Aidan made his move as soon as their guests had left. "Would you say Anah's the trustworthy sort?"
"She'd have to be," Thornton said dryly, "since she just found out about our biggest secret."
Both Aidan and Ethan grinned at this, especially since it was rare for the former soldier to crack any kind of joke.
"Are you seriously concerned, though?" Ethan couldn't help asking with a frown. "She's a good kid."
"I actually think so, too," Aidan murmured, "which is why I was wondering if perhaps we could get her and her grandparents—-"
"Parents," Ethan corrected his older brother. "She knows they're her grandparents, but she doesn't think of them that way."
"Duly noted." For Ethan to care enough to make such a distinction clear was a very good thing, and Aidan was privately encouraged by this. "As I was saying, we could get Anah and her parents to move to Wyoming. Her parents could stay here in Jackson or Laramie if they wish, but the end goal is to get Anah as a permanent resident of Hartland."
Ethan's expression cleared. Beefing up Hartland's local population was one of their high-priority targets for this year, and he already knew how fond Anah was of Hartland. However...
"You do remember she's still in high school?" Ethan questioned.
"So? She can finish high school here, and we can even get her parents jobs. Margery's already on the local school board. We can get her to open up a slot for Anah's parents."
"That could work," Ethan acknowledged, remembering how Anah had mentioned that both her parents were professors.
"Good. Do I tell her or..."
"I'll do it," Ethan said right away. "I'll call her now."
Thornton waited for their younger brother to be out of earshot before raising a brow at his twin. "Are you playing matchmaker or godfather to the kid?" If the girl and her parents agreed to becoming part of The Hartland Initiative, they'd be set for life and never have to worry about money again.
"Time will tell, I suppose." A shrug of Aidan's broad shoulders accompanied the casual response, but Thornton was far from fooled. Aidan was the typical big brother in the sense that he often acted with the unassailable belief he knew better than most. It often turned out to be true as well, but with Ethan and the girl...
Thornton thought about all those times that he was in the same room as Ethan and Guilia, and how they had always appeared to him like a train wreck waiting to happen. Ethan and Anah, however...it didn't even seem like they were running on the same tracks.
His lips tightened as a realm of possibilities occurred to him. It was possible that things between Ethan and the girl would eventually change, but if it didn't...
Thornton was certain that Anah would be the only one who'd end up hurt.
Chapter Three
Anah had gotten used to pinching herself ever since Ethan Blackwood came into her life.
When he had first broached the idea of moving to Wyoming, she had thought it the most heavenly dream. Live close to Ethan and get to see him 24/7? Since she'd be happy to move to the ends of the earth with him if it was what he had asked for, the offer of relocating to a scenic small town in Wyoming would've been just that: the most heavenly dream.
But a dream was all it would ever amount to, or so her practical personality had assumed...until Ethan himself, along with Aidan, showed up on her doorstep, asking to meet her parents.
Anah had been nervous at the start. Her parents were simple folks, content with their books and quiet way of life. But she now knew how badly she had underestimated Aidan's powers of persuasion and how lethal Ethan's charm was when he used it to his advantage. By the time both brothers left, they had her parents convinced they were doing the most honorable thing by working for the Blackwood family.
It had been eight months since then, and the Blackwoods had yet to stop waving their magic wand. Her parents both had jobs that they absolutely loved, and it came with perks that Anah personally believed the school board could only afford because of an "anonymous" donation. Whoever heard of newly-hired professors being gifted with one Tesla each, ownership of a house and lot, and a reinvested retirement fund plan that would earn them millions in the long run?
Her parents were practically swimming with money these days, so much so that they had forbidden Anah to work part-time after school and given her a weekly allowance so she could finally enjoy "being her age."
Indeed, her life nowadays was a fairy tale in all ways but one, and the missing component happened to be the most important of all: her Prince Charming...AKA the guy who just had her iPhone light up with a new text message.
Anah fought to keep her face expressionless as she tapped the screen of her iPhone.
Ethan: I've got some free time today. I can pick you up after school, we can go for a ride then dinner?
Anah: I'll be waiting. :)
After hitting Send, she quickly flipped her iPhone with the screen facedown as she placed it back on the table. She then resumed eating - lunch today was cheesy cauliflower salad with crispy chicken fillet - even as she mentally crossed her fingers over her little texting session going unnoticed.
Unfortunately, her wish wasn't to be granted, with Anah hearing her friend say, "You are such a FAKE."
Despite herself, Anah couldn't help laughing even as it almost had her choking on her salad.
Ember watched in amusement as Anah quickly took a gulp of her cucumber juice.
"It's Mr. Blackwood again, isn't it?" This only had her friend shrugging, but Ember wasn't buying it. "Yeah, it totally is."
Anah made a face. "I just...it's not..."
