Chapter 3
three
. . .
Rafe
“I’m glad you made it back to Rosewood River. You probably shouldn’t have ventured into the city this morning with the storm rolling in,” my boss said through the Bluetooth speaker in my car. Joseph Chapman was a ball buster. He was claiming it wasn’t safe for me to have come to the city today, yet he called me last night and demanded I be present for our meeting with our wealthiest client this morning.
“Four-wheel drive is coming in handy today.” I turned down the final street toward my brother’s house.
“Work from home tomorrow,” he said.
Will do. Tomorrow is Saturday, so no one went to the office on Saturday. Including Joseph.
“I’ll definitely work from home. And you’ve only got two more weeks as a single man, huh?” I teased, because he was getting married soon.
“Yep. But I’m too old for bachelor parties, so I’ll just be drinking whiskey with my brother at the club.” He laughed, and a husky, deep sound rumbled through the speaker, probably due to years of smoking cigars.
“Sounds like a good plan.”
“Denise mentioned that you RSVP’d for two. I guess we’re finally going to meet this mystery woman you keep speaking about.”
“Yep. She’s looking forward to it. She’s heard a lot about you over the last few months,” I said, making a mental note that I needed to find a date to his wedding to play along with my story of being in a serious relationship. It had been the only reason I could come up with as to why I was unable to date his daughter Chloe.
Joseph had pushed it.
Chloe had pushed it.
I’d made it clear that I had a serious girlfriend, who would now be attending his wedding with me. I had a few women that I could ask to play along, but I hadn’t reached out to any of them yet.
I’d be doing that this week for sure.
“All right, good work today. I’ll see you on Monday,” Joseph said.
“Yep. Have a good weekend.”
I came to a stop when I approached the house and took in the scene playing out in front of me. The little hellion staying at my brother’s place was wearing jeans, ridiculously high-heeled boots that came up to her knees, a white ski coat, and a white hat with a pompom on the top that was bigger than her head. She’d clearly never shoveled snow before, as she was slipping all over the place, and every time she scooped a little bit of the white powder, she tossed it over her shoulder and back onto the driveway.
Perhaps she should take fewer self-defense classes and learn how to use a shovel.
I parked in front of Easton’s house and climbed out of my truck. I hadn’t seen her since she karate-chopped me in the throat and accused me of breaking and entering.
I made my way up the driveway, shaking my head at the fact that she was making more of a mess shoveling than there was before she started. The snow was coming down hard, making it difficult to see. But she was sliding all over the place, so she was easy to track.
“Where’s Janson? Easton hired him to shovel a couple of times this week, and today was supposed to be a shovel day,” I called out.
She whipped around to face me, and I put my hands up to block her, just in case she decided to throw a punch.
“I’m not going to hit you, you big baby,” she hissed, as she grunted and dropped the shovel. “Janson drove all the way over here and knocked on the door just to let me know that he couldn’t shovel today.”
“And did you hit him over the head with a bottle, kick him in the balls, cut off a finger maybe? What is the consequence for coming to the door?” I asked, trying to hide my smile because she was glaring at me.
“I don’t attack people who knock on the door. Only those who break and enter when I’m coming out of the shower!” she shouted. “And apparently, Janson has a haircut appointment today, so he won’t be shoveling. But he said he’d come by tomorrow, but only if his girlfriend doesn’t want to hang out. I mean what kind of employee is he?”
“He’s a seventeen-year-old teenager with really good hair.” I barked out a laugh.
“Is this funny to you? My car is going to be trapped in the garage. I don’t have snow tires.”
“Well, here’s a little tip, Wildcat,” I said, quirking a brow as her honey-brown gaze locked with mine. “You don’t wear heeled boots to shovel snow.”
“These are the only boots I brought. I wasn’t planning on shoveling. I thought plows did that.”
“Plows clean the streets. The driveway is up to the homeowner. Why didn’t you just call Easton?”
She swiped at her face as the snow landed on her dark lashes. “Because I’m not some damsel in distress. I can figure it out.”
“That doesn’t seem likely.” I smirked, leaning down to grab the shovel.
She shoved me out of the way and reached for the shovel. “You don’t know anything about me. Maybe I grew up in the snow. Maybe I’m a professional shoveler.”
“For fuck’s sake. Give me the damn shovel.” I tried to take the handle from her. “You are just moving the snow from one side to the other. You clearly don’t have a clue how to shovel.”
Before I could process what she was doing, she stepped on the scoop side of the shovel as it sprung forward, aiming for her face. I quickly shielded her with my body as the damn thing hit me hard in the side of the head. I fell forward, taking the stubborn woman along with me, and we both landed in a bed of snow.
