Free Singed by Desiree Holt, Allie Standifer Page A

Grant Havers standing there smirking at him.
    “What do you want?” River growled while his hands itched to repay the hit.
    Grant kept a tiny smile hovering at the edge of his lips as he casually tucked his hands into the pocket of his black slacks and rocked back on his heels. “Nothing. You just looked like you needed a good jolt back to reality.”
    6
    Singed
    No hitting at a formal event, River reminded himself. Sky, Reed and the girls would never forgive him for starting a brawl at their engagement party. Especially in the private room at this upscale hotel where all their friends and relatives were gathered.
    He let out a deep breath. “Grant, you are lucky I like my soon-to-be sisters-in-law or else I’d take your superior ass down here and now.”
    Instead of acting afraid, the dumb ass threw back his head and laughed. “Man, you must scare confessions out of all your suspects with a look like that.”
    As hard as he tried River couldn’t hold onto his temper with Grant around. “You are an idiot, you know that, right?”
    Grant nodded his shaggy head. “Yep,” he saluted with his beer, “but I’m a rich, retired idiot.”
    Yeah, he remembered. At the ripe old age of thirty-eight Grant had been on top of the finance world until a heart attack brought him back down to earth. Within six months Grant sold out his shares of the company, put his condo on the market and moved down South to live with the only family he had left.
    With too much time and money on his hands, his cousin had turned into a real meddler. “At least you admit that much of the truth.”
    “Hey, I figured out how much energy and time it took to think up lies and then remember them and let me tell you, it’s not worth it.”
    “Grant, we’ve got to find you a hobby or a girlfriend. You’ve got way too much time on your hands.” River mentally flipped through the faces of women he knew and came up with a few that might pique his cousin’s interest.
    “Oh, don’t worry about that. After tonight I think I’ve got the girlfriend thing covered.” His blue eyes narrowed to a singular spot with so much intensity River wondered if the object of this rigid gaze might burst into flames.
    7
    Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer
    “What are you…” His voice trailed off as he finally spied the woman who’d managed to capture Grant’s attention. His head started shaking before he found the words to object. “Oh no, Grant, hell no. That’s not a woman. That’s Kasey’s sister.”
    “Kasey’s sister, hmm.” Those dangerous blue eyes never left the woman’s smiling face as she laughed with her sister and his brother. “Her name is Kira, right?”
    “Grant, buddy, I don’t think she’s the one for you. I’ve got several women more your style. Why don’t we get together for dinner later this week and talk about it?”
    “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve found the one who interests me.” He took another slow sip of his beer before he spoke again. “Keep your ladies to yourself. Now introduce me.”
    River wanted to do many things right at that moment, but none of them included introducing his soon-to-be sister-in-law’s sister to his love-’em-and-leave-’em cousin.
    Making the decision to introduce them then take Kira aside later to warn her, River gave a short nod. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
    Grant finally took his eyes off Kira long enough to cast a look of distrust at his cousin. “Why should you warn me?”
    “Because if by some miracle she actually goes out with you, you’ll have sex and never call her again. She’ll tell Kasey. Kasey will complain to Sky and Sky will come whining to Reed and me. Then we’ll have to come kick your ass for making us put up with the unholy terror of hearing details of your sex life.”
    Whatever Grant said next River didn’t hear. Not when his every sleeping and waking fantasy walked across the room. He swallowed thickly as his once loose pants grew tighter by the