It hadn’t taken Crew much probing to find out Joseph had a Special Ops team he and several of the Andersons were funding. Crew had insisted on being in. Any team that was willing to fight crime and take down the bad guys was a team he wanted to be part of.

  “Well, I guess having Brackish help could’ve saved a ton of sleepless nights,” Crew said with a sigh.

  “Who’s Brackish?” Darla asked.

  “A friend of the family,” Crew quickly said. “He’s a computer genius.”

  “Why in the heck didn’t you talk to him before?” Darla asked in exasperation.

  “I didn’t think about it,” Crew said. “The Anderson world is still new for me and my brothers.”

  “That’s for dang sure. I’m getting real used to having a private jet at my disposal though,” Brandon said.

  “Hell yeah,” Hudson agreed.

  “You do realize you’ve always been Andersons, right?” Daisy said with a laugh.

  “Yeah, but Anderson a common name. It’s only been a few years that we’ve been those Andersons,” Brandon said. “I don’t mind it a bit.” He leaned back and took a sip of his drink.

  “You’re so full of crap. We were perfectly happy before,” Crew said. “But it is very nice to have family so willing to step up and help.”

  “Don’t knock being one of those Andersons,” Joseph said with a laugh. “I’ve gotten used to the little smirk you guys use with that word. But those Andersons work their asses off to get what they want in life, and that’s pretty impressive in my book.

  “You do realize only we can say those Andersons, right, Uncle? You’re the Anderson of those Andersons.”

  Joseph boomed with laughter. It was good to see he wasn’t irritated with Crew anymore. The man loved his family, all of his family. He might get mad at them at times, but he’d still go to bat for them. It was a good feeling to know there was always someone who had their backs, no matter what.

  “Let me call Brackish. We can have this situation solved within days,” Joseph said as he lifted his phone.

  They were all quiet as Joseph spoke to Brackish. They waited when he hung up. No one said a word, but Joseph was beaming as he held up his glass.

  “It’s done. Now let’s make a toast. We either get a new family member, or we put this behind us. Either way, I’ll kick your ass, Crew, if you ever hold something this big back from your family again.”

  All of Crew’s brothers laughed at Joseph’s words.

  “Okay, I’ll agree to an ass-kicking,” Crew said as he shrugged.

  They toasted. And as Crew lifted the glass to his lips, his eyes sought out Darla again, and he was more than pleased when their gazes collided. They had some unfinished business to attend to and as much as he loved his family, he wanted them all out of his house ASAP. He wanted to get Darla alone.

  Maybe there was one more problem he could solve tonight.

  His thoughts must’ve shown in his eyes because hers widened before she looked away. It was the first time they’d played chicken and she’d been the one to blink. His body stirred. What was he going to do next? He’d soon find out.

  Chapter Four

  Darla was sitting at a table enjoying a warm summer day outside with her best friend. Since Daisy had gotten engaged to Hudson Anderson, Darla didn’t get to see her as much as she was used to. She sighed to herself but couldn’t blame it all on Daisy. For the past couple weeks Darla had either been working or with Crew Anderson.

  Daisy was the single best person Darla had ever known. She was kind, considerate, and always thought about others before herself. She was out to save the world, and nothing was going to stop her. It inspired Darla, making her want to be less selfish.

  “How’s the school project coming along?” Darla asked. “I know it’s only been a couple weeks, but it feels like a year since we last talked.”

  Daisy beamed at her. She’d been glowing since she’d stopped fighting her feelings for Hudson, and Darla truly believed they were going to go to the finish line together.

  “I’ve been dying to meet up with you for the last two days. You’ll never believe what Hudson did,” Daisy said.

  “Hmm, do I get three guesses?” Darla asked. Before Daisy could answer, the waitress stopped and took their orders.

  “Nope, I don’t have enough patience for guesses this time,” Daisy told her when they were alone again. “He moved the farmhouse to the school grounds.” Tears spilled over Daisy’s eyes.