“Get off me, you big buffoon.”
I rolled off her as I rubbed the side of my head. “Damn. You nailed me in the head, woman.”
She pushed to sit up, and I groaned.
“Shit,” she whispered. “Did it hit you in the head?”
“Yes.”
“Well, why would you jump in front of it?” She studied me before turning my head to the side so she could look for a bump.
“Because it was going to nail you in the face, and I was trying to get you out of the way.”
She used her teeth to tug her white furry mitten off her hand, and she dropped it in the snow. Her fingers moved through my hair, and it pissed me the fuck off that my dick responded immediately.
Great. Now I have a throbbing headache and a throbbing erection.
“You have a big goose egg on the side of your head.” She winced.
“You don’t say?” I oozed sarcasm. “You stepped on a metal shovel, and the handle slammed me in the side of the head.”
“I thought I could catch it.” She continued soothing the lump that was growing just above my ear.
“Clearly, you thought wrong,” I said, sitting forward. “I’m fine. How about we agree that shoveling is not your forte.”
“Fine. I’m retiring as a snow shoveler. I’d rather be with Janson getting a haircut.”
“That’s a safer bet.” I moved to my feet and offered her a hand up. “Listen, I just got off work. Do you need to get your car out tonight?”
“No. I just thought I should keep up with it.”
“Let me get inside and ice my head and make some dinner. I’ll shovel it first thing in the morning, all right?”
“Thank you,” she said, and her eyes kept looking toward the side of my head. Obviously, the ice queen had some sort of feelings because she appeared concerned about the shot I’d taken. “I’m sorry about the shovel to the head.”
“Really?” I raised a brow. “It seems to be your thing.”
She walked toward the main house, brushing her snow-covered jeans off as she moved. Her ass was impossible not to stare at. It was small, perfectly peach-shaped, and it almost made me forget that she caused me pain every damn time I saw her.
“What’s my thing?” she asked, as she paused at the back door to the main house.
“Well, the first time I saw you, you punched me in the throat. The second time I saw you, you hit me in the head with a metal shovel. What are you going to do at our next meeting? Stab me in the dick?”
She surprised the shit out of me when her head fell back in hysterical laughter. Lulu Sonnet actually laughed.
And I was surprisingly mesmerized by it.
“Careful, Rafael. Don’t give me any ideas,” she smirked as she turned for the door. I watched as she stepped inside, and the door closed behind her.
I made my way to the guesthouse and pushed inside, rubbing my hands together to warm them up. I turned on the fireplace, grabbed a beer and an ice pack, and dropped onto the couch.
My phone vibrated with a text in the ongoing family group chat I had with my brothers and cousins.
Easton
Archer, I thought you told me Janson did a good job shoveling for you last winter. The dude no-showed today.
Archer
Yeah, he bailed on me, too. He didn’t have a girlfriend last winter.
Clark
Women are always a distraction.
Axel
He bailed on me too. Said he had a haircut, and he has senior photos next week, so he couldn’t miss it.
Bridger
Stop being pussies and shovel your own damn driveways.
Archer
Don’t have time to shovel. I have a child to take care of.
Axel
And this is why you need a nanny who isn’t a hundred and seven years old.
Clark
The kid doesn’t graduate for months. I highly doubt he’s getting senior pictures in the middle of a snowstorm. Trust me, he’s got a girlfriend, and he can’t see straight.
Bridger
Women are nothing but trouble.
Hey, I happen to love women. Well, aside from the heathen living across the yard from me.
Easton
Are we talking about Lulu Sonnet? Stay the fuck away from her. She’s Henley’s best friend, and she’s off-limits.
That should be easy enough since she beats the shit out of me every time I see her.
selfie of me with an ice pack on my head
Bridger
Isn’t this the same woman who throat punched you a few days ago?
Clark
She sure did. He was being dramatic when I stopped by that day. He kept coughing and saying she damaged his trachea.
Dude. She karate-chopped the shit out of my throat. We’re talking “Karate Kid,” Mr. Miyagi type of shit.
Easton
I love that movie. But, how much damage could she do? She’s half your size, you dicksicle. Man up.
I’m going to throat punch you when you least expect it.
Easton
Will you be hitting me with your tampon or your lipstick?
Scratch that. I’m going to kick you in the dick.
Archer
Back to the important question. Why do you have an ice pack on your head?
Axel
Inquiring minds want to know.
