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I expect the guy to growl at me, tell me to get my goddamn hands off his woman—something appropriately cavemanish. Instead, he stands and thrusts out his hand. “Mr. Weston, it’s an honor to meet you.”
I hesitate, then realize he’s sly after all. I have to let go of Harlow in order to shake his hand. I don’t do it happily.
“Thank you. Who are you and why are you here harassing my girl?”
“This is so awkward,” Harlow sighs as she shakes her head. Then she holds up her hands to ward the other guy off. “Before you freak out, Griff, just listen…”
Scowling, Griff takes in my shirtless form and then the slinky robe Harlow has wrapped around her body. Her well-worked nipples poke through the silk of her garment and tell me that she’s not wearing a stitch underneath. Unless he’s blind, I’ll bet the other guy noticed, too.
Maybe that’s not a bad thing. At least now he knows that if he wants Harlow back, he’s going to have a fight.
“His girl? You fucking slept with him?” Griff explodes. “Do you have any idea how many notches are on his bedpost?”
I glare at Griff. So much for being honored to meet me.
“It’s none of your business,” she insists. “Like I said, I’ve got my life handled without your interference.”
“I was willing to accept that when I thought that meant you’d resolved to put the past behind you and had found another job on the island so you didn’t have to head back to San Diego. I didn’t think that meant you’d found someone to shack up with.”
“Hey,” I challenge him with a scowl. “What she and I do is none of your business, asshole. So stop whining, accept that she’s moved on from you, and dust off your man card. While you’re at it, get the hell out of my house.”
I expect a lot of reactions, but again, this guy surprises me when he plants himself on my barstool again and bursts out laughing. “She willnevermove on from me. Ever. I will be in her life for the rest of her days, whether either of us wants that or not.”
I frown. Do they have a child together? Harlow doesn’t look as if she’s ever given birth but I know women who are in great shape following pregnancy. It’s possible. But Harlow baps him on the shoulder none too gently with an annoyed tsk, which doesn’t seem at all like something ex-lovers do when they’re having a disagreement.
What’s going on here?
“Stop being a douche, Griff. Don’t yank his chain.” She turns to me. “You don’t have to play possessive or whatever this act is. Griff isn’t my boyfriend. He’s my brother.”
It only takes a second for her words to sink in. Once they do, I feel like a fucking idiot. She told me she had brothers living on the island. I just never put two and two together. And now I see the resemblance. They both have the same striking green eyes.
“I’m also one of your Realtors.” He raises a brow at me. “Griffin Reed.”
I remember that name. And I feel like an even bigger ass.
We have this uncomfortable stare-down thing, and I’m trying not to look guilty until another voice interrupts our pregnant silence.
“What is taking so damn long? If Weston is here, Harlow should be ready to go.” Another well-dressed suit strides in. He’s got impeccable golden hair and shiny shoes. I’m betting this is her other Realtor brother. He and Griff both look like a proverbial million dollars—which I paid them in commission to buy this house. “So let’s pack up her shit and—” When the guy notices me, he freezes. “Mr. Weston.”
Harlow intercedes. “Noah, this is my older brother, Maxon.”
He gives her barely dressed form a once-over. I doubt he fails to catalog her mussed sex hair and the faint hint of whisker burn on her cheeks. It’s a small blessing that the Reed brothers can’t see her inner thighs right now.
I search for a greeting or some light chitchat that will break the tension in the room. I come up blank. Not only don’t I have a topic in mind but my tongue feels glued to the roof of my mouth. I take deep breaths. I sweat. I try to push through. I need whatever verbal skills I have now. No, the guys in suits might not beat me up for getting horizontal with their sister, but I have no trouble believing they’re clever enough to plot some insidious revenge when I least expect it. Besides, they’re Harlow’s family. I don’t want to make waves for her.
Thankfully, she saves me from the awkward silence. “As you can see, I’m fine, which is what I’ve been explaining to Griff. I appreciate that you heard Noah had arrived on the island early and decided to come ‘rescue’ me, but it’s not necessary. I’ll be staying here for a while.”
Maxon scowls at her. “You did a great job house-sitting, but I doubt he needs your services anymore. I don’t want to know anything about the welcome you gave him last night, but now it’s time for you to vacate and let him have the privacy he paid for.”
I want to jump in and tell them both that I’ve hired their sister to help me secure a broadcasting gig. But they don’t have any idea I’ve had intermittent problems with my speech, so who knows if they’ll even believe me. And I certainly don’t want them telling the world. Besides, I can’t even speak at the moment.
Well, shit. I guess Idohave trouble getting my words out when I’m rattled. What a great time to find out…
“Actually, he does still need my services, so I’m staying for a while. You and Keeley have your hands full now that the bed-and-breakfast is open. Didn’t you just host those bigwig honeymooners from D.C. for a couple of weeks? I know you’ve got other bookings coming up.” Then she turns to Griff. “You and Britta are moving into a new house and you’re both eager to conceive a new brother or sister for Jamie, so I’ll only be in the way. I swear, I’m fine here.”
Maxon looks unmoved as he turns to me. “You want her staying?”
I can’t find words, but I’m glad as hell he’s asked me a yes-or-no question. I give him a firm nod. End of discussion.
