf of bread in the back of the pantry just to get me out of the house. I’m giving you this one chance to conspire without me. Then I’m coming back and taking charge.

You want some candy while I’m out? Sugar always makes you happy.

I choke out a pathetic snicker and tap reply.

Me:

Yes please.

Soft, socked feet shuffle along the hall on the other side of my closed door, then a gentle knock reverberates through until I feel it in my heart.

“Scarlett?” Nova’s sweet voice weaves on the warm air. She has the ability to turn her murmured words into a hug. Her prying inquisitions into something else entirely. “Can I come in? The guys are gone, so we have about half an hour until they’re back.”

Closing my notebook and slipping it beneath the covers of my bed, I push off the mattress and open my door to reveal the woman nothing like I expected my brother would fall head over heels in love with. And yet… she’s exactly right for him. She carries two piping hot mugs, one in each hand, and smiles in a way that seems innocent.

Though I’m certain she’s anything but.

“Coffee?”

“Thanks.” I take the one in her left hand, and turning on my heels, I wander back to my bed and set the cup on the table beside it. Sitting with my back pressed to the wall, I watch her close the door and hover hesitantly in the middle of the room.

I could make her stand. I could make her leave.

Instead, I gesture. “Wanna take a seat and get comfortable before you grill me for state secrets?”

She giggles. But she sure as shit bustles closer.

Sitting by my feet and crossing her legs, she nurses her coffee in both hands and tips her head to the side until her messy bun flops with the movement.

“He worries about you.”

“I know.” Tilting back and staring up at the ceiling, I let out an exhausted sigh. “I didn’t think this through. Obviously. How silly of me to assume I could sneak in here and lie to the Lincoln Castro. My only excuse for gross naiveté is the fact that I left in a rush and, evidently, forgot to pack my brain and bring it along for the ride.”

“You could tell me… if you wanted to.” She brings her coffee higher and blows on the scalding liquid to cool it down. “I’m not involved. I’m an objective third party. And we only just met, so I have no preconceived beliefs or expectations for how you should conduct yourself.” Her lips twitch with a silly grin. “I could grab a bible and look the other way, pretend we’re in confession. Whatever you say in the box stays in the box.”

“You’re very charming, you know that?” I lower my gaze and meet her eyes. “Sneaky charming. You tricked my brother into falling in love with you, didn’t you?”

“He didn’t even know it was happening until it was already too late,” she teases. “Now he’s stuck with me. Fortunately, we kinda like each other. And…” Leaning forward, she mock-whispers. “I’m pretty sure he’s gonna ask me to marry him.”

“What?” I shove up straight. “Did he say so? Did he ask you already?”

“No, but I’m sneaky, remember? Plus, I accidentally found a ring, which I guess he thought was hidden better than it actually was. Foolish man.” She snickers. “I figure he’ll ask when he’s ready, and in the meantime, I’ll hold nothing back. I’m determined to let him see the best and worst of me, so when he finally asks, he’ll have done it with his eyes wide open.” She takes a sip of her coffee and ahhhhs at the flavor on her tongue. “Now tell me what’s up. If you want an ally to stand beside you when you finally spill the beans, I can be that for you. But it would be so much easier if I knew what I was fighting for.”

4

SEBASTION

DIGGING MORE GRAVES

“What’ve you got?” I glance across on our way back from town, bumping along the poorly kept road and tapping my thumb on the steering wheel while Linc finishes up a call and shoots off a barrage of text messages. “Anything new?”

Hitting send on the last, he brings his eyes up to mine. His brows pinch tight, and a deep line forms just above his nose. “You seem under the impression we’re working together on this.” He locks his phone with an angry swipe of his thumb, then he settles back and rests his elbow on the door frame to his right. “My sister. My business. You just drive like the good little gopher you are.”

Soft laughter rolls throughout my chest, bouncing on its way up, then past my lips purely to annoy the eternally annoyed Lincoln Castro.