Page 20 of A Crane Family New Year

“By the way, here he comes,” Jaylyn whispered.

Chloe’s stomach dropped to her toes, and she wobbled on the spikes of her heels a little. “Don’t tell him what we talked about.”

“Of course not!” Jaylyn grinned. “You can tell him yourself. Hey, big bro.”

“Hello, Jaylyn.” Zander’s rich voice seeped into Chloe’s skin in the most sensual way possible. “Chloe.”

“Hi,” she said a bit breathlessly.

Reese stood next to him, a glass of scotch and a wineglass in his hands. Jaylyn divested him of the wine.

“I demand you show me around this expansive manor!” She looped her arm around her cousin’s. “I’m bored.”

“Jaylyn,” Zander growled.

Reese, his voice hushed, said, “So am I.”

Chloe laughed. He was so damn likable.

“If you’ll excuse us.” Reese led Jaylyn out of the formal dining room.

“Why do I feel the need to apologize for my sister?” Zander asked as soon as they’d gone.

“Do you apologize for her often?” Chloe hedged.

“I’m rarely around anyone who doesn’t know her well, so…actually, no.” He handed Chloe a wineglass. “But she just met you, so it’s hard telling what she said.”

“She proclaimed to be psychic. Sort of.” If prognosticating that Chloe would kiss Zander counted.

“She is eerily perceptive. Intuitive. Do I want to know what she foretold?”

“Probably not.” Chloe held up her glass. “To The Big O.”

His firm mouth flinched into a smile. She allowed herself a moment to imagine what it might feel like against her lips. “I’ll drink to that.”

The wine was delicious. Buttery and smooth. It slid down her throat and warmed her belly.

“I like your sister. She seems tough but also very sweet.” She had the idea that Jaylyn hid the more vulnerable version of herself behind coal-black eyeliner and combat boots.

“She’s the best.” He smiled, proud.

“I feel the same way about my brother, but then there are only the two of us. Are you close with your other brothers?”

“Geographically, no. In every other way, yes. We’d take a bullet for each other.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Let’s hope.” He tapped her wineglass with his in agreement.

Her own family was close. Her father and mother were very much in love. Her brother could be immature at times, but he was a good guy. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his family. And Chloe was the same way.

“I’m sure Jaylyn keeps you and your brothers on your toes. I heard some of her dating stories.”

“It’s virtually impossible not to worry about her. I don’t typically hear the story until after she’s castrated the guy who wronged her.”

“Figuratively speaking?”

“Let’s hope,” he said again.

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