She was shoveling the driveway in the most ridiculous heeled boots, and I tried to help her after she dropped the shovel. She decided to pick up the shovel by stepping on the scooper, and the handle would have knocked her ass out.
Clark
So you headbutted her?
Easton
That’s a very gentlemanly thing to do.
Fuck off, Lugnuts. I moved her out of the way, and the shovel hit me in the side of the head.
Clark
So this is really Janson’s girlfriend’s fault.
Bridger
Why would anyone step on a shovel versus picking it up?
I didn’t ask when the metal handle was aiming for her face.
Easton
You are one chivalrous bastard.
Archer
Death by shovel is no way to go.
Tell me about it. I took a good shot to the head.
Clark
I’ve taken many shots to the head on the ice. Try a cold beer with that ice pack.
selfie of beer and ice pack
Axel
Sounds like Henley’s bestie has it out for you.
Clark
He’s not used to women hating him.
Bridger
Maybe you should ice your ego.
I may have a concussion, but by all means, take this moment to shit on me.
Easton
Someone is feeling very sensitive.
Bridger
He hasn’t been laid in a while.
How the fuck would you know?
Bridger
Because you’re always a moody prick when you go more than a few weeks.
He was right, but I wouldn’t tell him that. I hadn’t been out much because I’d been buried at work.
Easton
Your fake girlfriend doesn’t put out?
Don’t you worry about me or my fake girlfriend. We’re doing just fine over here.
Clark
Answer your door, assmunch. I came to check on you. We can order dinner.
Axel
Beware of any random shovels coming for your head, Clark.
Easton
Remember, someone is living in the main house. So if you two fuckers have a bunch of beers, do not wander over there. If you do, prepare to be punched in the throat.
Archer
My money is on Henley’s friend. Sounds like she takes no shit.
Axel
Wait. Is she hot?
I pulled the door open, and Clark walked in, holding up his phone.
“They want to know if Henley’s friend is hot?”
I groaned. “Yes. The heathen is hot.”
Clark
He said the heathen is hot.
I’m sitting next to you. You didn’t need to type that. I could have answered.
Easton
The heathen is named Lulu. Consider her off-limits to all of you fuckers. But yes…she takes no shit. Don’t mess with her.
No problem. I barely know her, and she’s caused me physical pain the two times that I’ve seen her.
Axel
Color me intrigued.
Clark laughed as I dropped my phone and finished my beer.
My head had finally stopped pounding.
There was a knock on the door, and I pushed to my feet as Clark scrolled through the TV channels.
Lulu Sonnet was on the other side of the door when I pulled it open.
I narrowed my gaze. “Did you come to murder me, Wildcat? Because if you did, my brother is here, so there’s a witness.”
“Such a sensitive little flower,” she said with a chuckle as Clark hurried over to the door to check her out.
“Hey, I’m Clark Chadwick. Would you like to come inside?” he said.
“You don’t even fucking live here,” I hissed.
“Neither do you. It’s Easton’s house.”
“Hey.” She snapped her fingers in front of us. “I’m not coming in. I was just unpacking my supplies to work on some designs, but I found some malachite and thought you might want to keep it nearby.”
She handed me a green stone, and I studied it. “Is it poison? Do you want me to eat it?”
“You don’t eat it, Rafael.” She shook her head with disbelief. “These stones are a good form of protection. You know, because you’re so accident-prone.”
“Accident-prone? You throat punching me was not an accident. Nor was the fact that you stepped on a shovel and nearly killed me.”
“You broke into the home I was staying in and then you dove in front of the shovel. You fell on top of me. You could have crushed me. So trust me, this is as much for my protection as yours. I can’t have a walking disaster living in my backyard and not be concerned for my safety.”
Clark was hysterically laughing now, and Lulu’s lips turned up in the corners.
“I like this girl,” my brother said, and I glared at him before turning my attention back to her.
“Does it ward off evil spirits?” I asked, quirking a brow as her gaze locked with mine.
“Are all the Chad-dicks this dramatic?” She smirked before turning on her heels and walking toward her house.
“Nice to meet you!” Clark shouted, and she held a hand over her head and waved.
I punched him in the stomach before slamming the door. “She just called you a Chad-dick, you dumbfuck. Do not flirt with the devil.”
“My dick is not offended by the nickname. And she’s fucking hot.”
“Yeah. Spend a few minutes with her and see if you’re still standing after.”
He barked out a laugh, and I glanced out the window toward the main house across the yard. She was standing in the kitchen, and I hated that I couldn’t stop staring.
She was fucking hot.
And that pissed me off.