Page 5 of Wed Like Wildfire


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It was just another day in the office. A long fucking day. But no fires, just your run-of-the-mill shit that comes along with running a multibillion-dollar, privately owned pharmaceutical company.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I wish like hell it’s the only person I care to hear from when I’m off the clock.

I look down at it and sigh in relief when it’s not work.

Nora:

You home Teddy Bear?

I roll my eyes at the use of that stupid nickname.

Me:

Just got home.

Good. I’m in the driveway.

On the porch.

If you knew I was home, why did you ask?

I pocket my phone, knowing I won’t be alone much longer. I let out a whistle and Waffle stands, alert. “Your girl is here,” I tell him and he bounds through the yard, just as the back door slides open.

I watch him nearly tackle Nora, who’s kneeling, accepting of all his love as she talks sweet nothings to him. “Who’s a good boy? It’s Waffle, best dog ever.” She kisses his head and scratches behind his ears.

I swear the seventy-five-pound Golden loves my sister more than the hand who feeds him.

“Oh, Waffle, I missed you, buddy,” she coos.

“You saw him this morning when you stopped by to let him out,” I mutter. She stands, and Waffle turns and heads back into the yard. Nora shrugs.

“What can I say, he’s my best friend.” She smiles but leans into me and gives me a hug.

I’m not a hugger, but when my little sister insists on needing a hug when we meet and when we part, I’ll give in every time.

I kiss the top of her head. “We both know that’s not true.”

She giggles. “But it is. He’s the only one who gets that excited every time he sees me.”

My little sister is not so little anymore. Being eight years older than her, for the majority of our life growing up, she was too young for me to really connect with. But when our parents died, leaving a nearly seventeen-year-old Nora an orphan she became mine.

I was twenty-five, working on my master’s, so it’s not like I was living a wild and crazy life. Becoming her guardian was a simple decision. Nora had always been a good kid, so the transition went as well as expected. It was tough for both of us, but we made it through together.

“Does Mateo know he’s been replaced as top dog?” I let her go and take a seat in the plush lounger on the deck. She follows and sits on the chair next to me.

“Oh, he knows. And he accepts his fate.”

I like Mateo. He’s a good guy. He and Nora have been together for a few years now, but her comment sends my big brother alarm off.

“If he doesn’t make you feel special when he sees you anymore, then maybe marrying him isn’t the right decision.” I level her with a look. She’s always been so free with her heart, and helping a teenage girl turned young woman through heartbreak over the years, when I keep my own locked away, has not been an easy experience.

She rolls her eyes and huffs. “Stop. Mateo shows me plenty when it comes to how excited I make him.” She wiggles her eyebrows.

Growling and shaking my head, I look away. “I don’t want to hear that shit, Nor.”

“Then don’t go all big brother on me. You know Mateo is the one for me. And let me remind you that you like him. You even gave him permission to ask me.” Her tone is light.

Yeah, she doesn’t need to remind me. The dude got mad respect from me when he asked. I wasn’t expecting it, as I’m not her father, but he said it was important to him that he had my blessing.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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