Jake's Biggest Risk (Those Hollister Boys) by Julianna Morris Read Free Book Online Page A

to one side. “Brendan is just leaving. I told him we were planning to watch a movie or something.”
    It was nice of Hannah to make up an explanation like that. Barbi didn’t exactly
mind
people knowing she was studying for her GED, but she also didn’t want to look idiotic being taught kid’s stuff in front of Brendan that she should have learned fifteen years ago in high school. He was such a snot, he’d probably think it was hilarious.
    Uneven footsteps sounded on the stairs below them and Hannah’s face got tense. “Is there something you need, Mr. Hollister?” she asked.
    “I just need to know where the spare lightbulbs are. The lamp in the living room blew.”
    Barbi turned around. It was the hunk she’d caught watching her earlier.
Yum
. Tall and trim, with hair so dark it was almost black, and intense brown eyes. Brendan might be sexy if he got serious help; this guy was pure heat without even trying.
    “They’re in the utility room,” Hannah said in a tight voice. “I wanted to show you where everything is, but you refused a tour of the house. Remember?”
    The hunk just shrugged.
    “Hi, Mr. Hollister,” Danny chirped, jumping down to the first step. “How’re ya doing? Mommy said you didn’t feel so good.”
    “I’m better today.”
    Danny smiled.
“Super.”
    “Go on inside, Barbi. You, too, Danny,” Hannah urged. She gave Brendan a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for dinner. Maybe we can get together next week. Call me in a few days.”
    “I’ll look forward to it.”
    He fixed his tie and checked the buttons on his coat before hurrying to his Lexus. Honestly, the guy was so stuffy and correct, Barbi didn’t know how he could get by without a book of etiquette in his back pocket and a yardstick up his ass. Hannah was way too nice for him, but there weren’t that many single men in Mahalaton Lake and she’d already been married to a louse. Brendan wasn’t a louse, just dull.
    Barbi winked at the hunk, and as she went into the house, she could hear a low conversation between him and Hannah.
    A minute later Hannah came in and closed the door. “Let’s get started,” she said. Her tone was light, but she sure looked flustered.
    * * *
    O N THE T UESDAY after Jake Hollister’s arrival, Hannah knocked on the door of Huckleberry Lodge. She’d agreed to do the cleaning every Tuesday and Friday at one o’clock during the summer. Once the school year started, the time would shift to late afternoon.
    “You don’t have to knock,” Jake said by way of greeting as he opened the door.
    “In polite society, knocking is considered appropriate.”
    “I didn’t grow up in polite society. That is, I should say traditional ‘Western’ polite society. They haven’t always had doors in the places I’ve lived. Every culture has its customs about proper behavior—the trick is learning those customs.”
    “Have you made any effort to learn them here?”
    Jake seemed genuinely startled. “I don’t need to. I was born in Iceland, but I’m a U.S. citizen.”
    “Citizenship doesn’t guarantee you know American customs. You don’t get that kind of knowledge through an umbilical cord.”
    “I’m getting by just fine.”
    “Whatever.”
    Hannah bent over and picked up a stack of books piled haphazardly on the floor near the native stone fireplace in the living room. Her great-aunt and uncle had loved books, and they were in abundance around the lodge, especially the classics and nonfiction.
    She put the books on the built-in shelves flanking the fireplace and went into the kitchen.
Phew
. There was a pizza box on the sandstone counter by the stove, one on the floor, another on the window seat behind the breakfast nook and a fourth was on the table. The sink and nearby surfaces were covered with dirty dishes and cups and wadded-up napkins. A jar of raspberry jam was tipped over on its side and red syrup dripped from it onto the floor. An empty jar of peanut butter sat nearby.
    Jake limped past