“Left pocket,” he said, understandably not wanting to remove his hold on the wanton vixen.
I noticed the sheet of white paper protruding from his coat pocket and pulled it out. When I unfolded it, my lip quirked up: It was the deed to the diner. I shook my head, ignoring the girl screaming incoherent pleas from Caleb’s arms.
“You’re fucking crazy. That place needs a lot of work.” I tucked the deed back in his pocket. “We’re talking tear-down-and-rebuild type of work. Plus, what do you know about running a business?”
He shrugged, unconcerned. “Not much…but you do.”
My hard gaze held his. “I don’t think you realize how much time and money it’s going to take to turn that place around. Yes, I agree there’s a profit to be made eventually, but not without a lot invested up front. The commute alone to keep up with the contractors will be enough to bore you with the project before the place is ready to reopen.”
“I don’t plan on commuting.”
“Hate to break it to you, but even with top contractors, you’re going to need to keep an eye on the renovation.”
He said nothing, his gaze on me and his mouth on Liv’s neck as his hand quickened its motion. Realization hit me quickly but took a moment to sink in.
“You want to move back here?” I puffed out. I hadn’t seen that coming. “Since when?”
“It’s time I settle down and build something of my own, and it feels right here. You should think about—”
“Not happening. This place isn’t for me,” I spit out. Where the hell was this coming from? Was there something going on between him and Julia? I couldn’t fathom it.
“Does Julia know you’re planning this?” I asked carefully.
“No, of course not. I decided tonight, when Josh kept adding to the pot. How many times I gotta tell you? I’m not into your little sister. That girl gets on my nerves.” He gave a half smile.
“Good.”
“Harder, please, there…right there,” Liv moaned.
Caleb tightened his grip around her stomach and tugged her back slightly. The action had her squirming with pleasure.
“This may not be your type of town, but what about Julia? You okay with her out here all alone? Where do you think all the new college girls end up, huh?” He ran his mouth over Liv’s ear. She looked barely twenty-one.
“My sister’s a smart girl,” I growled.
Caleb smiled, lifting Liv’s dress to give me a full view. “Are you a smart girl, baby?”
She nodded, high on the pleasure his hand was providing between her legs.
“You go to college here?”
She nodded again, her breaths turning into harsh pants with every question.
“But you still plan on getting on those knees for me, don’t you?”
She ran her tongue over her lips and bobbed her head eagerly. “There’s no shame in that, baby.” He moved his gaze back to me.
Rage coursed through me at his implication. My sister wouldn’t be another Liv.
The thought drove me mad. Even if I wanted to keep an eye on her, protect her from the perverse pricks like Caleb and me, I couldn’t.
“I have a business to run in the city—a life there. Oliver has Katherine. I can’t uproot our life and move here all because my sister made a careless decision.”
“Fine, don’t. But consider my offer.” He lowered his head, silent in thought for a while, then looked back up with a determined stare. “I’m done with the city, Logan, and I could use a partner in this. Whether you’re here or there, I want you to be a part of it. There’s no other restaurant or bar in this town. No competition. You know Oliver would love it here, and—”
“Don’t mention my son when you’re knuckle-deep in pussy!” I snarled.
How was he done with the city? I easily understood why on a superficial level, but to move to Harmony? Caleb had a family there, but he wasn’t close to them. I had no one except a sister who needed to focus on school. It didn’t make sense for me.
Unsure what my thoughts were on the changes crashing toward me, I pushed off from the quad and approached Liv steadily, her eyes wide with desire. Without warning, I yanked the top of her dress down, freeing her round, perky breasts.
“Very nice,” I croaked, running my fingertips over her supple flesh. I grabbed her breasts in my hands, kneading and squeezing, uncaring and rough.
“You want my mouth?” I asked.
“Please. So close,” she moaned.
I dipped my head down, sucking her stiff nipple into my lips and circling it with my tongue. My touch grew harsher while Caleb’s hand played below. The double sensation was all it took.
She cried out as she unraveled in his arms, slumping back against him after her final hard moan, her body buzzing visibly. I pulled back, leaving the top of her dress lowered. Her breasts glistened where my tongue had roamed.
“I’m going for a walk,” I said, stepping back.
“Wait,” Liv’s meek, breathless voice called out. “I thought…I mean...” She looked up at Caleb, then back to me. “I want you both,” she blurted out. I could tell by the blast of pink to her cheeks that she’d surprised herself with the request.
Was this what happened to girls in Harmony? Maybe there was something in the water, or served at the foul diner, that flipped their carnal switch. Where the hell was my sister moving?
“Of course you do.” Caleb chuckled darkly, running his hands over her blush. “You game tonight? She looks up for anything, and I have a few ideas we could test out on this sweet ass.”
I wasn’t in the mood, surprisingly. “She’s all yours.” I shot a crooked smile her way. “Don’t worry. He’ll take good care of you and that ass.”
Liv didn’t seem to mind, as only mild disappointment flashed over her soft features. She turned in his arms and balanced up on her toes to give him a kiss. I chuckled when he held her back by the shoulders.
