Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“Nah,” Genny said. “Milady’s squeamish about sex. Oops, I said the s-word. Don’t pass out from all the blood rushing to your cheeks.”
Seriously, what sins did I commit?
“What the hell were you doing with that thing?” I snapped. “You almost blew us up.”
“Almost is the difference between having something to be mad about, and complaining for no reason.”
“You—”
He passed the weapon off to Genny and pumped my hand. “Good to meet you, I’m Bane. What’s your name?”
Sunny tucked a flyaway behind my ear. “This, brother, is Mrs. Bellisario.”
I whipped around, brows flying to my hairline, and Sunny gasped. “Did I say that? Oh my gosh, Angel, I didn’t want you to find out this way.” He sucked in a deep breath, and let it out slow. “The truth is... I’m psychic too. I’ve known our future since the day we met.”
“Really?” Sienna breathed.
“No, not really!” I pointed behind Bane. “Over there, now.”
Smirking, he retreated, holding his arms up in surrender. A joke because giving up was not among his skill set.
“Back to introductions,” Bane said. “You are?”
“Kenzie—”
“And you?”
“Sienna, nice—”
“Kenzie and Sienna, cute names. Not like Bane. Sure, in Hawaiian it means long-awaited child, but I’ve suspected they chose it for the backhanded meaning—getting back at me for putting Mom through twenty-four hours of labor. Long-awaited for real.”
I made to agree, but he was already moving on.
“You’re covered in dirt. Did I get you in the blast? You’re welcome to use my shower. I’ll dig up a change of clothes for you and toss yours in the wash.”
“Thank—”
“But I know you didn’t come all the way out here to use my shower. Especially since, though it’s lovely to meet you, Kenzie and Sienna, I don’t do visitors. Fewer people to worry about walking in the blast zone. Why’d you bring them out here, Gen, and did you at least bring provisions from the outside world? Food? Beer? Porn?”
“The day I pick out my brother’s porn is the day our family has officially gotten too close.”
Bane tossed a grin her way, flashing blinding pearly whites. “Too true, but I’d have taken that over two reasons to pack up and move again. What—”
Lurching forward, I clapped a hand over his mouth. “Damn, you’re like a runaway train. No chance to jump in. Taking this from the top, almost getting blown up is a damn good reason to complain. It’s lukewarm to meet you too. I think Bane’s a great name and I like it even more knowing the meaning in Hawaiian.
“Ouch, your poor mom. You did get me in the blast, but I brought most of this dirt with me. That said, I’d kill for a shower, but I can wait until I get home. And we are here for a reason. Sunny will tell you all about it when he gets the chance.”
“She found his off-switch in five minutes,” Sunny said. “Why’d it take us years?”
Bane gently removed my hand. Underneath, amusement curved full lips. “There is no off-switch. Touch of a woman, remember? I stopped because I forgot how tiny and soft your hands are. I may have creamed my pants in the middle there.”
“Wow.”
He beamed. “Don’t mind me, I’m harmless. I’m told I talk too much and too fast, but that’s what happens when you’re the son of an infamous semi-mute. I chattered at my father for hours to get a word or three out of him. Usually, it was ‘for the love of God, let me sleep’ and ‘don’t follow me into the bathroom!’”
I snorted, bursting out laughing.
“Oh, I got a laugh out of her. Cute one too.”
“Do it again,” Sunny said.
“Does she have a button I can press?”
“Yeah, I found it the other day.” Sunny tickled my side, sending me half giggling, half squealing away from him.
“Let me try.” Bane got the other side. I almost fell into a crater escaping them both.
“Now I see why you live all the way out here.” I wagged my finger between the smirking brothers. “This is a court-ordered separation.”
“Pretty much.” Genny led me and Sienna toward the cabin. “Sunny will fill him in. Come on, there’s food inside, and I could use a shower after that hike.”
“How long are we going to be here?” I worried my lip, thinking of the tree I had to climb and the window waiting for me to slip through that night.
She glanced over her shoulder. The brothers were locked in conversation. “As long as it takes Sunny to convince Bane you’re fit to do the job, and he has to help you do it.”
Thirty minutes dragged into an hour, which turned into two. The setting sun cast its last rays through the cabin windows, turning my toes rosy pink and burnt orange. I wiggled them over the edge of the chair, basking in the mossy scent of Bane’s sweater. Sienna and I broke down and grabbed showers following Genny.