God-fucking-damn it, she was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever laid eyes on. There was something feral about her. Something dangerous and dark and predatory. A feeling that radiated from her that said she was a badass bitch, and everyone should beware. She had a fucking do-not-disturb sign plastered to her ample chest. And all of it had only intrigued me more and more every time my drunk ass landed in her office. I’d never admit I’d been doing stupid shit just to get sent to the head of HR.
“You ruined my shoes,” Julia snarled at me before turning on her heel and stalking away from the water. Her feet squelched in her worn slip-on Vans.
Heidi smacked me up the side of the head. “Why do you have to be such a dick?”
“He really can’t help it,” Patrick insisted.
“Thanks, bro.”
I shot him a disdainful look, but he only grinned like a fool. He was eating this up, the shithead.
Heidi hauled herself out of the lake and grabbed her discarded clothing. She was tall and thin and mouthy with eyes that looked straight through a guy. I’d always thought she was fun, and I was glad that she’d loosened Landon up. Even if she was staring down at me right now like she was going to roast me on a spit.
“I brought her here to help her get over her breakup, not so that you could be an asshole to her, like usual.”
I held my hands up and laughed. “You all take this way too seriously.”
Heidi shook her head. “You don’t take anything seriously.”
Then, she was trudging down the dock, following in Julia’s wet footprints.
I turned to face Patrick and just shrugged. “Women.”
Patrick laughed hysterically at me as soon as Heidi was out of earshot. “Man, you are so done for.”
“Whatever, man.”
“Oh, fuck off, Austin. You’re so going to fuck Julia this weekend.”
I shrugged. “Nothing wrong with that.”
Patrick splashed me as he swam back toward the dock and pulled himself up to sit on the edge. “She’s so fucking pissed at you.”
I lay back, floating, and stared at the sun burning bright overhead. “She’ll get over it.”
“I’d almost think that you weren’t totally into her.”
“Whatever.”
Patrick laughed again as he popped open a beer. “I can’t wait to watch this play out. I sure hope you keep acting like an idiot.”
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” a voice called from the end of the dock.
I righted myself and saw my sister Morgan walking down the dock. She was four years younger than me but was second-in-command at Wright Construction. We had all been born and bred to work for the company, but Morgan was the only one who really relished in it. Only twenty-seven years old and one of the most powerful women in business. She’d landed on three Thirty Under Thirty lists this year. She would have made our parents proud…if either of them were still alive.
“Morgan,” I said with a grin. “Here I thought, we’d never see you out of a business suit.”
“Traded it in for something cuter. What do you think the board would say if I showed up in this suit instead?” she asked, twirling in place in her white bikini.
Even though she addressed the comment to me, her eyes were fixed on Patrick. The idiot was the only person alive who didn’t realize that Morgan had been head over heels for him since they were kids. But I wasn’t touching that with a ten-foot pole. The thought of my best friend hooking up with my little sister made me want to stab something or vomit or both.
“Probably start a riot,” I told her.
“Indeed,” she said with a wicked grin, as if she were contemplating it. “Now, tell me what you idiots did to upset Julia already? We just got here!”
Patrick raised his hands. “Don’t look at me.”
“Oh, who’s surprised that Austin is the troublemaker?”
“I just pulled her into the water with me.”
“Fully clothed,” Patrick coughed.
Morgan shot me an imperious look. “I have the power to relegate you to the couch. So, watch yourself.”
“Oh no, not the couch!” I cried as I heaved myself onto the dock. “I’ll make it up to you, Mor. How about a hug?”
“Don’t you dare,” she said, pointing her finger at me.
I darted toward her, and she took a step backward, as if we were sword fighting and she were testing her opponent. I took another step, and Patrick howled with laughter.
“I think she’ll make you sleep on the roof if you throw her into the water,” Patrick said.
“It’s Jensen’s house. He’ll get a say.”
“He always sides with me,” Morgan snapped. She had three older brothers. She knew how to fight dirty if need be. “And you won’t even get the roof when I’m done with you.”