by Layla Hagen
“Honestly, Ellie, I was impressed that you didn’t go nuts over the tight accommodations. I can keep the bags at my place until you need them; that should free up some space.”
“Really? That would be great. I won’t need it until I move again; so, if you could store everything until then that would be awesome.”
"When is your first day of work?" I asked as Ellie started to move things around, preparing to unpack and get settled.
"Monday. I’m on probation for two weeks, but that’s normal. Anyway, I just have today and tomorrow to explore the city a bit."
"I can explore it with you," I said. "My sister Isabelle was a tour guide when she first moved to New York. When Dylan and I moved here, she offered to show us the city. My brother wasn't in the mood, but I went on a few of her tours, and they were interesting."
"So you want to be my guide?" she asked with a smile. "Was that the job description my brother had for you?"
Fuck no. Her brother had just told me to look out for her, and right now, all I could think about was how damn perky her ass was in those jeans. Henry would punch me if he knew my thoughts.
"Well, today I'll probably just unpack and settle in. But we can text tomorrow and see how it works out."
"Sure," I said, realizing I was already anticipating her text.
"Thank you so much, Ian. I really appreciate you picking me up and touching base."
“My pleasure, Ellie." I kissed her cheek, inhaling the sweet perfume of vanilla and some sort of flower. I barely kept myself from moving my lips and nose down her neck, just to bury my head in her scent and get more of her. “Text me tomorrow. And we can talk more about that deal too.”
Chapter Two
Ellie
I unpacked until past midnight, so I woke up at ten on Sunday, grinning as I looked around. I had far too many clothes for this room. I had a small double bed that had drawers under it, and at the side was a closet and some shelves. But I still ordered a clothes rack from Amazon that I could squeeze in somewhere. It would make moving through the room a bit awkward, but I'd get used to it. After showering and dressing, I poked my head in the living room. Harper was there, working on a craft project of sorts. She was using the dining room table as a desk, and it was full of paper in various colors. I found out on our second Skype call that she was an elementary school teacher.
"Hey, Harper," I asked, poking my head in the living room. "Do you want to go out for a bit and explore the city with me?"
I was super happy that I'd arrived when I did. I had one full day to relax and look around.
“Sorry, I promised the kids I’d have this paper robot ready for tomorrow. But I do have lots of recs for you.” Grinning, she rubbed her palms together. “You’re going to love Columbus Center. There’s a great ice cream shop just around the corner. And also a coffee shop that has amazing hot chocolate.”
“I’ll keep them in mind. Do you want me to pick up anything while I’m out?”
“I shopped before you arrived, so I’m good, but I saved you space in the fridge.”
We’d agreed that each of us would buy our own groceries, and we’d split things like milk, oil, salt, and other essentials.
“Thanks a lot. By the way, I love what you’ve done with the living room.”
“Thank you, Ellie. I love personalizing my living space, and my first roomie didn’t mind. If you want me to take down anything or you want to bring in your stuff, just let me know. I’m flexible.”
I liked Harper a lot.
“I wouldn’t change one thing about the living room. And I’m just here for six months anyway, so it wouldn’t make sense.”
Harper was an excellent decorator. The living room had a brick wall with a huge TV. Next to it was a piano and a chair. She had a few guitars hanging on the wall. She was also a music teacher in her spare time. The wall around the window had a huge bookshelf that went right up to the ceiling. She even had a ladder for it. The green metal coffee table contrasted with everything, but it somehow worked.
My small bedroom was all white. The last roomie left it in great condition, though it was repainted and the orange fluffy rug was professionally cleaned. The wood floors could use some polishing, but the rug was large enough to cover most of the area. I needed some decorations to make it feel homier though.
I went back to my room, checking my phone. On a whim, I texted Ian.
Ellie: Does your offer still stand? I want to explore the city a bit.
He answered almost immediately.
Ian: Yes. I’m in Central Park with my sisters and my niece. Join us.
Ellie: That’s great. Can you share your location? That way I can come to the entrance nearest to where you are.
A few seconds later, he sent me a message along with the link to a map.
