Page 26 of Riding High

Eden looked at Troyden.‘Is that true?’she demanded.

He shrugged, not fazed.‘I’m afraid so.I’m an eternal optimist, and I’m looking for love.’

‘Maybe start looking for love with someone a little more your age, for a change, and you might have some luck.’

Troyden simply grinned.‘I only seem to meet younger-than-me women.’

‘No, they approach you and your ego likes them fawning over you,’ Jed snapped.

Eden looked outraged.‘Don’t talk to him like that!He deserves some respect from you.’

Oh, he respected the hell out of Troyden, and loved him as much as his stunted and battered heart could, but Jed and his other sibs saw Troyden clearly.And they weren’t the type of family that pulled their punches.They called it straight, every single time.Eden would have to get used to that if she wanted to find a place for herself within their ranks.

But Jed had no intention of letting her claim any ground.Ever.At all.Partly because he was stupidly attracted to her; partly because he was smart enough to know that just because she was Troyden’s niece didn’t mean she wasn’t standing here looking for a payout, or a way to leverage the situation to her advantage, lay her hands on her uncle’s cash, and write herself into the will.

Outrage in the face of being pegged as a gold-digger was a clever move, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t still trying to scam Troyden.Instead of using the girlfriend card, she could now use the ‘I’m your only blood family, please spoil me’ card.Knowing Troyden, he’d crumble like a wave-doused sandcastle.

God, he was a suspicious bastard.But that didn’t mean he was wrong.

‘I couldn’t find you on social media.’

She jerked, just enough to deepen his suspicions.

‘Is that a crime?’

Her reply was quiet and calm, but he sensed her irritation.‘You’re elusive,’ he pushed, wanting to see her crack.‘Who are you really?What are you hiding?’

‘Why do you care?And who appointed you as Elmsleigh’s interrogator?’

Most women would be sounding pissed right now, a bit screechy.But Eden simply held his hard stare, refusing to back down.He was taller, bigger, fiercer, but she didn’t seem intimidated.And hell, he liked that about her.

Dammit.

As long as she kept standing in front of him, looking mutinous, he’d push for more.‘Where do you live?Do you have other family?What do you do for work?’

Eden looked at Troyden who simply shook his head.‘Jed is mule-stubborn and as persistent as hell,’ he said, his deep sigh lifting his shoulders.‘I’d tell him to stop hassling you but he’s not going to listen to me.Just ignore him.’

‘I would if he’d get out of my face,’ Eden muttered.She bunched her fists and placed them on her hips.‘Do you want me to send you a copy of my CV?’

He didn’t hesitate.‘Yes, I would.’

‘I was being sarcastic, you berk!’Finally, a tiny crack, a hitch in her voice.

‘I’m not.’

‘I’m not sending you my CV!’Eden half-shouted.‘I didn’t even give it to Troyden.’

Why not?Jed’s narrowed eyes flickered to Troyden, who was dusting sugar off his shirt.‘For the record, I think that’s a mistake.’

‘For the record, noted,’ Troyden replied.

Eden snapped her fingers and Jed returned his attention to her.Impatience flickered in her eyes.

‘I’m still waiting.’For what?When he lifted his eyebrows, she waved her finger between his chest and hers.‘My apology.’

Not happening.‘Then you’re going to be standing here for a while,sweetheart.’

Anger flashed in her eyes, and they turned an icy blue.‘I am not, and never will be, your sweetheart!’