Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
I followed Georgia up the stairs, noticing a ramp leading up to the porch. The moment I stepped inside I knew why it was there.
A teenage girl with dark hair and gray eyes like Xavier’s waited in the entrance hall in a wheelchair. Her face broke into a blinding smile when she spotted Xavier. After dropping our bags, he went straight toward her, leaned down and hugged her before he kissed the top of her head twice and straightened. Sherlock and Watson tiptoed around Xavier and Willow excitedly, wagging their tales.
“This is my sister Willow,” Xavier introduced the petite teenage girl. His voice rang with protectiveness and his eyes held a flicker of apprehension, as if he thought I’d freak out because his sister was disabled.
Willow smiled shyly. I had a feeling she didn’t get visitors very often out here.
I smiled in return, walked up to her and extended my hand. “I’m Evie. It’s so nice to meet you.”
Her gray eyes flitted between Xavier, who stood beside her with a hand on her slender shoulder, and me, then she shook my hand. Her grip was light but her smile brightened. “Nice to meet you too.”
“I love your dress,” I told her. It was a cute, frilly flower dress that fit her slender figure perfectly but would have made me look like an exploded flower bouquet.
Xavier’s eyes softened and his stance relaxed. I sent him a look. He should know me by now. Steps rang out, and a second later a kid barreled into the entrance hall and latched on to Xavier’s leg. It was a little boy of perhaps three years. Shortly after, Marc and a woman with brown wavy hair, carrying an infant, stepped into view. Their eyes zeroed in on me.
Marc’s wife stepped up to me and held out the hand that wasn’t holding the infant. “I’m Milena. Xavier’s sister-in-law. This is Sarah.” She nodded toward the little girl who was staring at me with huge eyes. “And you are Evie, Xavier’s…”
“Assistant,” I provided to prevent any misunderstandings.
“Assistant,” she said with an amused little smile. She squeezed my hand, then moved on to Xavier. He took his niece and kissed her chubby cheek before he gave Milena a one-armed hug.
My ovaries ignited a spectacular firework at the sight. Damn it. Why did he have to be cute with kids, and protective with his sister? I was so done for.
Marc stepped into my line of view and held out his hand. I shook it, glad for the distraction. “Good to see you again, and for keeping your promise so far.”
I flushed, realizing he meant my comment about the non-disclosure clause.
“What promise?” Willow asked curiously.
“Nothing,” Xavier and I said at the same time.
Willow frowned. “I’m not a little kid.”
Xavier tapped his finger against her nose. “You will always be my little sister.”
She rolled her eyes and wheeled herself into the next room—a combined living and dining room, I realized as I followed the rest of the family inside. The table had been set with rustic stoneware and silver cutlery. A fresh bouquet of what looked like white and pink wildflowers perched in a clay vase in the center.
“I hope you like meat?” Georgia asked me.
I never got the chance to reply because Xavier beat me to it. “Evie loves meat. I’ve never seen a girl who enjoys her steak as rare as she does.”
“The cow died once—it doesn’t need a second death,” I countered.
“True, but if you eat your steaks any rawer, it’ll start mooing.”
“Says the man who’s obsessed with sushi because it’s better for his figure.”
“Keto-sushi,” Xavier corrected.
“Cauliflower doesn’t belong in sushi, Xavier. Take my advice and don’t mention your strange sushi habits in public, or you’ll be taken into custody if you ever try to enter Japan.”
Xavier flashed me a grin. “I know someone who’d bail me out.”
“After a few days to let you rethink your transgressions.”
“A few days won’t be enough for that,” Xavier drawled.
“As if I don’t know it.”
I grinned and Xavier grinned right back.
Suddenly I realized everyone was staring at us as if we’d each grown a second head. Marc and Milena exchanged a meaningful look. Willow’s mouth was slightly agape and Georgia smiled widely.
I cleared my throat, feeling a bit on the spot.
“I made lamb roast and potato bake,” Georgia said, and with a last lingering glance at Xavier and me, she disappeared from view. Watson and Sherlock rushed after her, probably hoping for a treat.
“Why don’t you show Evie to her room, Xavier?” Milena suggested.
Xavier frowned briefly at his sister-in-law, then motioned for me to follow. He grabbed our bags and led me upstairs. “They are amazing,” I said.
“Wait till they start being annoying.”
His voice held affection despite his words.
I stifled a smile. Xavier opened the first door to the right, a small, cozy guest bedroom with a checkered rug and a narrow wood bed.