Page 208 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

Hunter cocked an eyebrow. “I’m serious. You first, Ms. Shaw.”

Harper blinked. Just as a car door slammed outside.

“Go on.” Hunter grinned at her. “Hurry up.”

A frown pulling at her eyebrows, Harper rose and walked to the open front door.

And froze, staring at the tall man with blond hair and broad shoulders climbing out of Keith’s ute.

“Andrew?”

Oh God, he’s here. Andy is here.

She sprinted toward him, throwing herself into his arms, hugging him so tight she wondered if she was in danger of cracking his ribs.

She didn’t care. Her brother was here. In Australia. At Farpoint Creek. He hugged her back, a laugh vibrating deep in his chest.

“Damn, you’re a sight for sore eyes.” He kissed the top of her head, holding her tight. “Never again, Harper. I swear to God, I don’t care if you travel to China, you tell me. I promise I’ll give you your space, but you have to at least tell me where you are, keep in touch.”

Joy rushed at Harper so quickly, so completely, her head spun. “I’ve missed you so much,” she gushed, snuggling her face against his shirt. “I’m sorry for leaving the way I did. I just wasn’t sure how?—”

“How to break loose of your insanely overprotective brother,” he interrupted, tucking his finger under her chin and making her look at him. “I get it. I’m sorry I made you feel like you had to go to such extremes.”

Harper shook her head, unable to stop her smile. “I’m just as much to blame as you. I guess we’re long overdue for a heart-to-heart chat.”

Andrew nodded. “Yeah. We are.” He looked around, aware their conversation could be overheard by others.

“What do you say we table the conversation until we get home? Enjoy Australia together,” Harper suggested.

He pulled her close for another hug. “Deal. Now…about Marc and Keith. What the hell is?—”

“Andrew?” Amy’s shocked voice cut off his question.

He stopped talking. In fact, he stopped doing anything. His arms froze around Harper, a tension fell over his body.

Harper saw her friend walking toward them and before she could say anything, Andrew was releasing her, spinning about to face Amy.

Harper stepped back and stopped when her butt bumped into something hard.

Two strong arms slid around her waist, holding her close to a body she would always recognize no matter how many months and years passed. “Do you think,” Keith murmured in her ear, his hands smoothing over her belly as she watched Andrew and Amy stare at each other, “he’s going to want to beat the shit out of Thomo and me later?”

She hummed a noncommittal reply.

Keith snorted, his lips grazing the side of her throat. “Figured as much. You going to be okay if I stop him?”

She twisted in his arms just as Marc joined them both. “Try not to hurt him too much, okay? I need to give him my own thumping later.”

Keith nodded. “Deal. Thomo will even hold him down while you do it.”

Marc watched Andrew and Amy, his gaze speculative. “You reckon that pair will go missing soon? Sneak off somewhere private? I get the feeling they haven’t handled their time apart well.”

Harper swung her stare back to her brother.

“I think—” she began.

“Ithink,” Hazel said, appearing at the foot of the porch steps, a smile playing with her lips, “that we should leave Amy and her gentleman alone.” She smiled at Andrew and, for some strange reason, Harper’s already rapid heartbeat raced faster. “I’m Hazel Sullivan, by the way. Nice to meet you, Andrew.”

Andrew nodded back, but didn’t take his stare off Amy for long. A fact not lost on Harper. Or Marc, by the smug smirk he gave Keith.Told you so, he mouthed.

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