Page 34 of Never and Always
He was being nice to me. I didn’t want to think about Everett being nice.
I gripped the mascara wand harder and the move throbbed through my hands. I’d already slathered them in cream this morning. They were still grazed, but on the mend. The cut on my neck looked a little better, too. I was keeping it covered with a Band-Aid, and I’d tied a stylish, silky scarf in a burnt-orange around my neck to hide it. It matched my skirt and looked good against my black shirt. I was wearing my Saint Laurent ankle booties today.
“Stay focused on your work and your brother.” I nodded at my reflection. I was very good at working hard, and that’s what I’d do.
Once I was ready, I grabbed my laptop bag and headed out. I had meetings, and I wanted to coordinate with the building contractor on when he could start work on the spa and pool.
I hit the lobby, ignoring the hubbub of staff and guests. I did a quick sweep, but didn’t spot any flannel or burnished brown-gold hair.
“Good morning.”
I jolted, only steps from the door leading to the office areas. I spun to face Caden. “Don’t sneak up on people. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
His brow creased. “I walked toward you, like a normal person.”
“You creep silently. You’re the quietest man I know.”
“You were distracted.”
I shook my head. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. That’s what I wanted to reassure you about. About your brother.”
I cocked my head. “What about Chance?
“We found him.”
My heart kicked against my ribs. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“Everett spoke with him,” Caden continued. “Warned him to tell whoever attacked you that you are off limits.”
Feelings welled up inside me and I couldn’t get a lock on them. “Everett? He spoke with my brother.”
“Yes.”
“The two of you decided I couldn’t deal with my own family, hunted down my brother, and took care of things.”
Caden was smart enough to detect my mood. He crossed his muscular arms over his chest. “He was hanging out in the kind of place you shouldn’t visit. We care about you, Piper. We aren’t going to let you get hurt again.”
That was sweet, but still didn’t penetrate the anger welling inside me. Chance wasmybrother. I needed to deal with him. I didn’t need men, who clearly thought my brain didn’t function, swooping in to play the hero, and not telling me about it.
“Where is Murray now?” I clipped out.
“Maintenance workshop.”
I shoved my laptop bag into Caden’s flat stomach. “Put that in my office. Please.” Then I spun on my heels and strode toward the other door that led to the main back of house, where housekeeping and maintenance teams operated from.
After I angrily slapped my ID card to the scanner, I shoved through the doors. I got a quick glimpse of Allie talking with her team, all of them stocking their housekeeping carts with fresh towels and linen. She watched me stride past, her eyebrows rising.
I aimed right for the double doors that led to the maintenance area. I shoved through and instantly was assaultedby the drone of power tools. A few maintenance team members were working at benches, drilling things.
Swiveling, I spotted my prey and closed in.
Then my steps slowed.
He had another infernal flannel shirt today, but it was off and thrown over a stool beside him. His T-shirt was white and hugged a wide, toned chest. My heart did a weird stutter. He wore a set of safety glasses, earmuffs, and his hair flopped over his forehead. My gaze snagged on his sinewy forearms, then travelled up to where the sleeves of his T-shirt cut into surprisingly muscular biceps. He was pushing some sort of saw through some wood.
My stomach did a weird flutter, too.