  “Wait? What?” Darla exclaimed.

  “He moved my childhood home to the school grounds and made it into a museum!” Daisy was beaming.

  Daisy’s grandfather had sold the land that had been in Daisy’s family for three generations to Hudson. Darla had a feeling Daisy’s gramps had been matchmaking with Joseph Anderson. If Darla hadn’t thought the match was so dang perfect she never would’ve gone along with them. But from the first time Darla had met Hudson Anderson she’d absolutely loved the man and knew he was perfect for her best friend.

  The two of them had started off a bit rocky after a plane ride and some serious hanky-panky, but in the end it had been a match made in heaven.

  “When did this happen?” Darla asked. “I’m going to kill Crew for not telling me.”

  “Hudson didn’t tell Crew. He did it all on his own and surprised me two days ago. I was so sad when Gramps moved into the senior community and I walked inside our empty home. I started crying and wrapped myself in Hudson’s arms. He promised me it was all going to be okay, but I couldn’t stop crying. I knew the farmhouse had to come down for Hudson to continue his project, and it was killing me. But he’d already planned it all. He’d hired a house-moving company the month before and they got it moved to the school grounds in two days. There are framed newspaper articles on the walls from different projects that both my parents and I have done through the years. He told me there was plenty of space for me to add to the museum.”

  Daisy was crying all over again, happy tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.

  “I don’t even know what to say about that,” Darla said. “That might be the single most romantic and thoughtful thing I’ve ever seen done for a woman.”

  “I know! I can’t believe it myself,” Daisy said. “I love this man so much. I want him to live every dream he’s ever had. And what’s an absolute miracle is he feels the same toward me. He believes in what I believe in just because he loves me. He’s not only stood by my side as I’ve fought for the school, but he quietly slips in once in a while and brings his own magical touch to the project.”

  “I never would’ve thought you’d be happy with an Anderson billionaire, but it’s easy to see how in love you are. I couldn’t be happier for the two of you,” Darla told her.

  “I know. You’ve liked him from day one even when I was irritated with you for it,” Daisy said with a laugh. “Sometimes it’s easier to look at something from the outside than when you’re in the situation.”

  “That’s for dang sure,” Darla said.

  Their drinks and soup arrived and they took a moment to have a taste. This place had become their favorite ever since Hudson had brought Daisy there on a date, and then Daisy had brought Darla. It overlooked the river, giving them a view of activities all around them and the happy noise of people enjoying beautiful weather.

  “Now,” Daisy said with a mischievous smile, “why don’t you tell me what in the heck is going on with Crew.”

  Darla held her hands in the air and laughed. “Don’t get that gleam in your eyes, Daisy,” Darla insisted. “I’m not going to lie. Crew Anderson is one helluva hot tamale, but the man has issues, serious issues. The chemistry between us is hot enough to power up a small city, but that means it will be even more disappointing if I try to do anything about it.”

  “I don’t know, Dar. Being in the room with the two of you is hot enough to make me sweat. I’ve never seen you act this way around a man. You’re always confident and ready to make men sweat, but this is the first man I’ve seen who’s made you sweat,” Daisy pointed out.

  “I know! It’s absolutely driving me crazy,” Darla admitted.

  “Why don’t you do something about it?” Daisy asked.

  Darla leaned back as the waitress came closer. “Can I get you two anything else?”

  “No thank you,” Daisy said.

  “Yes!” Darla practically shouted. “Can you get me a double Bloody Mary. Make it strong and you’ll be my best friend.”

  “Sure thing,” the waitress said with a laugh. “I’ve had a few of those days myself.”

  “Amen,” Darla said while Daisy chuckled.

  “Well, when in Rome. Make that two,” Daisy told the waitress.

  “I’ll put in a rush order,” the waitress told them with a wink.

  “Okay, spill all. What’s making us drink doubles for lunch?” Daisy asked.

  “The man’s driving me absolutely insane. After our meeting yesterday, I could see how intense he was being, and for the first time I can remember, I totally chickened out.”