“Josh tells me you’re a tease. Let’s see if that’s true. I want those panties off,” I heard him tell her as I walked away, strolling back around the front and heading toward the driveway.
The night air was pleasant enough. I strode past my car and followed the sidewalk into town. The football game must have ended, because the streets were littered with college kids in vehicles honking and hanging out passenger windows, as well as crowding the streets.
My sister was moving, and there was no changing her mind. I either had to deal with it, or risk ruining our relationship. She was a large part of my life, and of Oliver’s. I couldn’t push her away because I didn’t agree with her choice.
I stopped outside the diner and saw a few older gentlemen inside, sipping coffee and playing cards. The place was a wreck, but when Caleb set his mind to something, he saw it through. It would be good for him. I’d known for a while that he was searching for the right thing to settle into. If that was what he wanted, I’d be on his team. I could buy in, and together we’d build a restaurant worth visiting—one with a bar, so my sister could meet friends there rather than at some ratty building in a guy’s backyard. It was a college town; we needed to give the students a place to go. And if we did it right, there was plenty of money to be made.
But I didn’t need to live in Harmony to pull it together—especially if Caleb would be there. Lawrence and I had multiple businesses around the nation that ran just fine with the right guy at the helm.
I stood outside looking in for a while, considering which of my guys would be best to help Caleb see it through, when I heard my sister’s name called out. A strange nag caused me to peek in the direction it rang from, expecting to find another Julia replying. But instead, there she stood, surrounded by a group of girls.
What the hell?
I marched straight over, thinking of nothing but the girls who hung around Josh’s and taking Julia home. When I reared up behind her, I grabbed her arm, startling the entire group.
“Logan!” she squealed as I hauled her a few feet away. “Let me go!
” she continued, smacking my hand.
When I finally released her, she jutted her chin out, ready to claw at me.
“What the hell, Logan!? Why are you here?”
I lurched back. “Me? Why are you here?”
She glanced warily at her friends then took my arm, guiding us farther down the sidewalk and out of earshot. “It’s a Friday night, and Mom said I could go with friends to check out the school.”
“Bullshit. It’s after ten—there’s nothing at the school to check out at this hour. Plus, I thought you said you were here last week.”
She sighed. “I’m allowed to check it out more than once. And Mom said it was fine. I’m staying the night with a friend, Logan. What are you doing here?”
“Which friend?” I asked, eyeing the group and ignoring her question. The girls looked normal enough, all dressed in jeans and warm coats—nothing provocative. She pointed to one of the girls who was watching us subtly: a tiny brunette I’d seen her with over the years.
“So you drove all this way on a Friday night just to hang out?”
“Yes,” she huffed. “I need to make some local friends before the move next summer, okay?” She pushed past me. “Good night, Logan.”
“Julia!” I called after her.
She disregarded me, but I followed her.
“Let’s go,” she said to the girls and they started walking away, staring back at me like I was some crazy stalker instead of a concerned older brother.
I couldn’t hear their conversation as I lagged behind for a few moments, considering my options, but one girl’s enthusiasm over “Josh’s place!” rang loud and clear through the mumbles and hung over me. There was no way my little sister was going there.
A car pulled up to the sidewalk and I hunched over to see another girl was driving. No boys inside; that was a good sign, but didn’t mean much. Right away, my sister’s group started to climb in.
“We have to find—” Julia started, but I grabbed her back before she could finish or duck inside.
“Don’t even think about it,” I threatened.
A growl rumbled from within her and she held up a finger for her friends to wait. I followed her a few feet away.
Her voice was soft but stern. “Logan, I love you, and you have been an amazing brother, but you have to understand that I’m not a kid anymore. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Yes, I do,” I said quickly. It was true. It was all I knew. All I’d done over the past two and a half years was care for those I loved. What else was I supposed to do? What else was there?
“Where are you girls going?” I asked, aware of the eyes on us.
“I’m not telling you, because I don’t have to. I’m not Jax. I know what I’m doing.”
I opened my mouth to tell her I knew she wasn’t as careless as Jax, but she continued before I could speak.
“I have to make my own decisions and my own mistakes. You know that.” Her big, round eyes searched mine.
I wasn’t sure what to say. I did trust her—it was everyone else that worried me. I sighed deeply, running my hands through my hair and down my face.
“All right. Go. Have fun.” It took all the restraint I could bear to say those words.
Her face lit up, eyes growing wide. “Really?”
“You better hurry before I change my mind, throw you over my shoulder, and bring you home in my trunk.”
She gave me a quick hug and whispered, “Thank you.”
I smiled, basking in her happiness, but I knew it wouldn’t last. We had a bigger issue to settle, and one we’d both held tough against. But I wasn’t her keeper, or her father—just a brother with nothing better to do than look out for her, and I wouldn’t leave her in the middle of nowhere alone. She may not have needed me yet, but I wanted to be close if she did.
When she pulled away, I held onto her arm. When she whirled back around to complain again, I let go of my objections and thought only of her happiness.
