Page 7 of Clear Blue Sky

“That you do.” She laughed. “I have my copy on the server.” She tapped her bag. “I just want you to read it and give me your honest thoughts. There’s something there that’s calling me, but at the same time, I have doubts. I want to know if it’s because I don’t trust I can edit a—”

“Don’t sell yourself short. I know you just took over that line and Dad forced your hand in doing so, but you really are the best in the business.”

“You’re just saying that because you like your nice cushy life, which by the way, I wouldn’t mind opening an office here. I mean, you spent a few years working remote. No reason I can’t.” She arched a brow. “Especially with Edward. Our cousin is killing it. I must admit, I was skeptical when Dad asked me to hire him, but Edward is like a little sponge. He soaks up everything and retains it. I’m totally impressed. I told Dad I want to make him my second. He’s considering my proposal.”

“That will allow you to take more trips here to visit me—and Nelson.”

“What I need is a good second for when Dad actually retires.”

“Or maybe Edward will take over so you can live up here full-time and be a remote head of acquisitions editor.” He winked. “But until then, you need to spread your little wings and fly.”

She rolled her eyes. This wasn’t the first time they’d had the conversation, but today she wasn’t going to humor her brother. “Promise me you’ll read it.” She gave him her bestI’ll do anything for youlook. “I’m not asking for editorial notes. Just your gut reaction. I want nothing in writing. A conversation next weekend will suffice.”

“Fine. Now crack open the food and put Tiki’s in the fridge. But I’ll eat mine now.”

Brandi did as instructed, placing his pasta and meat sauce on a plate. She’d opted for white sauce and shrimp, same as Tiki, only Tiki had chicken instead of seafood. After she’d taken care of all that, she joined her brother, climbing up on a stool. He’d already dived into the manuscript, reading three pages. “Do you want to read or spend an hour with me before I take off for the night?”

He glanced up with both brows arched. “Why? What are your plans? Nelson?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Oh, yes it is.” Lake waggled his finger. “I know you sneak away to see him when you can. I also know it’s been on and off for almost a year.”

“Not true,” she said. “Ethan and I got back together for a couple of months.”

Lake shook his head. “That was a mistake. It’s obvious you’d rather be with Nelson, whom I think is a nice guy—”

“I don’t need your opinion on who I date.”

“I wasn’t going to say you shouldn’t, so don’t go putting words in my mouth.” Lake lowered his chin. “What I was going to say was, we don’t know him that well because you’ve been so secretive about seeing him, and then you go off and rekindle something with Ethan. It didn’t make sense to me.”

“Ethan and I have a long history and I needed to know if there was something there.”

“Did you do it because you wanted to or because he came at you with the same old bullshit about how you ended things abruptly and for the wrong reasons?”

“Maybe a little of both. Besides, his parents have always been friendly with Mom and when he came back, they asked us all out to dinner.”

“Mom and Dad didn’t think Ethan was for you, but they aren’t ever going to come out and say that. Not unless they saw that it was getting serious again.”

“Maybe they should have,” Brandi said. “But it’s been over for a couple of months. Ethan is out of my life for good this time.”

“So. I ask again. What are you planning on doing tonight?”

“Staying over at Nelson’s place.”

“I’m glad you can finally admit that to me.” Her brother smiled triumphantly. “But now the really tough question. What the hell is going on between the two of you?”

“Sex. Lots of good sex.”

Her brother coughed. “Jesus Christ. You’re my baby sister. I didn’t need to know that.”

“You asked.” She twirled some pasta around her fork.

He pounded his chest before taking another sip of his wine. “Don’t you want more from life? Doesn’t he?”

The last year had been a difficult one due to the controversy with Gretchen and how she tried to destroy Lake. Then all the changes in Grant Publishing with Lake giving up his acquiring editor status. He was still an editor and part owner, but he was also a best-selling author and the day-to-day operations fell onto Brandi. Not to mention, her father relied heavily on her, which was fine. She and Lake were begging their father to retire.

So was their mother.

---