Page 69 of The Legend of Lovers Hollow

And in the midst of all the chaos, Dilys stands quite calmly in place, holding her two twigs, while above her, Wally dangles upside down, one ankle caught in the rope from the curtain runner. He slowly spins around, his two black eyes wide and his bandaged nose wrinkled.

I breathe out slowly and fight the urge to laugh.

“But we were only gone twenty minutes.”

17

“Warren, is there a reason you’re in here annoying me?”

I glance up from the paperwork I’m perusing to watch my brother hovering restlessly by the open office door and staring out into the lobby.

“Look at him.” Warren scowls and ignores my question. “Who does he think he is, strutting around like that with his tight pants and muscular forearms and windswept hair… and soft, soft lips…” His voice trails off.

I drop the papers I’m holding onto the desk. “Warren? Warren!”

He turns to me and blinks. “What?”

I sigh. “Just what is your problem with Thad?”

I assume that’s who he’s talking about, even though I can’t see what’s going on in the lobby.

“I don’t have a problem with him.” Warren shrugs nonchalantly.

“He’s a nice guy,” I point out.

“He’s the literal devil,” Warren mumbles.

“Sure, you don’t have a problem at all.” I roll my eyes. “May I remind you that his show, whether you like it or not, could help bring a lot more business to the hotel? We need him.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to like him,” Warren says sulkily.

“You do like him, that’s the problem.”

“No, he’s irritating and… and…”

“You can’t think of anything bad to say about him, can you? You know why? Because he’s a genuinely nice guy that everyone here loves.”

“I don’t.”

“Really?” My brows rise. “And this instant dislike has nothing to do with the fact he looks like Jonah, the guy who broke your heart?” I say quietly.

Warren, predictably, scoffs. “Jonah didn’t break my heart, he broke my dick with all the incredible sex we had, but whatever. It’s done. It’s over. I’ve moved on. No big deal. Just because you’re all hearts and rainbows with your adorable little blonde cherub doesn’t mean it’s in the cards for all of us.”

I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips when I think about Ellis.

“You know, it’s really unsettling how much you smile since your little manager started managing your dick.”

I scowl at him.

“Better.”

“Fuck off, Warren,” I tell him without heat.

“Even better. The world feels like it’s righting itself again.” He smirks and then sighs. “Seriously though, I am happy for you.”

I shake my head. “I barely know which way is up these days. I swear Ellis is mixing something into his ChapStick because every time he kisses me, it scrambles my brain.”

Warren’s gaze softens with affection as he looks at me. “Hate to break it to you, big bro, but I’m pretty sure that’s called love.”