Ian: Sure. I can't wait.
Ellie: Me either.
I wondered if this was the best idea. The man was so sinfully hot that I had a hard time not fanning myself when I was around him. When I first saw Ian, I’d been twelve years old, but even then, I thought he was cute. I was too shy to even speak around him though. Henry had brought him to Mom’s house. I’d woken up one morning, striding into the kitchen wearing pink, fluffy pajamas, and there he was. I’d blushed all the way to the tip of my ears, spilled tea on myself, and disappeared into my room.
I saw him a couple more times over the years, but it wasn’t until I was seventeen and I stayed with Henry for a full week that I realized Ian wasn’t just cute—he was sinfully hot. I’d loved his humor and daredevil attitude. He didn’t even look my way, though. I didn’t think I registered as anything more than Henry’s little sister.
The summer I turned twenty-one, Henry asked if I wanted to spend a few weeks with him, Ian, and a couple of friends in Lake Tahoe. I said yes before he even finished the sentence. It had been hands down the best vacation of my life: lying around in the sun for hours, enjoying cocktails and a good book. And Ian... well, I wasn’t going to lie. I’d had a bit of a crush on him. But who could blame me? He was six feet of pure muscle. He was different than anyone I’d dated in college. They’d all been boys, but Ian was a man... who’d seemed intent on keeping me from sneaking into shady clubs, but nothing else.
I hadn’t touched base in the two years since, but seeing him when I came to interview for this job was like a shock to my system. I'd hoped that I had grown immune to him by the time I met him again, but that hadn't happened. Maybe I’d get luckier next time. I was sure that my body wouldn't react the same way again.
I called my brother before leaving. He’d left me a few messages already.
"Hey. I was waiting for your call yesterday,” he said. “Figured you had a lot to do to get situated.”
“I was up to my elbows trying to unpack.”
"So how do you like the city? How did Ian treat you?"
"Well, I didn't see anything of the city, and Ian was very friendly. He helped me carry all my suitcases, even offered to show me around the city. I'm meeting him right now."
"Okay. I'm glad he’s available to give you a tour, but a word of caution. Ian is an excellent friend. Very loyal and sticks around; he’s always been there throughout the years. But that said, he wouldn't make a good boyfriend. Not at all. He’s a player, just like me."
Oh, Henry, could you be any more obvious? "Thanks for the warning, brother. You’ve only mentioned that like a million times already."
"I mean it. He's my best friend, remember? I know him very well, and he’s just not the right guy for you."
"I'll keep that in mind. I promise. If it makes you feel any better, I'm also meeting his sisters."
"I don't think you need a chaperone, Ellie. That's not what I meant."
Really? Because I felt that I might need a chaperone. If he looked at me again with those sinful blue eyes, I was going to combust spontaneously. Oh, Ian, Ian. He had made an impression on me. He was so gallant, helping me with my bags and everything. I loved his humor too. It gave him a
n edge that enticed me.
"You have nothing to worry about, Henry." I tried to reassure him. “I'll check in with you later today. Okay? I want to open the map he sent me on my phone so I know where I’m going."
"Have fun. I'm very proud of you." Henry and I have always had a good sibling relationship, supportive of one another, so him saying that to me made me happy.
"Thanks.” After hanging up, I put on my sneakers and glanced in the mirror. I was wearing jeans and a thin white T-shirt with short sleeves. It was still warm outside even though it was September.
Henry and I were very close despite the age gap. Our parents divorced when I was in middle school. They both remarried, each bringing more kids into their marriage. We had a stepbrother from my mom's side and a stepsister from my dad's side. Henry and I lived with our mom, but neither of us fit in either of the new families very well. We always joked as kids that we were lucky because we had twice as many presents on Christmas, birthdays, and every other occasion. But it was quite lonely. It was perhaps one reason Henry and I were so close, even though he moved away for college while Mom and I remained in Ohio.
My brother was always looking out for me.