“I’ll take care of your schooling.” My gaze flickered around us, taking in the town. “If this is where you want to go, then okay.”
Her grin grew wide, eyes twinkling. “You’re the best brother. You know that right?”
A weight lifted. “Yeah, yeah. Better hurry before they leave you.”
She jogged back to the car full of girls and I called out, “Stay the hell away from Josh’s place! Got it?”
She gave a thumbs-up and climbed in. Within moments, the car was disappearing into the mass of student traffic.
That was that. She was moving to Harmony, and Caleb was going to try his hand at running the diner there.
I hated change.
Chapter 8
Fate
I was continuing into the night, unsure how my life was going to change without Caleb and Julia around as often, when I crashed into someone. I straightened and winced when I saw it was the older woman the blonde, Cassandra, had helped earlier. The box in her hands hit the ground, papers scattering around us. It was then I noticed she’d been crying. She wiped her eyes, apologizing for her haste.
“It’s my fault,” I told her, attempting to catch as many papers as I could despite the gusts of wind.
“Oh,” she replied, sobbing harder, “just let them go. Let the wind carry it all away, just like it did my darling.” She lowered herself carefully onto the steps outside the building, bracing herself on the railing. “I can’t run this place without him, and I know what those young suits want to do with it. I won’t let them shut this place down and turn it into some computer-box newspaper.”
I held back my grin at her lack of knowledge on the Web.
“You want to see the paper come to life again,” I said, sitting down beside her. I had nowhere else to be, and I hated to see a woman, of any age, in tears.
“I do, but it’s not going to happen. I need to accept it already. No one reads the blasted thing.” She grimaced, rubbing her wrinkled little hands together for warmth. “No one in this town cares if the paper even exists anymore.”
“I doubt that’s true. Maybe you need to focus on new topics, or bring in some younger blood?” I offered.
“Maybe.” She looked hopeless.
“Or maybe you just need someone with a passion for it.”
“Yes, exactly, but I don’t have time to keep looking. The vultures are circling, and I’ve no other options.”
I knew exactly the girl with that passion. She wasn’t ready yet, but after college she would be. And in the meantime, I could use her on staff to revive the paper. It was like any other business, I figured: all about hiring the right people for the job.
I wasn’t sure how it’d work, but I knew Lawrence could manage the home office and that Caleb was right about how Oliver would love the open space of the country. It was as though the blocks were lining up just for me to trip over and see that maybe this was the change I needed.
“Can we go inside to talk a moment?” I asked, standing and holding out my hand to help her up.
“I’m sorry, young man. I’m in a hurry tonight. I’ve lost my head, and now I’ve lost track of time.”
I held firm, my features sincere. “Please. I think I can help.”
She regarded me cautiously. I stood there under her scrutiny until, very hesitantly, she agreed, taking my hand as she stood. “I have pepper spray in my pocketbook.”
I chuckled. “Always best to play it safe.”
“Indeed. Well, come on then, let’s get out of the cold.” I followed her back inside the building she’d emerged from: The Harmony Tribune.
***
There’s something to be said for a strong-willed woman, and Louise—it took forever, but I finally got the elderly woman’s name—was as tough as they came. We talked for over an hour, discussing her dreams for the paper and the price she was asking for it. It wasn’t about money as much as a certain request: She wanted to stay on in any way possible. She’d grown up helping out there, and she wanted to end her days the s
ame way.
I agreed easily and watched her face light up, her expression softening. Turned out that why no other so-called vultures were good enough was because they saw her as a liability, whereas I saw her as the charm.
We shook hands, agreeing I’d be back in a few weeks with contracts before I headed back out, ready to accept the massive and unpredictable waves I’d set in motion. It was irresponsible on multiple levels, but for the first time since I’d become a father, I dived in, confident Oliver and I would enjoy the swim.
I sent a quick text to Caleb.
I’m in.
I’d explain the rest later.
It only took a minute before the phone dinged with his reply.
Good, but ur missing out over here. No gag reflex. heaven.
There was always fun to be had with Caleb, and I was about to hit Reply and explain that I was on my way back when two women in their late twenties approached me. Both were tall brunettes, and one had an ass in the shape of a peach. My mouth watered. Caleb was on his own.
“Hello, ladies.” I smiled just enough.
“Hi,” the Peach replied. “We saw you walking out here all alone, and were just wondering if you needed a ride.”
“Depends—where do you want to take me?” I replied salaciously.
“You live around here?” she shot back.
I shook my head. “No. You?”
“Yeah, in a way. A town over. This is the closest place to come to find, um…” She searched for the right words.
“You have a thing for college boys,” I finished for her.
“What can I say? They have hard bodies and excellent stamina, and are always eager to please.”
My brows rose. I was impressed with her honesty. “Well, I’m not in school, but I can provide the rest.”
The women, both dressed in jackets and tight jeans, stepped closer to me on the sidewalk.
“Just to clarify, is this a fee-based invite?” I questioned, running my fingers up the Peach’s arm. I didn’t pay for sex.
She didn’t even wince at the insinuation. “We’re just two bored girls looking to get off.”