“You think you can fix it?”
“Dante!” My brother Luca throws open the sliding glass door and strides out of the house. His smile stretches from ear to ear.
He looks happier than he did even a couple of weeks ago when I saw him in Argyle. Maybe the cold weather suits him.
Maybe Ivy suits him.
Margot makes a soft noise. “Dante?”
I glance at her, smiling. “Yeah.”
Luca bounds around the pool and wraps his arms around me, engulfing me in a hug. “Good to see you, brother.”
“Brother?” Margot repeats, her eyes widening. A blush stains her cheeks as horror fills her eyes.
“Margot, this is my brother, Prince Dante of Argyle. Don’t be fooled by his size, though. He’s a shy little teddy bear.”
Luca wraps me in a headlock and rubs his knuckles over my head. I yelp, trying to spin away from him, but my brother won’t let go. I shift my weight, trying to push him off me.
His arm stays firmly wrapped around my neck, gently crushing my airway.
Panic starts to lace my blood. I don’t like being trapped.
I try to get away from his grip again, pushing a little bit harder.
Too hard.
We stumble back, stepping over each other’s feet as we both head toward the edge of the pool. Luca laughs, grunting as he struggles with me.
My brother’s gotten stronger since we were kids.
Margot takes a step toward us. “Uh, boys…”
With one massive push, I try to get Luca off me. He yelps, letting go of my neck as he falls backward, pitching toward the pool water. His eyes open wide as his heel slips over the edge of the pool.
He’s a goner. In a second, he’ll be splashing into ice-cold water.
Taking a step back, I suck in a wheezing breath. I put my hand to my throat, finally filling my lungs.
My victory is short-lived, though, because with one last movement, Luca grabs onto my shoulder and drags me down with him.
I yell, falling into the freezing-cold water on top of my brother. The cold takes my breath away. For a second, I can’t move. I just sink down, down, down, until my knee hits the bottom of the pool. The feeling of the bottom jars me back to my senses.
I push away from Luca and propel myself off the bottom, breaking the surface to hear Margot shouting. She disappears into the pool house. I swim to the edge of the pool and watch Margot come back out carrying a bundle of towels.
I pull myself out of the water, my clothes soaked and my mood dampened. Luca’s head pops up above the water, laughing.
He’s in a pretty good mood, considering our half-brother Beckett just tried to kill him. Does he think I’m here on a social visit?
A black-haired girl appears in the doorway. “What the heck is going on?”
Margot hands me a towel, arching an eyebrow. Her cheeks are still a bright shade of red, and she averts her eyes.
“Babe! This is my brother, Dante,” Luca calls out. “You should get in here. The water’s nice.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Ivy answers, laughing.
My whole body is shaking. I don’t realize it until Margot drapes a towel over my shoulders and rubs her hands up and down my arms.
“Let’s get you inside,” she says, glancing at Luca, who’s still trying to get Ivy to jump in. “You’re obviously more sensible than your older brother.”
“It would appear that way,” I grin. My teeth chatter, and Margot nods toward the house.
As soon as I step inside, pins and needles erupt over my body. Heat starts seeping into my frozen skin, and Margot leads me up the stairs.
“Bathroom, bedroom.” She points to two different doors. “There should be clean towels and toiletries in the bathroom. Warm yourself up. You have a suitcase?”
“On the front porch.”
She nods. “I’ll get someone to bring it up and leave it in that room.”
“Thanks.” I swallow, wanting to say something else.
Her eyes linger on mine for a moment, and then she inhales sharply. “And, uh…sorry.”
“For what?”
“For thinking you were the electrician, and not the Prince of Argyle.”
I chuckle, shrugging. “Easy mistake to make.”
Margot’s eyes drift over my chest, and I watch her cheeks flush brighter. She smiles shyly, nodding as she turns back toward the stairs.
I watch her for a moment, wondering why my heart is beating so erratically.
* * *
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Also by Lilian Monroe
For all books, visit:
Military Romance
His Vow
His Oath
His Word
The Complete Protector Series
Enemies to Lovers Romance
Guilty
Corrupt
Ruined
Secret Baby Romance:
Knocked Up by the CEO
Knocked Up by the Single Dad
Knocked Up… Again!
Knocked Up By the Billionaire’s Son
The Complete Knocked Up Series
Knocked Up by Prince Charming
Knocked Up by Prince Dashing
Knocked Up by Prince Gallant
Knocked Up by the Broken Prince
Knocked Up by the Wicked Prince
Fake Engagement/ Fake Marriage Romance:
Engaged to Mr. Right
Engaged to Mr. Wrong
Engaged to Mr. Perfect
Mr Right: The Complete Fake Engagement Series
Mountain Man Romance:
Lie to Me
Swear to Me
Run to Me
The Complete Clarke Brothers Series
Extra-Steamy Rock Star Romance:
Garrett
Maddox
Carter
The Complete Rock Hard Series
Sexy Doctors:
Doctor O
Doctor D
Doctor L
The Complete Doctor’s Orders Series
Time Travel Romance:
The Cause
A little something different:
Second Chance: A Rockstar Romance in North Korea
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