Page 120 of For the Promise

I chuckle. No one’s called me a sweetheart before. Usually, it’s ballbuster or bitch. Spoiler alert. I’m not a bitch because I dock your pay for showing up an hour late.

“I’m happy for you.” I pull away and set the champagne glasses on the table.

“You’re a secret romantic,” Kai says and I scowl at him.

“What I am is none of your business.”

“That’s three!” Zane shouts.

“That is not three,” Miles argues.

I glare at them. “You two are as immature as he is.”

Miles smiles. “You say immature, I say youthful.”

“I should have ratted you out to the police the first time you snuck your brothers in here.”

Kai waggles his eyebrows. “You enjoy using handcuffs. Good to know.”

Eli growls at him. “Enough. Harper has made it perfectly clear she wants nothing to do with you. Leave her alone. I taught you better than this. Respect the woman’s choice.”

I smile at him. “I always did like you.”

Paisley sighs. “He is a pretty good guy.” Eli swipes her glass of champagne and she growls at him. “Except when he’s being the pregnancy police.”

“You shouldn’t have alcohol.”

She snatches her glass back. “I’ll have half a glass. Besides, there’s no way we’re toasting to me having another sister without champagne.”

“You’re stubborn.”

“I’m right.”

Jaxon pops the champagne bottle and everyone cheers. I start to back away.

“Stay,” Kai says. “Join us for the toast.”

“Sorry. There aren’t enough glasses.”

He dumps his beer into another glass. “I’ll use this. You can have my glass.”

I hold up a hand. “No, thank you.”

“Come on. What’s the big deal?”

“I don’t want you to think you have a chance with me.”

He bats his eyelashes. “I don’t have a chance with you? Maybe a teeny tiny chance.”

“Nope. Not even a teeny tiny, minuscule chance.”

“Why not?” He scowls. “I’m a nice guy. I’m fun. I’m pretty good looking.” He winks.

“You’re a goofball who takes nothing seriously.”

His nose wrinkles. “Where’s the fun in being serious?”

And just like that. Any light-heartedness evaporates and anger ignites. “Life isn’t fun. Life is hard work. Not all of us have billionaire brothers.”

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