checked out. And he’d been feeling sick ever since.
Then a week ago he’d gotten her damn letter saying she’d bought the resort back for him, just as she’d promised to do. She had to have paid considerably more than he would have, just to get the new owner to sell. And looking around, he could easily see all the extra money she’d invested already. In just over a month she’d made the place look stunning, much as he’d always envisioned it.
She’d done it all, and put his damn name on the deed.
The papers crumpled in his fist when he finally spotted her sitting at an outdoor bar situated ideally beneath a cluster of ripe palms. Her shapely bottom was perched on a bar stool, her long legs and smooth shoulders mostly bare. The dress she wore was tiny, snug, and matched the floral decor of the many patio tables and open umbrellas.
Where the hell had she gotten that getup? And since when did she flaunt herself for the masses, rather than for his private pleasure?
Kyle evidently followed his gaze, for he let loose with a long, low, admiring whistle. “Holy cow. That’s Melanie Tucker, isn’t it?”
Adam snapped his head around to stare at his brother. “You remember her?”
“I was only a couple grades behind her in school. And being the richest kid in town, she really stood out.”
Adam thought it was more her eyes that made her noticeable, and when he looked at her, he saw those eyes staring directly at him. Slowly, she slid off the stool and started in his direction. She was barefoot, lightly tanned, her blue eyes looking bluer than ever.
His heart lodged in his throat, and he had to swallow hard twice to regain his composure. Every muscle in his body twitched, and he struggled to relax. Which did nothing about the erection making his appreciation of her rather apparent. In his worn jeans, there was no way to hide it. He’d missed her so damn much.
“Adam.” She stopped just a few inches from him and simply stood there, waiting.
Kyle stepped forward and extended his hand. “Miss Tucker. Nice to see you again.”
She drew her gaze from Adam with an effort. “You’re Kyle, Adam’s younger brother, right?”
Adam listened with half an ear as the introductions commenced. She looked so good, and he’d been sick with missing her ever since he’d realized she was gone forever. Then he’d gotten the damn letter....
He came back to his senses in a flash and thrust the deed toward her. “I don’t want this.”
She smiled, lifting her chin high. “Tough. It’s yours.”
“Then I’ll sell it and mail you back your check.”
“You can’t. We’re co-owners. You might not have noticed or read all the small print given your...rather quick temper, but we have equal control of the resort.”
“That’s impossible.”
“No, it’s a fact. I told you, I have a knack for real estate, so I know what I’m doing. Everything’s perfectly legal. And you were right, this place is wonderful. Much too good to pass up.”
Kyle laughed, earning a glare from Adam. “Now, Adam, come on. I still don’t understand why you’re being so pigheaded about this.”
Adam turned on his brother, deciding he was a safer target than Mel. He didn’t have to fight the urge to kiss his brother. Through clenched teeth, he muttered, “We make our own way now, Kyle.”
“No, you make our way. I haven’t had a hell of a lot to do with it.”
Adam drew back a step, scowling fiercely. “That’s ridiculous. I’m your brother. Besides, you’ve been going to college.”
Kyle turned to smile at Melanie. “Did you know he mostly paid my way through college? With what I made working part-time, it would have taken me years to pay back student loans. He also bought my mother a house. That’s part of the reason he had to do some fancy financing to get the money together for this resort. If he didn’t feel so responsible for us, he’d be rolling in dough.”
“Kyle...”
Adam’s warning went unheeded. “We’re
Then a week ago he’d gotten her damn letter saying she’d bought the resort back for him, just as she’d promised to do. She had to have paid considerably more than he would have, just to get the new owner to sell. And looking around, he could easily see all the extra money she’d invested already. In just over a month she’d made the place look stunning, much as he’d always envisioned it.
She’d done it all, and put his damn name on the deed.
The papers crumpled in his fist when he finally spotted her sitting at an outdoor bar situated ideally beneath a cluster of ripe palms. Her shapely bottom was perched on a bar stool, her long legs and smooth shoulders mostly bare. The dress she wore was tiny, snug, and matched the floral decor of the many patio tables and open umbrellas.
Where the hell had she gotten that getup? And since when did she flaunt herself for the masses, rather than for his private pleasure?
Kyle evidently followed his gaze, for he let loose with a long, low, admiring whistle. “Holy cow. That’s Melanie Tucker, isn’t it?”
Adam snapped his head around to stare at his brother. “You remember her?”
“I was only a couple grades behind her in school. And being the richest kid in town, she really stood out.”
Adam thought it was more her eyes that made her noticeable, and when he looked at her, he saw those eyes staring directly at him. Slowly, she slid off the stool and started in his direction. She was barefoot, lightly tanned, her blue eyes looking bluer than ever.
His heart lodged in his throat, and he had to swallow hard twice to regain his composure. Every muscle in his body twitched, and he struggled to relax. Which did nothing about the erection making his appreciation of her rather apparent. In his worn jeans, there was no way to hide it. He’d missed her so damn much.
“Adam.” She stopped just a few inches from him and simply stood there, waiting.
Kyle stepped forward and extended his hand. “Miss Tucker. Nice to see you again.”
She drew her gaze from Adam with an effort. “You’re Kyle, Adam’s younger brother, right?”
Adam listened with half an ear as the introductions commenced. She looked so good, and he’d been sick with missing her ever since he’d realized she was gone forever. Then he’d gotten the damn letter....
He came back to his senses in a flash and thrust the deed toward her. “I don’t want this.”
She smiled, lifting her chin high. “Tough. It’s yours.”
“Then I’ll sell it and mail you back your check.”
“You can’t. We’re co-owners. You might not have noticed or read all the small print given your...rather quick temper, but we have equal control of the resort.”
“That’s impossible.”
“No, it’s a fact. I told you, I have a knack for real estate, so I know what I’m doing. Everything’s perfectly legal. And you were right, this place is wonderful. Much too good to pass up.”
Kyle laughed, earning a glare from Adam. “Now, Adam, come on. I still don’t understand why you’re being so pigheaded about this.”
Adam turned on his brother, deciding he was a safer target than Mel. He didn’t have to fight the urge to kiss his brother. Through clenched teeth, he muttered, “We make our own way now, Kyle.”
“No, you make our way. I haven’t had a hell of a lot to do with it.”
Adam drew back a step, scowling fiercely. “That’s ridiculous. I’m your brother. Besides, you’ve been going to college.”
Kyle turned to smile at Melanie. “Did you know he mostly paid my way through college? With what I made working part-time, it would have taken me years to pay back student loans. He also bought my mother a house. That’s part of the reason he had to do some fancy financing to get the money together for this resort. If he didn’t feel so responsible for us, he’d be rolling in dough.”
“Kyle...”
Adam’s warning went unheeded. “We’re
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