Forever Hers by Walters, Ednah (top 50 books to read txt) 📕

she flushed. “Sorry, I’m staring, but it is uncanny how exactly alike you and Baron are. How do people tell the two of you apart?”

“Easy. My brother is the boring one while I’m the fun one.” He leaned forward, his expression becoming serious. “May I ask you a personal question?”

Amy frowned and braced herself. “Sure.”

***

Eddie wished he knew what Amy and his cousin were discussing so intently. With the door closed, he couldn’t hear a thing. Chase was making her laugh, damn it.

Someone cleared their throat and he focused on the three men drinking his beer and yapping. He didn’t want them here, especially Chase. His cousin had a way with women. A gift, he called it.

“Why are you guys really here?” Eddie asked, cutting through the conversation the three men had been having. “All you had to do was mail the damn things.”

“Believe me, we didn’t want to come, but our wives insisted,” Ron said.

Ken nodded. “Faith’s pregnancy has been difficult, so whatever stresses her, I fix it. Right now, she’s worried about you.”

“We didn’t know she was sick,” Vince said.

“Neither did we?” Ron added. “Ash is going to hit the roof when she finds out.”

Ken dismissed their comments with a wave of his hand. “She’s doing fine now, but we still have to be careful, so don’t say anything to your wives. You know how Faith likes her privacy.”

“If she’s sick, the family must be told, Lambert.” Eddie cut in. “I didn’t even know she was expecting.”

“That’s because you only make a brief appearance during Sunday brunch, detective,” Ron said. “I’m with you on this, Kenny. Keep the Fitzgeralds out of your business or they’ll take over. I haven’t forgotten Ella’s baptism.”

“That’s why Jade and I got married in the Orcas first. We wanted something small but they hijacked the wedding and turned it into a circus,” Vince added.

Eddie chuckled. “Quit your belly aching. You gave in to please your women, not because of family pressure. Lambert, my aunts and uncles may think you walk on water now, but if anything goes wrong and Faith winds up in the hospital, they’ll be gunning for your head. And don’t let me get started on Lex and what he will do.”

He watched the play of emotions on the faces of the three men, not feeling bad for giving them a hard time. All of them fought hard to win the hearts of their wives and deserved kudos for putting up with his family. Right now, he was pissed they invaded his vacation and brought Chase along.

“I’ll have Faith give Aunt Estelle a call when I get home,” Ken said grudgingly, looking like he’d swallowed something rotten.

“Anyone want another beer?” Eddie asked.

“I do,” Ken said, getting up and following Eddie into the kitchen. He glanced at the pot of soup Amy had left on the top of the stove. “This looks good.”

“If you want some, the bowls are over there,” Eddie waved toward a cupboard by the sink then opened a drawer under the kitchen island. “And spoons are here.”

Ken got a bowl, served himself and sampled a spoonful, then another. “Best tofu soup I’ve ever tasted.”

Eddie chuckled. He should have known Amy would slip tofu in their food. Not that he minded. She was an amazing cook. His gaze went outside and caught her laughing, Raelynn on her lap. Her eyes sparkled and she looked happy and carefree. That Chase was the cause bugged the hell out of him.

He and Chase had pursued their share of women together over the years. They’d even competed for the same women. Eddie had won some and never cared that Chase often got the majority. The thrill was always in the chase. Amy was different. She wasn’t one of those women you slept with and moved on. He would beat his cousin to a pulp if he so much as hinted he wanted her. The problem was Chase was ready to settle down and could give Amy everything Eddie couldn’t. When he’d told Eddie about wanting a special woman, he had thought his cousin was joking, until he bought the horse ranch in Montana. Now he was here, charming Amy and trying to win Raelynn. Worse, Eddie hadn’t known that the two of them had spoken over the phone.

“You should go out there and tell him to back off,” Ken said.

Eddie glanced around, surprised to find all three men seated around the counter, chowing down on Amy’s soup. He’d meant to get a second helping before the seaplane appeared. Ignoring Ken’s comment, he got a bowl and served himself.

“Do you guys want something else to go with this?” he asked. “We have oyster soup crackers.”

“One week and you’re already domesticated,” Ron teased.

Eddie gave him the finger. “Did you bring the surveillance system or are you just here to bust my balls?”

“Brought it and plan to install it with his help,” he jerked his head to indicate Ken, “The Jujitsu expert,” he nodded at Vince, “decided he wanted to show your lady a few sparring moves and that’s why he’s here.”

“Bagua moves, Noble,” Vince corrected him. “Jujitsu is Japanese. Bagua is Chinese.”

“Can you bring an opponent down with your bare hands using either technique?” Ron asked.

Vince scowled. “Yes.”

Ron smirked. “Then they’re the same thing in my book.” His focus shifted to Eddie. “So, you see, detective, we are all here to help, except him,” he pointed at Chase, who was still flirting with Amy. “He came to meet her.”

“No, he said he wanted her,” Ken added.

“Stop giving him a hard time,” Vince cut in, glancing at Eddie. “Just because your aunt thinks you’re perfect for each other doesn’t make it true.”

Eddie laughed even though he wasn’t amused. “Did you guys rehearse this on your way here? That sounded awful. Tell your wives to stay out of my business.”

“Told them he would see right through us,” Ron added then got up to put his bowl in the sink and grabbed his beer. “Let’s get