Landlord Wars(29)

I squared off in front of him and poked his chest, stepping forward until I had him pressed up against the stove. He wasn’t built huge like a bodybuilder, but he had athletic pecs that resisted my angry, poky finger. “You are not allowed to touch my chocolate. What did I say about your fingers and losing one?”

Max had eased back with each step forward I made, but he’d been smiling the entire time and seemed to be holding back a laugh. His expression softened into a look of innocence. “How was I supposed to know Jack didn’t buy that chocolate for me? He knows I like it.”

I reached up and wrapped my fingers around his muscular neck. “Do you have a death wish?” I wasn’t squeezing hard, but this pretty little rich boy had no shame. He needed to know I meant business.

His gaze dropped to my mouth. A second later, I felt the weight of his hands on my hips.

To hold me back? But it didn’t feel like he was pushing me away. His hands were hot and wide, gripping just a little, and shooting sparks down my lower belly.

I was all bluster. And without real intent, coupled with the slushy feeling taking over my limbs from his hands on my hips, I slid my palms to his collarbone and couldn’t catch my breath.

We stood like that, gravitating closer. His warm breath grazed my face, and my heartbeat grew erratic…until Elise let out a loud yelp.

I jumped back and knocked my elbow on the counter at the same time I caught sight of Elise on Jack’s back.

Only she’d missed landing squarely and was dangling partially off the side.

Jack tried to grab her, but they were off balance. And then they were falling.

“Shit,” I said, rubbing my elbow and running into the living room.

Jack was flat on his back with Elise straddling his waist, her mass of thick hair covering his head as she struggled to push herself upright.

“Elise, are you okay?” I asked.

Max must have been right behind me, because he lifted Elise’s goggles off her head.

She looked up, then down at Jack, and scrambled off him.

Jack sat up and jerked off his own headgear. “What the hell was that?” He glared at my sister.

Elise’s lips parted. “That thing was coming after me, and you have all the swords.”

Jack pinched his eyes closed and seemed to grind his teeth. “Which I can’t use against the monster if you’ve pinned my arms to my body.”

“How was I supposed to know that? This is why you need a woman to help you design the game. I should have had swords too!”

Jack groaned and rose to his feet. “You have to earn them in the game.” He looked at me pleadingly. “Sophia, help me out here?”

“Time to study, Elise,” I said and grabbed the crappy tote of books she’d left near the kitchen.

Elise rolled her eyes, but she followed me to the kitchen and swept up the sandwich I’d finished making for her. “Fine, alienate half your audience,” she said to Jack. “Just know, women aren’t going to like your little game.” She sauntered down the hallway, shoulders squared. “And what’s with the giant breasts on my female avatar?” she shouted behind her.

I shook my head. It wasn’t easy keeping Elise out of trouble.

But when I looked toward the living room, Jack wasn’t the one making eye contact with me, Max was. And he looked dazed.

The same way I felt.

Because what the hell happened in the kitchen?





Chapter Fourteen





Max





I shoved my phone in the inner pocket of my suit jacket and pressed the intercom. “I’m leaving,” I told my assistant. “I’ll check email later for the contract on the updated landscape specs for Cityscape.”

“You got it,” Derek, my assistant, said.

“What is Cityscape?”

My dad was leaning against the doorframe to my office.

“When did you arrive?” I asked.

“Just a moment ago. I couldn’t help but overhear.”

Dread filled my chest. I’d been putting off this conversation for weeks, but it seemed I couldn’t avoid it any longer. “It’s our next big project,” I told him.

Karl Burrows blinked twice in a deliberate way I’d come to interpret as I’m not happy with you, but I’ll give you a moment to correct yourself. “Your company has the capacity for another project along with the Starlight building?”

I maintained an even expression. “My company decided to pass on Starlight.”

My dad straightened, and this time there was no blinking. Only rage shone in his eyes. “What are you talking about, Max?”

I tucked my hand into my suit pants pocket. “I investigated Starlight at your request. There aren’t enough investors, and city planners are pushing for quality, multi-residential buildings, not high-end condos that only the top one percent can afford.”

He laughed. “There’s no limit to the luxury this city can handle. Let someone else do affordable housing.”

I moved to the entrance of my office, pausing a few feet from my father. “That’s not the way I run my business. Profit is important, but it’s not the only factor. Besides, the Starlight project is cost-prohibitive, and frankly, more of a spec project.”

Color rose in my father’s cheeks. “We agreed Starlight was the way out for our family. This is about more than one of your pet projects.”