Page 95 of Crazy Thing

“Not as amazing as you. Look at you. Your aura is blinding me. You’re absolutely glowing.” She wraps me in a hug. “Your boss is treating you extra well, I see.” Her knowing gaze shifts to Darius.

“Stop it, Aunt Rainbow.” I hiss by her ear, my cheeks filling with heat again as I move toward her booth. My aunt is one of the first few vendors to already have Halloween decorations on display. It makes me smile.

Darius just grins. “Your niece deserves all the employment perks I give herandway more.”

Aunt Rainbow bobs her head approvingly. “That’s what I like to hear.” Her attention comes back to me. “So what brings you to the farmer’s market today, love?”

I point my thumb in Darius’s direction. “This man hasbeen eating on the go since the day I started working for him. He’s in need of a hearty, home-cooked meal tonight.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place. What are you two in the mood for? I have fresh spinach and zucchini today. Or how about sweet potatoes?” Her eyes bounce between Darius and me.

In my peripheral vision, I see a massive hand clamp down on Darius’s shoulder right then. “There you are.” Archer Brighton gives his brother a hard shake before offering Aunt Rainbow and me a nod. “I called you about half an hour ago to see if you were available.”

Darius narrows his eyes, looking less than happy to see his brother. “Why?”

Archer chuckles. “Sheesh! Just off to the hardware store to pick up some supplies. Did you see that new message Mom and Dad left in the group chat this morning? Now that Felix and Daphne have set a wedding date, they’ll be coming home from Europe soon. So I figured I’d get started on the repairs I’ve been meaning to take care of around the ranch. Fixing the downstairs shower, being number one.”

“Okay, enjoy that.” Darius turns away from his brother, bringing his attention back to me.

Archer scoffs. “Damn. You won’t even offer to lend a hand?”

Darius shrugs, inching closer to me. “I’m shopping with Ziggy.”

“It won’t take long. I’ve already ordered the supplies. I just need to pick them up and pack them into the truck.”

“Aren’t there employees at the hardware store?” Darius tosses out.

“That place is notoriously short-staffed. That’s well-known around town.”

“Well, don’t we have other siblings?”

“They’re all at work.” Archer plants his fists on his hips, obviously exasperated by his stubborn brother.

Laughing, I lay a hand on Darius’s shoulder. “Go on. I’ll handle the shopping.”

“But we haven’t decided what we’re eating,” he whines. “Spinach or zucchinis or sweet potatoes.”

“I’ll surprise you.” I wink.

Darius continues to protest. “But I—”

“Turn on your phone and go help your brother,” I boss him around. “I’ll text you when I’m done.”

I smooth my hands down his shoulders, down his strong biceps. Right before my eyes, this powerful man softens for me. “Fine.”

Darius pouts at his smirking brother as he hands his credit card over to Aunt Rainbow.

He’s pouting.Actuallypouting.

Darius follows Archer out of the farmer’s market and I can’t look away. His body is so lean and powerful in that white button-down and those tailored pants. He must feel me staring because he turns and sends me a wink over his shoulder as he goes.

Internally, I swoon.

It takes me a minute to realize that my aunt has been speaking this whole time. “…On nights like tonight, I usually prefer to make my famous sweet potato chili. But Jimmy says there’s nothing like a good sweet potato black bean casserole. What do you think?”

I jolt. “Huh?”

She laughs knowingly, her eyes flitting to where the Brighton brothers are exiting the market.

---