Page 1 of Haden

Chapter 1

Haden

* * *

“Well, shit…” I grumble to myself as I park my truck behind the ostentatious Wilde mansion. The structure itself is enough to elicit such a response. It’s as ridiculous as Brody described over the phone.

But that’s not what has me stiffening.

It’s the woman who’s nearly skipping toward me with a smile on her face.

Emilia Wilde. My boss’s sister. His much, much younger sister. Way too young and totally off-limits.

Damn.

She gets prettier every time I see her. She’s like a ray of fucking sunshine to my Oscar the Grouch. It’s a good thing she was eighteen when I met her for the first time four years ago, because even that first time she walked into the room…

Just damn.

When Brody asked me to come to Wilde, Arizona, to work on renovations at his family’s legacy home, I didn’t ask if Emilia would be here. I know she recently graduated from college and figured she was off pursuing her career.

Clearly, that’s not the case. The woman is smiling as she approaches. She’s wearing a pale-blue sundress and sandals. Her long, pin-straight, dark hair hangs like silk to her ass. It always looks glossy as if she recently sat brushing it for hours.

She’s really tan. If she’s been here in Arizona for any length of time, that’s not hard to believe.

Yeah, Brody is behind her, but it’s hard to focus on my friend and boss when his sister is around.

I wonder if she’s planning to stay in Wilde. Maybe she’s just visiting. After all, it’s summer. I think her degree was in early-childhood education. Perhaps she has a job lined up for fall.

Based on what Brody has told me about this monstrosity—his exact word—I could be supervising renovations for years. If the outside of this massive structure is any indication of the state of the inside, he’s probably right.

I’m already wondering how many additions were added to the place since it was built and if there was any quality control whatsoever. I’m not even out of the truck, and already I’m cringing internally. Years might be an understatement.

Shaking myself from my wandering thoughts, I open the door and jump down from the truck just as Emilia reaches me.

She smiles broadly, lighting up the universe. “Welcome to Wilde.”

I smirk. It’s what I do. “I’m not sure if you’re referring to the town, the mansion, or perhaps you actually meant W I L D as a warning that I’ve arrived in Crazy Town.”

She giggles. “All of the above.”

Fuck. That sound. It goes straight to my cock. I want to thread my hand in her hair, twist it around my fingers, tug her head back, and press her front against the side of my truck.

Yep, that’s where my thoughts always go when Emilia is around.

It wouldn’t end there, either. The desire to make her breath hitch and hear her whimper before I slam my mouth onto hers is strong. I can practically feel my cock pressing against the small of her back as I reach around with my free hand to cup one of her pert tits.

Fuck. Me.

Brody arrives and holds out a hand. “You made it. Any trouble?”

Not until I arrived. “Nope.” I nod toward the long driveway. “I wasn’t expecting a guard and an electric gate. It’s like a fortress. I feared I was going to have to get out and let them search my vehicle before letting me in.”

Brody chuckles. “Yeah. We’ve had a few issues. Nothing to worry about, but we’ve upped security. I told the guard to expect you. I hope he didn’t give you too much trouble.”

“He didn’t. He had my name. Waved me through. I was just surprised.” A few issues… I’ll be interested in hearing those stories, but I won’t ask in front of Emilia.

Brody points toward an RV that’s parked near the mansion. “My cousin Tiago was living in that RV when he arrived. He’s moved into the house now. You’re welcome to stay in the RV if you’d like, or you can choose a room inside. It’s up to you, but I suggest you meet everyone and get a feel for just how wild it is in there before you decide.”