Not that I made it easy for him. In culinary school, I lived in Los Angeles. After graduation, I worked at a seafood restaurant in Portland and then Miami until I got this opportunity. But Henry knew how happy I was—and was always so supportive.
Once I stepped out on the street, I put on sunglasses. It was a warm autumn day, and I looked around with a smile.
The apartment building might be old, but it had a lot of character. I liked the high ceilings and absolutely loved the hand-finished plaster walls.
I liked Columbus Circle. It was pretty, with a mix of modern and historical buildings up and down the street. The storefronts were quaint, restaurants offering outdoor seating kept warm by portable heat lamps. The area had a big-city feel with a hometown vibe.
The pizza shop displays looked pretty delicious, and I was certain that I'd become a regular. It was perhaps a bit unusual for someone who finished culinary school to eat cheap takeout. But the last thing I wanted after coming home from work was to cook. Most times I didn't even care what I was eating, I was usually so beat from the long day.
I followed the route to the location that Ian had shared with me. It was just a fifteen-minute walk to Central Park, which was perfect and gave me enough time to soak in the city. All the tour guides I’d read recommended visiting New York in the fall. I felt particularly lucky that my job started in September, since it was still warm and the tree foliage was just beginning to turn a mix of green and red. In a few more weeks, it would look completely different.
Usually, I listened to music while I walked, but not this time. I just wanted to soak in the sounds of the city, and there were plenty—lots of hustle and bustle from the congested traffic. Central Park was the favorite meeting point of New Yorkers, primarily because it was one of the few places in Manhattan that wasn’t concrete. There were so many people on the sidewalk that I had to pay extra attention or risk slamming into someone. When I was closer to the park, Ian shared his location with me again, and I found him without a problem.
Damn. The man just appeared hotter every time I saw him. He was wearing a black T-shirt that made his biceps appear even more defined. His ass was round and begged to be squeezed. And those blue eyes were mesmerizing. How could he be this hot?
Riiiight... I made a mental note not to reach out to Ian every time I wanted to explore the city. He winked at me when he saw me, and I joined the group. Up close, I noticed that his shirt was tight enough that I could spot some serious abs. He cocked a brow, and I quickly averted my gaze. My pulse quickened as I focused on the two women next to him. One of them was pushing a stroller. I had never met his sisters. They didn’t go to college in DC with Ian, so I never ran into them. Come to think of it, I’d only met his brother Dylan a couple of times, though I didn’t remember where. He wasn’t with us in Lake Tahoe.
"Hey, Ellie. These are my sisters, Josie and Isabelle. This is my niece, Sophie."
Josie was the one pushing the stroller. The siblings looked nothing alike. Isabelle had a wild mane of red hair, and Josie had dark brown hair that brushed her shoulders. None of them had Ian’s dark blond hair or angular cheekbones.
"Hi, nice to meet all of you. I hope I'm not intruding on family time. I was just dying to go out and about with someone who knows the city."
"No worries. You're not interrupting anything at all, and it’s lovely to meet you,” Isabelle commented right away and added, “And I understand your excitement. I moved to New York about a year before my brothers did, and I'm still excited about the city. I was a tour guide for a while, so if you need any tips on where to go or not go, ask me."
"Thanks so much," I said. They all seemed so kind. And even though I was there for a short time, I wasn’t going to hesitate to reach out to Isabelle for some suggestions.
"I've been living here for over fifteen years,” Josie said. “So I know my way around the Big Apple. If there's anything you need, just let us know. I'll give you my phone number."
“I’ll give you mine too,” Isabelle added.
As I typed in their numbers, I couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. Why were they welcoming me with open arms? I was a perfect stranger. Yes, I was Ian’s friend’s sister, but they didn’t know me from Adam.
Since I moved around after graduation, I didn't maintain any close friendships. Josie and Isabelle would be easy to befriend. I liked them instantly.
“Do you want to see something specific in the park?” Isabelle asked.
“Not really. I’m open to anything.”
“We were going to suggest the North Woods trail,” she replied, and we all nodded in agreement.
“Sounds great to me.”
