Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Hey.” He didn’t even look up from measuring the planks across his work table. “Have a beer, why don’t you?”
I grinned. “Thanks, I will. Can I get you one?”
“Nah.”
“Veronica and the kids home?”
“They should be soon. They rode bikes into town after dinner for ice cream.”
I took a swallow from the bottle. “I got a phone call from Kevin Sullivan today.”
“The guy who saved your life?”
“Yeah. He needs a favor.”
Austin finally looked up. “I hope you said yes.”
“Of course I said yes,” I scoffed.
He nodded his approval.
“But I wish he needed a different kind of favor.”
“What’s he need?”
“Security for his sister.” I explained who his sister was and why he was concerned about her staying alone.
“Holy shit. So you’re moving in with Pixie Hart for two weeks?”
“I’m not moving in with her,” I said, annoyed. “I’m providing residential security. Close protection.”
“For who?” Veronica strolled into the garage, followed by Austin’s twins, seven-year-old Adelaide and Owen.
“Pixie Hart,” I told her.
Adelaide let out an ear-piercing squeal. “Pixie Hart! I love Pixie Hart! You get to meet her?”
“He gets to live with her,” said Austin.
I glared at him. “I promised my buddy I’d keep her safe, and that’s all I’m doing. And I don’t even want to do that.”
“Why not?” Owen asked. “She’s famous.”
“Because famous people are a pain in the butt. They don’t like being told what they can and cannot do, and they all think rules don’t apply to them.”
“So why do you have to do it?” Veronica asked.
“Because her brother saved my life in Afghanistan,” I said. “Carried me half a mile, under fire, to safety after I’d been shot twice in the leg.”
“He must be strong,” said Owen. “You’re even bigger than my dad.”
“Not that much bigger,” countered Austin, who continued to resent the two inches in height I had on him.
God, I loved those two inches.
“So are you going to Nashville?” Veronica asked, taking a seat in a wooden folding chair by the fridge. She was tall, blond, and blue-eyed, a perfect contrast to my brother, who had dark hair and brown eyes. He and I looked a lot alike, except I was taller, with more tattoos and a better beard.
“No,” I said. “She’s renting a cabin somewhere in the woods outside Petoskey, which means I’ll probably have to delay the opening of Buckley’s, even though I promoted the date already.”
“Why?”
“Because I won’t be around as much as I need to be to get it up and running. I’d need a temporary manager or something.”
Veronica looked thoughtful as she hugged her knees to her chest. “Maybe I can help you out so you don’t have to delay.”
“Thanks, but you’ll have your hands full with the new studio, won’t you?” Veronica, who’d been a professional dancer in New York, had taken over an old dance school just outside town. Austin was helping her rehab it.
“It’s only two weeks.” Veronica lifted her shoulders. “And Austin is still doing the remodeling. I think I can manage both—just tell me what you need me to do.”
“You’re a life saver,” I said gratefully. “Thanks.”
Adelaide came over and stood in front of me, her expression hopeful, a mint green blotch on her white shirt from her ice cream. “Will I get to meet her, Uncle Xander?”
“Maybe.” I tweaked one of her braids. “You excited for school to start next week?”
“Yes,” she said. “Hey, maybe I can bring Pixie Hart for Show and Tell!”
“I think she probably needs to lie low,” I told my niece, although I hated disappointing her.
“What’s that mean?” asked Owen, who had a chocolate mustache. “To ‘lie low.’”
“It means stay out of sight,” I said. “So that her fans and the photographers who follow her around everywhere don’t find out where she is and bother her. She doesn’t even want me bothering her. Apparently, she’s totally against the idea of security.”
“Why?” Austin asked.
“Because she’s probably delusional. They all are.” I tipped up my beer. “Also, there was a breach on her previous security team, so I imagine she doesn’t trust anyone right now. Her brother told me she flat out refused to have some goon up in her business while she’s on vacation . . . right before he made me promise not to let her out of my sight.”
“Oh dear,” said Veronica.
Austin laughed. “Good luck with that.”
“You know what? I won’t need luck,” I said, pushing my shoulders back. “I’ve got charm. I’ve got magnetism. She’s gonna adore me.”
“Oh dear,” Veronica said again.
My brother shook his head. “What happens if she doesn’t?”
“Nothing.” I shrugged. “She’s stuck with me.”
After I packed a bag, I decided to do a little internet research on Pixie Hart. I Googled her name and clicked on some images that popped up in the search results.
Damn.
No denying it, Sully’s sister was a bombshell.
Not my type—I wasn’t into all the glitzy makeup and fancy clothes—but objectively, Pixie Hart was hot.