Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 134830 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134830 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Kyle’s not posturing or doing anything, really, merely standing in my kitchen in his dirty work clothes, looking right at home against Xavier’s fancy outfit and family title. But I swear Kyle could boop Xavier on the nose and I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s that unaffected.
Though he could probably punch Xavier without a second thought and I wouldn’t be surprised either, especially given the speed of his reaction to Joshua.
But I don’t need either of them to get any ideas, so I push between them, breaking up their eye staredown. Giving Xavier my back, I tell Kyle, “You owe for yesterday and today, so an even hundo. You got a Benjamin, or am I taking twenties?”
Yeah, I sound completely unlike me, but I’m scrambling a little here. I told Kyle he didn’t have to pay for Joshua’s crew, but if he’s offering, I’m taking, though I’m going to owe him for covering for me with Xavier.
Shit. I’m going to owe Kyle now. There’s no telling what he’ll want in trade.
You wouldn’t mind a little tit-for-tat, especially the tit part.
I tell the slutty part of my brain to shut the fuck up before she gets us in more trouble, and as if he can hear my thoughts, Kyle flashes me a wide grin as he reaches into his back pocket for his wallet. “Yeah, hundred bucks. Here you go. A fresh, crisp Benjamin Franklin.”
He holds the money out between us, and I feel like taking it is dangerous, like he might grab my wrist and pull me in for another kiss, my brother be damned. Unsure, I carefully grip the bill between my thumb and finger and pull it from Kyle’s hand while he looks at me like he’s on the verge of eating me. I swear my brain is on his side because I’m chanting multiplication tables like that’s what Kyle promised—two, four, six, eight, multiple O’s are oh-so-great! Who knew I had cheerleader skills in me?
Xavier leans forward over my shoulder and dismisses Kyle, clearly not happy with the tension between us. “You paid. Goodbye.”
Kyle drags his eyes from mine to Xavier, and I watch as his smile goes from warm and sexy to cold and dangerous without a blink. It’s as if all the charm simply evaporates into the ether, leaving nothing but ice in his veins. He could easily drop Xavier, I suspect. But seeing my chin shake back and forth a scant few millimeters, he accepts my lead and steps back, his demeanor going friendly again. “Yeah, I’m heading out. See ya tomorrow, Daniela. We’ll be on site bright and early if you need anything.”
He leaves, and for the first time, I think I’m sad to see him go. He didn’t know the full situation, but even in the way he said goodbye, I felt protected by him. Like, okay, I’ll trust you. But I will be checking on you tomorrow, and if there’s even a single scrape on your cheek, this guy’s going to end up under Kathy Wilson’s pool.
It’s sweet and infuriating at the same time, the way he’s almost claiming me. That’s exactly what I don’t want—some guy who thinks I need him when I’m fine on my own.
If that’s true, then why are there butterflies in your belly, huh?
“I take back what I said,” Xavier declares as Kyle disappears back over the fence to Kathy’s yard, noticeably not heading toward his truck out front. “No tradesmen for you.” He makes it sound as if that’s something I was fighting for, not fighting against in the first place.
“Xavier—”
“And what are you thinking, letting one of those guys into your house?” Xavier demands. “It’s not safe.”
I can’t help it, I snicker. Like I’m not more aware of my own safety than my brother. Not to mention, Kyle’s already protected me twice now—first against Joshua, and now against a visitor he didn’t know was my brother. “Fine, if I go missing, check next door, Zave. That’s where he’s working, building a pool for my annoying neighbor.” I throw an arm wide, indicating Kathy’s house. I’m not taking him seriously, which only irritates him further.
“It’s not appropriate, either.”
“Excuse the fuck outta me?” I bark.
There is no way in hell my brother is making me out to be some easy woman because Kyle came in to pay me for his lunches. Well, technically, he wasn’t paying me for his lunches, but as far as Xavier knows, he was. And even if Kyle were coming over for a nightly suck and fuck after a day’s work, it’s approximately zero percent Xavier’s business.
Xavier must realize he’s gone too far because he pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes. After a long second, he meets my furious glare with a look of defeat. “Daniela, you’re better than some pretty boy crew boss who gives half his female clients the fifteen percent ‘just the tip’ discount and is off doing it again with someone else the next week. That’s all I meant.”