Page 32 of The Romance Adventure

“You changed your mind just like that?” I snap my fingers.

“Yep. Just like that. I need to stay here. I mean, I need a job. I have this job. It’s perfect.”

“What if I don’t want to restore it?”

“But the will⁠—”

Gathered together, my brothers and I are an imposing crew, but she seems especially nervous. Then again, if her reaction to me approximates how my pulse exploded in her presence earlier, perhaps she’s having an inner meltdown.

I tell myself not to notice Strawberry Shortcake. She’s here in a professional capacity. Plus, she’s not my type. Too naive. Too bright. Too much smiling.

But as I glance at my grandfather’s will, it looks like I’m stuck with her whether I like it or not.

Isla

CHAPTER 9

My sister is going to need to burn this dress suit because I have saturated it with flop sweat. And she’s going to owe me more than chocolate because this was not what I expected.

Read from the script, she said. It would be as simple as that.

She failed to mention having to share bad news, manage the rowdy brothers, locate and operate a safe, distribute bequests, and solve riddles.

She was right to warn me about the McGregor brothers, but little did I know Mr. McMuffin was part of the pack.

“So where do we go from here?” Ryan asks.

My question exactly. How do I get out of this? I can’t very well tell them who I am, because what if that nullifies the will, or they call the authorities? That news report suggests they’re already looking for me. Then again, I’m not sure how the driver and passenger will explain why they were chasing me down without implicating themselves. Nerves prickle under my skin.

“We go to the Driftwood,” CJ says.

“It’s my project,” Royal declares with obnoxious authority.

“We each have our assigned properties,” Magnus confirms in a commanding tone.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t help each other,” the youngest McGregor says.

“When have you ever helped?” Royal asks.

CJ slouches at the verbal blow. Apparently, he’s the blond sheep of the family.

“But yes, I suggest you go check out the Driftwood,” Magnus says.

“When have you ever suggested anything? More like give orders,” Royal echoes.

Magnus flashes him a look that says he’s going to do a lot worse than give his brother a verbal blow if he doesn’t adjust his attitude.

I agree with Magnus.

The brothers debate. I’m not sure what to do, so I take notes on a yellow legal pad in case Robyn needs the details later. Or if I get arrested and thrown in jail, I can prove I was doing my job, well, someone’s job and not trying to extort them out of their grandfather’s money. Rather, help my sister make more at her job, well, her other one.

This lie is getting more tangled by the minute.

Next to Magnus’s name, I write, Focused, organized, clear-headed. Surly stars=3.5

It’s a five-star rating system and I think it’s obvious who takes the top ranking.

The eldest McGregor is intimidating and I have no doubt he can back that up when needed, but he’s not purposely coarse like someone else I know. I’m looking at Royal. In fact, it’s hard not to.