Page 54 of Fairy Tale Lies
Jacob groaned, breaking the kiss. Greta eyed the lone man on the front porch. Even though they were a couple car lengths away, she could see he was incredibly handsome, and he was Jacob’s brother. They had the same broad shoulders, sharp jawline, and thick, straight eyebrows.
“If I knew you were going to hunt me down, Mom, I’d have hidden better.” Jacob faced Greta and pointed to the man. “My brother, Will.”
“Ha, ha asshole.” Will snorted, walking toward them. “I don’t care about you. I was hoping you’d lead me to your mysterious woman.”
Will’s gaze met hers, a playful smile quirked at the corners of his mouth. Yup, there was plenty of difference between the two men, but there was no denying they were brothers. Will’s eyes were a warm brown, almost the exact shade of his tawny hair. He also wore it in a neater style than his brother, shaved on the sides and slightly longer on top.
“I’m mysterious?” Greta smiled and offered her hand. “You make me sound more interesting than I am.”
“Please, no handshakes.” Will opened his arms. “Not when I finally get to meet the woman who’s made my little brother happy.”
Greta hugged Will, loving his exuberant personality and friendliness. Around him, her nervousness in the face of meeting so many new people faded.
“Jesus, Will. Can you please not freak her out before we even get into the backyard?” Jacob sounded strangled.
Greta glanced in his direction and was shocked to find his cheeks were slightly pink. She clapped. “Are you blushing? Finally!”
“Isn’t it nice having someone around who knows his weaknesses?” Will chuckled.
“Yes. My weakness is having a goofball for a brother.” Jacob turned to Greta. “Hell, now you’ve met him, you’re probably terrified to meet everyone else.”
“Not at all.” Will had set her at ease. If Jacob’s family and friends were like his brother, she was in for a fun day.
She stepped around the two men, opened the passenger door of her car, leaned in, and grabbed the food. She handed the potato salad to Jacob and kept the pie. With her free hand, she grasped his, ready to party.
~ * ~
From across the yard, Jacob saw his usually reclusive father deep in conversation with Greta. The sight pulled at his heart in ways he was only beginning to understand.
She threw back her head, laughing with abandon at something his dad said. The sunlight kissed her face, and Jacob was jealous. He wanted to be the one caressing her.
Damn. He was lost.
Or was it found?
Her laughter grew, and she wiped at the corners of her eyes. Disquiet stroked along his spine, and he started to worry, wondering what his father was telling Greta. The Grimm family loved to tease and embarrass each other.
That got him moving.
He made his way across the yard to the two wooden lawn chairs his girlfriend and father were occupying.
“…and I walk into the shed to find Will hogtied and livid,” Roger Grimm finished as Jacob sat in the empty seat next to Greta.
He heaved a heavy sigh. “Ah, Dad, are you telling her the ransom story?”
His father winked. “Hey. I only wanted this lovely lady to know what she’s getting into, dating you.”
“Did you really try to ransom your own brother to your parents?” Greta was clearly amused.
Jacob grinned and shrugged. “Hey, I was only ten…and I wanted a new bike. I needed the money.”
“All I’m hearing is you’ve been wicked since childhood.” Her stern façade fell away when she started giggling.
“Hmm, yup pretty much,” Jacob agreed. “What’re you doing with such a thug?”
“Good question.” She wiped the moisture from her bottom lashes. “If it helps, I tried to have Cindy arrested.”
She told her story, and Jacob couldn’t stop laughing. He could easily picture a pissed-off six-year-old Greta trying to have her sister hauled off in handcuffs for taking Greta’s beloved doll. He was both amused and a little alarmed by the way she’d patiently bided her time, waiting for her revenge. She’d sprung it two days later when they had a family outing. She’d found a police officer, brought him to her sister and demanded he arrest Cindy on a litany of charges, ranging from theft to kidnapping.
