Chapter 1 #2
I knew my grandmother would be grumbling over that. She kept telling me that she wanted me settled, with a partner. What she really wanted was great-grandbabies.
They were definitely nowhere in my life plan right now. Not until I’d grown my investments enough to know Mom and Gram were covered, and any child I brought into the world wouldn’t ever worry about there being enough money to pay the electricity bill or for new shoes for school.
Then I got a final text from my mom.
Have you heard from Chance?
My stomach curdled. As it always did at the mention of my younger brother.
No.
I had no idea where he was. Chance floated through life, bumming off friends and family. If he managed to snag a job, he never kept it long. I didn’t give him any money these days, but I knew Mom did. I’d learned years ago that I wasn’t helping him, just enabling him.
Mom was a softer touch.
Chance liked to gamble. No, Chance loved to gamble. Cards mostly, but also every single get-rich-quick scheme or investment he could find. He was certain each one would make him an instant millionaire.
That still hadn’t happened.
I shoved thoughts of my brother out of my head, just as a tiny bullet of a kid raced across the lobby.
“Dylan, no! No running.” A harried mother chased after him.
The kid slammed into me.
My four-inch, black, patent leather Jimmy Choos made my legs look great, but they did not offer good stability.
I teetered.
The kid did too, and dropped the small bag of marbles he was clutching. They pinged off the floor, rolling everywhere.
What kid played with marbles these days?
“Dylan, oh no.” His mother grabbed him.
I took a step backward, stepped on a marble, and lost my balance.
Oh crap. I windmilled my arms, falling backward…
Into a set of strong, muscular arms.
Instantly, I was engulfed by the scent of citrus, spice, and wood shavings.
That combination shouldn’t be so enticing, but every time I smelled it, my belly coiled. I knew instantly who’d caught me. Every muscle in my body tensed.
I turned my head and looked up into gold-flecked, green eyes.
“Big city, I’ve warned you that you’re risking serious injury wearing those ridiculous ankle breakers.”
Everett Murray.
The flannel-shirt-and-jeans-wearing bane of my existence.
He was also head of maintenance for the Langston Windward. Although the man never wore his damn uniform.
I shoved away from him, trying to get back on my feet. It wasn’t easy wearing a tight skirt that reached my knees, and with marbles of death under my feet.
Of course, Everett had a huge smile on his face. He was outrageously attractive. Not in a slick, city way. No, Everett was all mountain man. From his long, rangy body to his tousled hair, that was brown with glints of gold in it.
He gripped my hip until I steadied.
I would not admit to anyone that his touch burned through the fabric of my skirt all the way to my skin.
I sniffed. “My shoes are perfectly fine. The tiny balls of death are to blame.” My gaze narrowed. “Where is the new uniform shirt I sent you? It was khaki. You said you didn’t mind it when I showed you the sample.”
He shrugged. “It’s cold today. It was definitely flannel weather.”
I swallowed a growl. The man was the definition of frustration. I’d sent him dozens of work shirt samples.
His lips curled. “Besides, I told you what it would take for me to wear a uniform.”
I glared daggers at him. Oh, I remembered. He’d told me he’d wear it when I wore a flannel shirt, with nothing else, and crawled to him. The asshole.
“You try to vex me on purpose, don’t you?”
His smile widened. “Vex? Does anyone still use that word? Do you mean piss you off?”
Now, I growled.
“Dylan, you apologize to the nice lady right now.”
The mother was standing nearby with her contrite boy.
The dark-haired Dylan rubbed an arm across his nose. “Sorry I dropped my marbles and you almost fell over.”
I dragged in a steadying breath. I would not take out my frustration with Everett on a tiny boy. I crouched, keeping my knees together so I didn’t flash anyone inappropriately.
“It’s all right. I’m not hurt. Accidents happen, but we do have to learn from them so we can avoid them happening again.”
His cute little face scrunched. “I shouldn’t have run, and I shouldn’t have opened the bag inside.” He sighed. “Like Mama already told me.”
I nodded. “That’s a good idea. It sounds like your mama knows what she’s talking about. Want some help picking up your marbles?”
The boy grinned at me. “Yes.”
“Dylan,” his mother said with a long-suffering huff. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, please.”
I scooped up marbles, handed them to Dylan, and then felt a prickle on the back of my neck. I looked up and saw Murray watching me with a strange look on his face. I nabbed a few more errant marbles and rose. “Don’t you have leaky pipes to fix?”
“Yeah. Catch you later, big city.” His grin widened. “And I don’t mind literally catching you, either. You seem to be making a habit of falling into my arms.”
My eyes narrowed, but before I could fire back, he turned and sauntered across the lobby.
I watched him go. The first time I’d met him, I’d slipped on a wet floor and he’d caught me. So annoying.
I suddenly realized that my gaze was on his ass. A muscular ass that filled out his jeans oh-so well.
That’s when I noticed the boy’s mom was watching Everett’s ass too.
I cleared my throat. “Right, let’s finish collecting those marbles.”