  “What are you talking about?” Daisy asked.

  “I totally ran from the house before the last of the Andersons left. You and Hudson had to make a quick exit because of your appointment, but then I rushed away while Joseph and two of Crew’s brothers were still there. I could see by the light in his eyes that something was going to happen. I’d seriously been goading him all day, well, actually for a couple of weeks to be truthful, and then when I felt as if he was going to do something about it, I ran like a little girl.”

  “You ran?” Daisy exclaimed.

  “Here’s the drinks. The bartender says he’s on standby if you need more,” the waitress said as she set the large glasses in front of them.

  “You’re a goddess,” Darla told her. “Check back in five minutes.”

  The waitress laughed as she walked to another table. “So . . . don’t leave me hanging. What happened after you ran away?” Daisy asked as she took a sip of her drink.

  “He texted me,” Darla said.

  “What did he say? Why in the world are you dragging this out?” Daisy exclaimed.

  “Partly because I’m nervous, which totally confounds me, and partly because I . . . I . . . well, hell, I love it,” she admitted.

  “Spill all now, or I’m taking back your best friend status,” Daisy informed her.

  Darla handed over her phone.

  Daisy gasped.

  Why did you run away, Darla?

  I didn’t run away, I had another appointment.

  Liar. I think you didn’t want to carry through with what you’ve been taunting me with for the past two weeks.

  I have no problem carrying through on anything, cowboy.

  Prove it. Come back right now . . .

  “This is from Crew?” Daisy asked.

  “Yep, from Crew. And I stopped answering, unsure what to say next. What in the hell should I do now?” Darla asked.

  “I think you should go get your freak on,” Daisy told her.

  “Who in the hell are you, and what have you done with my best friend?” Darla asked.

  “I don’t know. I’m just having the best sex in my life, and I want everyone to experience it, I guess,” Daisy told her with a shrug.

  Both of the girls were a bit mystified when the waitress appeared again, and they found their glasses empty. “Do you want a refill?” she asked.

  “Why not?” Darla said with a shrug.

  “Sure,” Daisy confirmed.

  “I guess we better order an Uber and stay a while,” Darla said.

  “Nah, I’ll just text Hudson, tell him he’s going to get very lucky, and ask if he can also pick up our car,” Daisy said as she lifted her phone.

  “Tell him not to come for at least an hour,” Darla said, feeling much better now that she was sitting there with her best friend.

  “I’m going to tell him to make it two. We might need to order some nachos and sit a while.”

  “That’s true. You can’t really have Bloody Marys and skip the nachos,” Darla told her.

  The two women giggled as Darla’s phone dinged.

  “That one was yours,” Daisy told her.

  “Did you just text Hudson?” Darla asked.

  “Yep, and he said no problem, but your phone just went off.”

  Darla lifted her phone then felt her cheeks heat. “Oh my gosh. What do I do?”

  Daisy took the phone from her best friend and her own cheeks heated. “Say hell yes,” Daisy told her.

  “I’m going to need another drink,” Darla said just as their waitress appeared with their second round. “And some nachos.” Their waitress laughed as she put in their order.

  Then Darla looked at her phone again.

  I’ll be the one picking you up. This time there’s no escape.

  “Hot damn. Let’s have another drink and then maybe jump into the river,” Daisy said. “It’s a good thing I have Hudson or I’d seriously be jealous of you right now.”

  “I’m going to admit that I was a little jealous when you and Hudson were first together. The way he looked at you was something I’d dreamed of my entire life,” Darla told her.

  “What do you mean?” Daisy asked.

  “I don’t want to change who I am to make a man love me. I want to be strong and confident and in control. But I want a man to not be afraid of me. You’re more like me than you realize, yet Hudson was never afraid of you. He loved you from the start even if it scared him a bit, and he never saw your strength as a threat. I don’t think I’ll ever find that.”

  “Dar, I think you’ve found that with Crew,” Daisy said as she reached across the table and took her best friend’s hand.

