Free Eye of the Storm (The Storm Series) by M. Stratton

wasn’t in the picture?”
    “Well he is, so we don’t have to think about it.”
    “Hmmm…”
    “Hmmm what?”
    “Nothing. How long do you think you’ll be gone and who is going to stay with me?”
    “I’m not sure. We’ve got an open-ended return ticket. Depending on what we find, we might have to travel somewhere else. We could be gone a couple of weeks. I’m really not sure. As to who is going to stay with you, I came up with the perfect solution.”
    “Is he young and hot and willing to give me sponge-baths?”
    Evie chuckled. “Well, he is young, some people think he’s hot and just ew gross.” At her grandmother’s confused look, she continued. “It’s Jackson. I managed to guilt him into stop roaming around the world to come here.”
    “Well, shit. He’s not going to let me have any fun.”
    “You got that right. I should’ve made him come here earlier.”
    “Really Evie, I thought you loved me.” Evelyne tried to look wounded.
    “You can’t fool me, old lady. You’ll just have to devise new ways to cause trouble with him around. I’m sure you’re up to the task.”
    “That I am, that I am.”
    ~*~
    “Lock your daughters up, Jackson is back in town!” A voice boomed from the front of the house.
    Evie ran to him and jumped in his arms. “How’s the best brother in the whole wide world? It’s so good to see you! I’ve missed you.”
    He spun her around, making her giggle, before putting her down. “I’m great. Wondering what I’m going to do for the next few weeks, but I’m sure something will come up. Now tell me what’s going on.”
    They sat around together while the ladies filled him in. There were some raised voices as they fought about what Evie was going to do, but finally he calmed down and said he was going to talk to Anthony, alone.
    Evie bit her lip in worry and watched out the kitchen window to the cottage. She wished she could hear what they were talking about. Finally her brother came out and walked back into the house.
    “Well.”
    “Well what?”
    “What did you guys talk about?”
    “You.”
    “What about me?”
    “Stuff.”
    “Gee Jack, could you stop talking so much? I can’t get a word in edgewise.”
    He put her in a headlock and dragged her to the couch where they both sat down. “We just talked man to man. Made sure we understood where the other stands.”
    “And where do you stand?”
    “We both want this bastard caught, that’s all you need to worry your pretty, little head about.” He reached over and messed up her hair.
    “Come on. Quit being such an ass. Details, I need details.”
    “Why is what we talked about so important to you?” He squinted at her.
    Hoping she hadn’t given anything away about her attraction to Anthony, she tried to shrug it off. “Well, we’re going to be working together a lot. In close quarters. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t a huge jerk that might make that uncomfortable.”
    He looked at her for a long time. Trying not to squirm under his scrutiny, she held his gaze.
    Patting her on the head he stood up. “That had better be it. He’s had a rough time. I’d hate to have to kick his ass.”
    After he walked out of the room Evie let the breath she had been holding out. She was glad they were going to be leaving on their trip soon. Hiding her feelings from her brother had never been something she’d been able to do.
    ~*~
    Evie knocked on the cottage door after receiving an urgent text from Anthony. She didn’t know why he didn’t just come over to the house but she felt it had something to do with her brother.
    “Come in.”
    Entering the cottage, she stopped at the sight of him in the bedroom. He had a towel on and there were drops of water falling down his skin. She had felt his muscles, she knew he had them, but seeing them was something different. Taking a step towards him before she could stop herself, she almost gave in to running her hands all over him and licking him dry.
    Turning