Page 131 of Love Me Dangerous

“Is this your family?” Mr. Lennox asks, smiling at our little crowd.

Sofie introduces Rowdy, me, Jesse, and Neve, and points at Linnea across the hill.

I’m the only one without a label. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does.

“I’m glad I ran into you,” Mr. Lennox says to Sofie. “Could we talk later?”

My insides turn molten because what the fuck does he want, and why is he looking at her like he already has it?

Sofie’s smile falters, but she’s quick to hide it. “Sure.”

“Ride with me, Sofie, please?” Arlo asks, tugging on her hand.

“You know it!” Sofie says, and races off with him in tow.

“Hey, Zach! Help!” Hutch calls from behind me as Linnie and Maryanne tackle him in a heap.

It takes me longer than I’d like to admit extracting Hutch from the assault of two preteen girls. They take off squealing.

Hutch shakes out the snow from inside his coat and glances over to where Rowdy and Teague Lennox are still chatting with Neve and Jesse.

“Who’s that?”

I fight the annoyance bubbling under my skin. “Teague Lennox.”

Hutch scans the hill. I’ve noticed he does this. Especially around Ava. “Did Sofie invite him?”

Did she? “Maybe.”

We fall into step on the up-track with the sleds dragging behind us.

“Sofie still taking that job with him?” Hutch asks.

“What?” I stop, my breaths suddenly sharp in my chest.

Hutch’s quick eyes take me in. “The nanny gig overseas. What, you didn’t know?”

I force another breath, but my throat is too tight.

Hutch winces. “Shit. Maybe I was supposed to keep that under wraps.”

“Not your fault.”

My mind goes end over end. Why hasn’t Sofie said anything to me? Is she really taking a nanny job… overseas? How long will she be gone? And what about that look Teague Lennox gave her? Like he wants more than just a nanny.

“I thought you were letting her go,” Hutch says, giving me a sideways glance.

I tear my attention away from the top of the hill where Sofie is settling behind Arlo on the sled. “Sorry, what?”

His jaw tenses. “You’re leaving, right? Alaska?”

“My brother is there. I have to go.”

He sizes me up, like I’m slow. “Doesn’t mean you have to stay there.”

“I can’t force my brother to leave, not after everything he’s been through.”

“What if he’s willing?” Hutch’s eyebrows arch. “Finn River is a kickass place to grow up.”

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