Bran didn’t have to work to gain female attention, and wasn’t that a damn waste? Nine times out of ten he had no clue when a woman was interested in him. He was quiet—except around Levi and the rest of his brothers—and more of a homebody than a playboy.
“I’m just getting warmed up.” Levi smirked, but it wasn’t true. He was nowhere near prepared to run Club Tahoe, but he’d do it because he was the head of the family now.
Bran shoved a new pint at him. “Drink your beer and put a lid on it. I’ve had a crappy day in the restaurant, and I can’t take you and Wes arguing anymore.”
Wes twirled his lucky ball marker, frowning.
A muscle near Levi’s eye twitched.Damn this job.“What’s going on in the restaurants now?”
Bran rubbed his forehead. “What isn’t going on? Wine orders not showing up. Employees stealing from the till. Waitresses fighting—”
“With each other?” This comment, said excitedly, came from Hunter, the youngest of the five Cades. And the one brother Levi didn’t get along with. At all.
Hunt walked up and took a seat at the table. “Maybe I should handle the restaurants and referee saidwaitresses. Anyone ever consider a sideshow?” Hunt held up his hands as though framing a billboard. “Ladies of Lake Tahoe: Mud, Lingerie, and Hot Wings. Catchy, right?”
Levi glared at him. “Who invited you?”
Hunt rolled his eyes. “I see you’re in a great mood today. Before you know it, you’ll be just like Dad.”
No one wanted to be like their father. It was why they’d all run from anything having to do with Club Tahoe. Until now. “Fuck you.”
“Jesus Christ, can I finish what I was saying?” Bran exhaled heavily, his bright blue eyes flashing. “Levi, we have too much on our plates for you and Hunt to keep up the feud. And Hunt, I just got finished telling Levi and Wes to chill out. Don’t you stir the pot.” Bran took a long swig of the new beer the waitress set in front of him.
“He’s right,” Levi said. “We have to make sure next week goes off without a hitch. We’ve got businessmen with a lot of money coming into town to check out the place.” He cringed. “Put on your best clothes and be on your best behavior.”
“Speak for yourself,” Bran said.
True. Levi wasn’t known for his charming demeanor, though he could charm if he wanted. “Dammit, I’ll even put on a monkey suit. And ifIwill”—he pointed at each of them—“you all had better. We have to wine and dine these people and convince them that Club Tahoe is the best they’ll find.”
Levi thought of Ms. Wright, his new assistant, and how her Korean language skills might give them a leg up. “Any of you know Dad hired a woman named Emily Wright?” Levi shivered. “I almost ran out of the room, just hearing the name.”
Hunt choked.“Emily Wright?”
Levi’s shoulders tensed. “Yeah, so?”
“Levi, man, how well did you know your ex-girlfriend?” Hunt asked.
Levi ran his tongue across the top of his teeth, mouth shut tightly. “Not well enough,” he growled, barely able to tolerate Hunt’s presence these last four years.
Hunt had the dignity to look ashamed, but only for a split second. “I’ve apologized a million times for that. When are you going to forgive me?”
“You slept with my girlfriend. Who says I have to forgive you?”
Hunt stretched his neck and stood. “I see coming here today was a bad idea. I’ll be in the boathouse if anyone needs me. Oh, and Levi?” He shot him a hard look. “Emily Wright is Lisa Wright’s half-sister. You know, Lisa, the girl you claimed to love? If you’d loved her so much, maybe you should have taken the time to get to know her. Or at least remember she had a sister.”
Fuck me.
Chapter 2
Emily Wright wasLisa’ssister?
She couldn’t be. But every time Levi reconsidered it, he worried his brother might be right. Hunt was much better at keeping up social appearances—and remembering people’s names.
Emily looked nothing like Lisa. It was the reason Levi had ignored his initial reaction when the lawyer mentioned her name. But sisters didn’t always look alike, especially when they had different mothers.
Levi had rarely seen Lisa’s sister in all the years he’d dated her. The younger girl had been away at college, then off to graduate school. He’d met her once—twice? Over a winter break, maybe? But Levi could remember few details about her, which was probably why he’d forgotten she existed. And because back then he’d rarely thought of anything besides fighting fires and a future with Lisa.
His ex-girlfriend was petite, dark-haired, and voluptuous. She was also full of life and capable of breathing life back into Levi when his job fighting fires and rescuing people—orlosingthem—had stolen it away. He internalized his feelings, but Lisa had never experienced a stoic moment in her life. She’d brought out the best in him. At least, that was what he’d believed.
