“I know. I heard it too.” I bite my lip as I pull my Jeep into one of the only parking spaces available on their driveway. I barely fit my car behind a monstrosity of a black truck. I just know I would need a running start to even climb into that beast. “Okay I’m here, I’ll call you when I leave. Love ya, Addie.”
Addison says her goodbyes, and I sit in my vehicle, staring at the large house in front of me. I don’t understand how Margot has enough time in the week to keep it cleaned and organized, but every time I’m here, the Weylyn house is immaculate. I know in total, there are six Weylyn family members, but I’ll never know why they need a house this big. One wing of the wood cabin-like mansion is a six-car garage. I’ve been in there a couple times and seen it’s full of all kinds of toys. From jet skis to ATVs, Elias Weylyn has something for every outdoor activity. It makes sense, I suppose, since their home is directly on the lake and they spend the majority of their time outdoors.
I grab the gift basket I put together for Elias from the passenger seat and pull myself out, then take a deep breath before heading to the door.
I know knocking is pointless since I hear loud music and voices coming from the backyard, so I don’t bother. No doubt, everyone is hanging out on the patio around the pool.
The house is eerily silent as I walk inside—not surprising since all the fun is out back—and my heeled booties click across the dark hardwood floor as I make my way into the kitchen. After dropping my gift on the dining room table along with the rest, I move toward the backdoor. I’m halfway there when the hairs on the back of my neck rise, and I realize I’m not alone.
Whirling around, I find a tall, muscular man standing in the living room. Startled, I jump back and inadvertently let a small yelp escape.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” he apologizes. A crooked smirk grows on his classically handsome face. “I was just about to go raid Elias’ kitchen to find the good booze. I know he has some around here. All they have down there is canned beer and white wine.”
“Not a fan of wine?” I clear my throat and lower my hand from my chest, where it flew when his presence caught me by surprise.
“I’m more of a whiskey or bourbon guy,” he explains as he walks past me. “What about you, what are you drinking?” He leans around the cabinet door he opened, his forest green eyes scanning me head to toe.
I’m suddenly glad I had put some effort into my appearance today, opting for distressed skinny jeans, bootie heels, and a black tight high-necked tank top. All pieces from my Aunt Addison’s shop, of course. My long blonde hair is twisted into a chic side braid, and I left a couple pieces out to frame my face. I even went as far as to apply a pale pink lipstick.
Remi will be proud of me.
“I just got here, so nothing yet,” I tell him, fearlessly meeting his gaze. He has the boy-next-door look, classically styled dirty-blond hair, and a clean-shaven face. Cute—just not my type.
“But you’re looking in the wrong place,” I inform him, smirking as he opens another door only to find more dishware. “Elias hid the good stuff a month ago because the twins kept drinking it all.” I walk over to the kitchen cabinet that holds Margot’s expensive china, and move a few pitchers and stemware out of the way, revealing a stash of high-end liquor. I pull out a bottle of pricey whiskey and hand it to the blond-haired man. “Here you are, just make sure the twins don’t see you with it. Elias won’t appreciate it if he has to find a new hiding place.”
“I promise I can keep a secret.” He crosses his heart with his right hand in a dramatic fashion.
I nod in thanks as he takes a step toward the backdoor. “See you out there—umm…?” I realize I don’t know his name.
“Sawyer,” he tells me. “And you are?”
“Pruitt, or Pru. I’ll answer to both.”
Sawyer cocks his head, examining me again. His eyes narrow as they meet mine, and after a moment of staring, he shakes his head. “I swear you look familiar. Have we met before?”
“Doubt it.” I play with the ring that used to be my mom’s that sits on my right ring finger. “I’ve lived in San Francisco my whole life. I just moved here at the end of last summer.”
“Huh,” he mumbles. “Well, I’ll see you out there.”
I watch as Sawyer walks through the back door and down the steps leading to the stone patio, and see the multi-level surface is full of people of all ages. I never would have thought that kids would be attending a party for a fifty-year-old, but it looks like mostly families are here.
My gaze continues to follow Sawyer as he weaves through, and something in my gut tells me to pay attention, he’s going to lead me to something important.
My eyes never leave his white button-down clad back as he makes his way through the crowd. People smile and wave, obviously recognizing him. Which is odd, because of all the times I’ve been to the Weylyns’ home in the past ten months, I have never seen him around.
Sawyer stops in front of a pretty young
