Page 5 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck

“I’m only here for a week,” I stressed. “Classes start back then and I’ll need to be back at school.”

“Are you still going with this journalism thing?” he asked.

I did my best to stay calm. “Yes. I’m still going with it.”

“And what, again, do you hope to do with the degree?” he asked. “There aren’t that many women succeeding in the field.”

“There are more than you think,” I countered, trying to wiggle free of his grasp.

He kissed my cheek and laughed, but it sounded forced. “I guess we’ll have our own Gal Friday then, won’t we?”

I blinked, my lips in a thin line. “Uh-huh.”

“You do understand we have more than enough money for you not to have to worry your pretty little head with things like working,” he said.

I didn’t respond, more out of a hope he’d let me go and lose interest in me than giving in on the matter.

The door behind me opened, and a gust of cold air hit me from behind. It sent my long dark brown hair flying forward.

Nile drew in another deep breath. He jerked me tighter against him briefly before loosening his hold a tad, but he didn’t let go.

A shiver ran through me. Was he turned on by my smell? No. I had to have read the situation wrong.

Henry entered the house, carrying my bags. He set them to the side, near a serving table that ran the length of the wall there. He was all smiles as he saw Nile embracing me. “Good to have her home, isn’t it?”

“I was just telling her as much,” said Nile, his voice never once betraying him.

Henry pulled his scarf from around his neck and hung it on the coat rack before removing his outdoor jacket next. He hung it over his scarf, bumping the umbrella holder that stood at the base of the coat rack. The long-handled umbrellas that called the spot home rattled as the holder tipped. Henry caught it, steadying it before he stood to his full height and adjusted his vest and dress shirt.

His chosen attire mirrored Nile’s, making them look as if their next stop was a speakeasy.

“Stop hogging her,” said my brother with a chuckle. He pried me out of Nile’s arms and hugged me firmly but without causing me pain—unlike Nile. He didn’t sniff me weirdly like Nile, either. “I only got a small hug in when I picked her up. Her friends were there, staring at me peculiarly.”

I returned the embrace. “Because they think you’re good-looking.”

His dark brows darted up. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” I said before winking. “I don’t see it.”

Nile grunted. “Stay clear of her friends, nephew. They’re trollops who would love nothing more than to seduce a married man.”

My temper flared. “No, they’re not. They think Henry is handsome and they’re very aware he’s married. They’d never act inappropriately toward him. Can all parties who are present say the same? That they haven’t acted inappropriately in any manner?” I gave him a pointed stare.

Nile locked gazes with me with a mix of pride and challenge in his dark eyes.

Henry stared between us. “Did I miss something?”

“No,” Nile and I said in unison.

Henry shrugged and hugged me again. “Oh, Rachael, I’m so happy you’re back.”

“Just for the week,” I reminded, knowing if Henry had his way, I’d live at the main house for good, not in an apartment off-campus.

We’d always been close despite our age difference. Like my father and Nile, there was a decent age gap between siblings. Henry had me by thirteen years.

Henry kissed my cheek quickly. “I’ve missed you.”

I knew he had, which was the only reason I’d let my sister-in-law talk me into coming for dinner and then staying for a full week. It lined up with a lull in my school schedule.

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