A Shattered Heart (Live & Love Series Book 1) by Jenn Leigh Read Free Book Online

just going to move in here with you buffoons? I have my own life and my own space; I don’t need you taking that over. I really do appreciate that you helped with my situation last night, but that is where it ends.” I pointedly looked in each of their eyes to state my seriousness.
    They looked at each other and started laughing—laughing, of all things. It made me piping mad.
    “What about my cat? You idiots don’t look like cat people,” I stated, hoping this would swing my argument back in my favor.
    Daniel chimed in, “I’ve always wanted a cat.” Then he winked at me. Bastard.
    I looked over at Josh, who stared right back at me. He was a hard one to read, but I could tell he really wanted me to move in here. The question was, why? I knew he had feelings for me, and I knew I was starting to feel something, too, but what was so important about being in the same place as him and his brothers? Did they really think I was in danger from that text?
    I continued to stare back at Josh, trying to probe his thoughts as he did to mine, but the only thing that became readily apparent was that he wasn’t going to give in.
    Fuck. I had lost this battle. What was worse, why did I not care as much as I thought I should?
    I stormed back into Josh’s room while they were still chuckling and discussing room arrangements like I had agreed to it in the first place. I stomped back down the stairs minutes later with my clothes from yesterday in tow.
    I pointed at Mark. “Take me home, now,” I said with a look that usually made board members crumble at my feet.
    He seemed totally unaffected.
    “You heard the lady, now ,” Daniel said then laughed as he made a whipping sound.
    I stomped over to the door, grabbed my purse, and walked outside then over to the truck that was in the driveway.
    Mark made his way over. “Why didn’t you ask Josh to take you?” he asked.
    I looked at him. “Josh needed to learn he can’t push me around to get his way. He may have won this round, but I will not give him the satisfaction of driving me to my place.”
    Mark paused, and then a shit-eating grin came across his face as we got in the truck. “I totally love you. You are the sister we never had. It’s about time someone stood up to him. We try, but eventually, one of us gets slapped upside the head.” He shrugged, starting the truck.
    “I’m pretty sure Josh doesn’t think of me as a sister,” I pointed out.
    He barked out a laugh, pulling out onto the road. “No, he doesn’t, but Daniel and I sure do. We protect what’s ours, and you, my dear, have just become ours.”
    “How do you figure?” I asked
    “We peed on you in your sleep, you know, marked our territory.” He said in what appeared to be all seriousness.
    I gaped at him.
    “Kidding, Geez.” He laughed again.
    “Whew.” I let out a breath. “I was worried there for a minute.”
    He laughed again. “But, in all seriousness, we mean it. Even though you have only been around a short while, you’ve managed to weave yourself into our family, and we couldn’t be happier about it, so … happy birthday!” he exclaimed.
    “It’s not my birthday.” I was confused and slightly teary-eyed from his admission.
    “I know that, silly, but you’ve just been born into our family, so … happy birthday!”
    “Uh … thanks … I think,” I offered lamely, trying discreetly to hide the lone tear that was threatening to escape.
    He did a big belly laugh as we pulled into my driveway.

 
     
     
    Chapter 8
    2 years, 6 months, 28 days
     
    As we walked into my house, I told Mark, “I have a few boxes in my storage room, but I need more time to pack up the rest of my house. All I am planning on taking right now are clothes and my keepsakes.”
    He nodded in agreement.
    I headed into my room, figuring I better start there. I went over to my closest and started pulling out all my clothes and laying them on my bed. I had gotten rid of a lot of my stuff before coming here for