Page 35 of Hero's Prize

Jess let out a huge, dramatic sigh, a standard response from hersister. “That’s the truest thing anyone has ever said. I’m glad the National Science Board didn’t send us out here during my first trimester.”

“But you will definitely be home from Romania before this baby gets here, right? You know Mom and Dad will charter a plane and fly you home if they think you are anywhere close to giving birth.”

Jess was a genius in every sense of the word and was a world-renowned biotechnology scientist. She was sent to all sorts of conferences and think tanks all over the planet. Had been doing this sort of thing since she was in her early teens.

“Ethan talks to Dad nearly every damn day. This baby isn’t due for another two months, and I’m only scheduled to be here three weeks. But trying to convince either of them that the math is not worrisome is impossible.”

Ella let out a low chuckle at the frustration in her sister’s voice. “Ethan has always been protective of you, sis. I’ve heard all those stories about when you guys were kids and, even then, how protective he was.”

“Oh, I know. And if he was protective before, it’s a hundred times worse now. I thought Ethan was going to break some guy’s arm because he accidentally bumped into me in a crowded elevator.”

Ella stopped organizing the containers for a second. “Wow, that doesn’t sound like Ethan. He’s always so cool under pressure.” Always had been. The calm yin to her sister’s rather wild yang.

“It’s the baby, I’m telling you. And I’m not going to lie… Ethan all aggressive is pretty sexy.”

“You think Ethan is sexy, no matter what.”

Jess chuckled. “Yes, that’s true. And we both know there’s someone you think is sexy no matter what, also.”

Ella hadn’t told her sister about what had happened with Colton. Under normal circumstances, she would’ve, but that night had gotten pushed to the wayside in light of the avalanche.

She knew he was back in town—Oak Creek was too small for her not to have heard the rumors. But she’d kept her head down,filling her hours between Fancy Pants and getting this test kitchen set up.

The one thing she’d always found true was the more she worked, the less time she had to sit around and think about Colton Harrison.

And she knew if she stopped working now, the very first thing she’d be thinking about was the fact that he’d been in town for at least a few days and hadn’t made any effort to contact her at all. That pretty much told her all she needed to know, didn’t it?

As if his refusal to let her into the hospital room that day hadn’t told her enough.

“Pity fuck,” she murmured under her breath without thinking.

“Did you just use the F-word? I’m gonna tell Mom.”

Ella chuckled. Jess had never once told on Ella in her life. Ella could’ve murdered someone right in front of her sister, and Jess wouldn’t tell a soul—would just help her figure out how to best hide the body.

“I just realized I was going to have to climb up on the counter to get to some of the items I need. This is what happens with the entire kitchen design team is over six feet. They needed supervision. Thus, the use of the F-word.”

With her sister suitably distracted, Ella dragged a chair over to the counter so she could step up onto it and then open the highest cabinet.

“You’ve been listening to me talk for an hour. What’s going on with you?”

Ella slid a set of bowls out of the way. Jess would be homing in on Colton soon. “I like listening to you talk. Plus, you live that jet-setter lifestyle I like to live through vicariously.”

Ella had been to plenty of places when they’d been growing up. The whole family had traveled with her dad for his concert tours, and then they’d gone with Jess for some of her conferences when she was young.

While Ella liked to travel, Oak Creek was always where she’d wanted to be.

“You’re a good listener for everyone, little sis. But your life is just as important as anyone else’s.”

“You know me, I’m good. It’s a busy week between the shop, individual baking orders, and setting up for the camp.”

“I was wondering why you were calling me at nearly midnight your time.”

Ella winced. She should’ve known that her sister would quickly figure out the time difference. “Just trying to get everything done. And wanted to hear your voice since you are one of the smartest people on the planet.”

“More importantly, I am sister to the wonderful Ella O’Conner.”

Ella smiled. “And don’t forget mother to my little niece or nephew. So, let your husband be overprotective and get home safe in a few weeks.”

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