Chapter One
GRACIE
I admire theFor Rentsign in front of the house like it's the answer to all my prayers.
It most certainly could be.
Would it give me my freedom?
Most definitely.
A place of my own would certainly accomplish the second one, maybe not so much the first considering I'm known for making impulsive decisions that often end badly.
Hence the move here with nothing more than my suitcases of clothes. And I do mean every stitch of clothing I own. From inappropriate shirts down to the dozens of matching-bra-and-panty sets, I managed to shove everything into three large purple suitcases that only closed because my ass sat on them. Not my finest moment. And if anyone saw me trying to wrangle those suckers shut, they would’ve laughed their asses off. But I managed.
Now, I love Owen—my one and only brother. And I love his girlfriend, Annalee. I moved to Willow Creek because of them.They are the best, and I mean that wholeheartedly. Owen is one of those overprotective types who would do anything for me, and not just because I'm the baby of the family. He's just that kind of guy.He didn't hesitate when I asked if I could move in. And hey, who wouldn't love free rent for a few weeks while they got their shit together.
Too bad my brother no longer lives alone.
As I said, I love his girlfriend. She's perfect for him. And despite it taking like five hundred years, I'm glad he found someone. What I don't love is having to sleep with noise-cancelling headphones on because my soon-to-be sister-in-law is a screamer. I'm talking scream down-the-neighborhood volumes. There's no way that woman is shy like she claims. And sure, maybe she acts like it when others are around, but I know better.
Now, I love good sex as much as the next person, and I’m all for people having a robust sex life, but not when it's my brother having it. In the next room. And any thoughts that I might be into voyeurism were quickly dispelled the first night I heard them talking dirty to one another.
Cue gag reflex.
So now I'm here. Staring at the for rent sign that just might be the change I need.
I'm at the apartment—well, in-law suite—that Annalee was originally waiting to become available. And why might my soon-to-be sister-in-law be looking for an apartment, you ask? Well, she isn’t anymore, but a week ago she was before my smooth-talking brother convinced her it was better to stay with him.
When Annalee first moved to Willow Creek, she had every intention of finding her own space. Unfortunately—or fortunately, depending on who you ask—this place wasn’t available yet, so in comes Owen being the gentleman and offering up his place. Except he didn’t have a second bed at first—that took a few days—and everyone knows how those stories end.
Bing, bang, boom. My brother gets his claws in Annalee, and I get a shot at my own place when Nolen, my brother’s best friend and coworker, is kind enough to inform me this place was ready. Without a second thought, I rushed out of my brother's house and came straight here.
Sorry, not sorry to Annalee, but I need it more than she does. And a town this small won’t have another opportunity like this for weeks, if not months from now. There's no way I’ll make it that long living with the two of them.
It's now or never.
I march straight up the concrete walkway and knock on the bright red door of the two-story, colonial-style house. The suspected in-law suite looks to have been added within the last few years. Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means an architect, but even I can tell where the addition was added to the original house. The work was done to perfection, but the symmetry is all off.
I'm still examining the house when the front door is yanked open, and on the other side stands the most handsome, yet most frazzled man I've ever met.
I guess I should say handsome except for the piece of spaghetti hanging off his ear. That rubbery piece of food knocks him down at least half a peg.
"Can I help you?" he huffs at me.
A small child, possibly two or three years old—fuck if I know since children aren't my thing—sits on the man's foot with big fat crocodile tears racing down her face.
"Umm . . . you've got a little . . ." I point to his ear.
I try desperately to stifle my laugh as his hand flies up to his ear and he yanks off the rubbery bit of saucy food with a cursedgrumble. I don't catch the exact expletive, but I imagine it isn't kid friendly.
"I'm here about the place for rent." I thumb my hand to the sign in the yard.
The stranger almost looks relieved. "You must be Annalee. A guy from the new security company called and said you would be coming out to look at it."
"Ah . . . yeah . . . no. Actually, I'm Gracie. I'm a friend of Annalee's. Well, more soon-to-be sister-in-law than actual friend, but whatever. I'm here because she's already found a place. One she’sveryhappy with." I glance down at the small child and continue in a whisper. "If you get my drift. I doubt she's leaving anytime soon, so instead, I'm swooping in to steal the place from her." I laugh at my own ridiculous explanation. This sexy beast of a man is probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me. As he should be. I’ve had my crazy moments, now being one of them, but I need this place, Annalee doesn't.
Besides, there's no way my brother is going to let her move in with another man. He's a caveman through and through. He would beat on his chest, or the man in front of me, before he would ever let Annalee move here.