After a few short minutes of walking, I realized the deeper we went into the woods, the more I felt like I was in a forest and not in New York. Tall, thick trees surrounded us, and we even walked by a small waterfall. A multitude of birds chirped around us; it truly was a magnificent place to see.
“When do you start the new job?” Isabelle asked as we were crossing a rustic bridge. Josie was carrying Sophie in her arms, and Ian had the folded stroller over his shoulder. He kept looking around us, shooing everyone to one side if large groups passed us. His protective streak was strong! He and Henry were definitely two peas in a pod. I couldn’t stop checking out Ian’s biceps. And that ass. His presence was overwhelming my senses. Oh wow.
"I start tomorrow. I'm very excited. I've wanted to come here for a couple of years, and now it's finally happening.” Almost tripping on a vine, I gathered my balance and my thoughts and continued. “I want to learn everything. Hopefully, in a couple of years, I'll have enough knowledge to open my own restaurant."
"In New York?" Josie asked.
"I could never afford to open it in New York, but honestly, I'm used to moving around the country. So I will just follow the dream and see where I find a place I can afford. Anyway, that's still a few years away. So I'm not making any specific plans yet.” I was twenty-three. I was hoping to open my own place in my early thirties. Until then, I was going to save as much money as possible and soak up all the culinary knowledge I could. I couldn’t wait to move to New Orleans and learn the ins and outs of Southern cuisine. The mix of Creole and Deep South foods intrigued me.
“But it’s good to have a goal in mind,” Josie said.
I nodded in agreement. We talked a bit about the city as we walked, but we mostly just took in our beautiful surroundings. The air was cool and crisp, and the smells of the forest were intoxicating. I was already planning my next hike; maybe Harper would go with me... or maybe Ian.
“By the way, Brayden and I are going to postpone the wedding,” Isabelle said out of the blue. I assumed he was her fiancé.
“Why?” Ian said. “What did he do?”
He transformed right in front of my eyes fro
m laid-back to overprotective brother, and I liked it a little too much. How was that even possible? I wasn’t a fan of Henry when he got like this.
Isabelle burst out laughing. “Nothing, but I’m three months along now. I’d be five months pregnant for the party and the reception, and I just don’t think I can deal with the wedding and the paparazzi while also worrying if all the stress is affecting the baby.” Turning to me, she explained, “My fiancé is Brayden Clarke.”
My jaw dropped, and my voice sounded high-pitched as I exclaimed, “The lead singer of GreenFire?”
They were my favorite band. I was stunned that I didn’t know this, that Ian didn’t mention it earlier. Not that he had an opportunity, but still.
Isabelle nodded. Ian appeared more relaxed and said, “Okay, that sounds reasonable. So when are you going to have the wedding?”
“Not sure, but we’ll keep everyone posted. Okay, where do we go from here?”
We reached a crossroad. There was a huge map in the center, but I was terrible at reading these kinds of maps.
“Right, looks like we hang a right,” Josie said. The trail was 3.7 miles, and we finished it an hour and a half later. Sophie fussed for twenty minutes before she got downright upset, crying in her mom’s arms.
“I think that’s my cue to go,” Josie said. To my astonishment, Ian leaned over, smiling at Sophie and tickling her under her chin. Sophie calmed down a little and eventually smiled big at Ian. I had no clue that a grown man making faces at a baby could be considered hot, but damn.
“Wow. Since when are you a baby whisperer?” Josie asked. I liked the cute banter between the three of them and that they were a team, obviously supportive and caring of one another.
Isabelle clapped her hands. “Excellent. Pretty please, practice that skill more until my little one comes along.”
Sophie started wailing again, more uncontrollably, and Josie grimaced.
“I have to go. It was great meeting you, Ellie.”
“Likewise.”
Isabelle left with Josie and Sophie, leaving me alone with Ian. I instantly became hyperaware of him. Something about him just demanded my attention. I was certain that he turned heads in any room he walked into. His presence was magnetic. I felt the heat of his body and knew he was watching me. I carefully looked up out of the corner of my eye. My stomach cartwheeled when our gazes crossed.