  “What if it’s just the chemistry? What if it all falls apart once the chase wears off?” Darla asked in a rare moment of vulnerability.

  “Holy cow, Dar, I love to see that you’re actually human. I didn’t think anything could penetrate your thick skin,” Daisy told her.

  “To tell you the truth, I didn’t either,” Darla said.

  “Just be yourself and everything will work itself out,” Daisy assured her.

  “I don’t think it’s possible to be anything else. I’ve been like this too long,” Darla said.

  “Then let’s sit back, enjoy the view, get a little tipsy and wait to be picked up by some very sexy men,” Daisy suggested.

  “That might be the best idea you’ve ever had,” Darla said.

  Their nachos arrived and they ordered a third Bloody Mary.

  Darla wasn’t sure what was coming next, but she wasn’t too worried about it. The drinks helped, but the message from Crew helped even more. That man had her head spinning and her body on fire. What did that mean? What was coming next?

  Chapter Five

  The second Hudson had texted Crew asking if he wanted to help get Daisy and Darla safely home, he’d called his brother and asked what in the hell was going on.

  Hudson laughed. “It seems Daisy and Darla have decided to have a Bloody Mary lunch and now they need picked up and Darla’s car to be driven home,” Hudson said. “I called Brandon first but he’s busy. I can try Finn next. Daisy rarely lets go and I’m very much looking forward to some afternoon delight,” Hudson said with a chuckle.

  “You really are in love,” Crew said, a bit in awe at how much his brother loved his fiancée.

  “I’d walk across coals or nails, or through a firing squad, the dessert, or across an iceberg to be with her,” Hudson said with complete seriousness. “I don’t know how I survived without her this long.”

  “Damn. I’m truly happy for you, brother. That’s fantastic,” Crew told him.

  “So, does that mean you’re in?” Hudson asked.

  “I’m in. I’ll take Darla and her car home,” Crew said. He had to keep the eagerness out of his voice. He hoped like hell she wasn’t too drunk by the time they got there. The woman had been driving him crazy for weeks now and he wanted to take her home and see if she really wanted what she’d been offering.

  He knew it was probably a mistake. Hell, she was the best friend of his brother’s fiancée, but she was on his mind 24/7. With all of the stress he’d been feeling the past few months, having Darla in the room with him was like taking in a deep breath after not breathing for days. How could he allow her to escape without fighting for her? He couldn’t.

  He’d been pacing in front of his house for five minutes when his brother arrived.

  “Are you okay?” Hudson asked.

  “I’m fine. I’m waiting to hear back from Brackish, but other than that I’m great,” Crew told him.

  “I don’t know. You’ve been off for a while, but yesterday I saw something shift. I figured it’s because you finally let us all in. Now, I’m not so sure,” Hudson said.

  “I like Darla,” Crew blurted out.

  There was total silence after that statement. Crew waited for the laughter. When none came, he turned and looked at his brother.

  “Hot damn, that’s amazing,” Hudson said. “Darla’s an incredible woman. I can’t believe I didn’t think of the two of you together, but now that you mention it, I can’t think of a more perfect couple. She’s so confident, full of fire, and probably the only woman on the planet who can pull you out of your damn suits and ties and make you laugh. This is amazing. I’m so glad I called you instead of Finn.”

  “Don’t get too excited,” Crew warned. “I like her, I’m not offering to marry her.”

  “Yeah, that’s what Finn, Noah, Brandon and I all thought too,” Hudson said with a laugh. “Once these women sucked us in, it was all over. I think Mom’s up in heaven sitting beside the Fates and pulling our strings.”

  “I don’t believe in magic,” Crew said. “I’m a scientist.”

  “Hell, Crew, I’ve always been a pretty logical person myself, but from the moment I met Daisy, she consumed me body, heart, and soul. I think that proves there’s a little bit of magic in the world. For four out of five brothers to fall so madly in love with these incredible women has to prove something,” Hudson said.