Page 49

“Well, you’re not bored. I know your bored face. This isn’t it.”

“No.” I’m never bored around her. But there’s something going on inside me that I don’t comprehend. Maybe she knows me better than I know myself. “What do you think is bothering me?”

With a sudden shrug, she looks away. “You’ll have to figure it out for yourself.”

I’ve tried. Bas offered to help, but it didn’t seem necessary at the time. All I know is the longer I’m with Nia—but not with her—the deeper I get into this funk.

Finally, the flight lands at the private airstrip. We make our way down the airstairs, greeted by the sunny skies and weather that’s nearly thirty degrees warmer than Seattle. When the sun hits Nia, she pauses to close her eyes, tilt her head back, and soak in the warmth.

“I could get used to this,” she murmurs.

If I have my way, she will. “It’s definitely not so bad.”

She nods, and at the bottom of the stairs, I can’t resist touching her, so I take her hand.

Nia glances at our tangled fingers, and I can’t tell whether she’s amused or annoyed. Personally, I’m the latter. I didn’t see the point of public displays of affections with Becca. We knew we were together. Why announce it to the world? With Nia, it’s different. I want everyone to know—most especially her—that she belongs to me. I’d write it off as that insidious jealousy creeping in again, except there’s no man here trying to snag her attention. Just the two of us and my need to be close to her.

It’s a relief when she doesn’t pull away, simply follows me into the red open-air building, glancing over her shoulder to take in the view of the ocean beyond the runway.

“Evan!” a man shouts.

I immediately identify that voice as Maxon’s. To my right, I see him and Griff both rise to their feet, impeccably dressed in dark suits and crisp shirts. They approach, giving Nia—and our joined hands—a discreet once-over.

“Hi. I didn’t expect you two here.”

“We thought we’d be the welcoming committee,” Maxon drawls as he gives me a bro hug.

Griff snorts as we bump shoulders. “Because we wanted to discuss the listings we sent you, and the wives have decreed there will be no shop talk tonight. But they didn’t say anything about chatting in the car…”

I laugh. I’m not at all surprised they’re eager to keep their wives happy. Not only do my older half brothers both seem devoted but, according to my sister, they’re afraid to cross the women they married as pregnancy and hormones have progressed.

“We can do that. Guys, this is Nia. My…” How do I explain her? They already know from my previous visits here that she’s my assistant, but by holding her hand I’ve made it clear she’s more.

I should have decided before we landed what I intended to tell my family about our relationship. In truth, I wasn’t sure they would care. I deeply suspect I miscalculated.

I seem to be doing that a lot lately.

“It’s complicated,” she says with a smile, saving me the awkward explanation.

Griff gives her a sanguine shrug. “Relationships are always complicated. Getting Britta to the altar was no breeze.”

“That’s because you were a stupid fuck-up. Hi. Maxon Reed.” He thrusts his hand toward Nia. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same.” She shakes with my oldest brother, trying not to laugh. “I’m Nia Wright.”

“Don’t listen to the douchebag,” Griff says as he takes her hand. “He’s no smarter. I’m Griffin Reed, by the way.”

Nia smiles at him.

“Oh, I’m so much smarter!” Maxon protests.

“Want me to ask Keeley?”

“You leave my wife out of this.”

“You two can arm-wrestle for the douchebag title later,” I say. “I need to arrange for the rental so I can get over to Noah and Harlow’s place.”

“We’ll take you, and you don’t need a rental. All of Noah’s cars have arrived from the mainland since you were here last.” Maxon laughs. “He has more cars than he has places to park them. Trust me, you won’t be without wheels.”