Paradise Read Online Free PDF Page A

appreciate your help, but I know you, and I don’t want any funny business. I saw that once-over you gave her.”
    Eddie rolled his eyes.
    “Keep your hands and other body parts to yourself. Don’t screw this up. There’s been more than one mix-up here. Her boyfriend isn’t with her. The only reason I’m agreeing to this is because we’re stuck. There’s no one else available.”
    So, he’d be alone for a week with a beautiful woman. How did he get so lucky?
    Nick removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fran’s going to have a cow when she finds out. Look, we need that lady’s good publicity for business. You know we’re doing great during the season, but we need more tour traffic in the off months.”
    Nick was warming to his subject. Since they were kids, Eddie could recognize the signs. The softer Nick spoke, the more serious he was.
    “That means families, couples and, the occasional women’s group,” he continued in a low voice. “That won’t happen if she reports that McGraw Tours was just a bit too accommodating. So keep your pants zipped and your dick behind the zipper. Come on, we have to re-pack your gear into one canoe.”
    He followed his brother to the remaining SUV and began re-arranging and paring down the supplies. Yup, Nick was nothing if not specific.
    “Don’t you think you’re being unfair? This business means as much to me as it does to you and Fran. I’m not going to do anything stupid.” No point in confessing he already had. It’d just make Nick’s blood pressure go up. “Just because I enjoy a little female company, doesn’t mean I screw every one I meet.”
    “No,” grimaced Nick, “just every other one.”
    “You know, I’ve changed a lot since I’ve been back. In case you haven’t noticed, Big Bro, I’m thirty-five and all grown up. So I was a little wild when I was a kid, it doesn’t mean I still am.” Damn, he never lets go of anything.
    If his brother only knew how far off base he was. The days of chasing anything with boobs was long past, and it was all Nick’s fault. Nick had no idea how much he envied him. If he didn’t love his brother so much, this jealousy would eat him up.
    All the hot, willing babes in the world couldn’t compare with an adoring wife and five kids who thought you hung the moon. To be an event when you walked into your house, to have kids yell and babies squeal, to have them jump around and vie for your attention simply by coming in the door was something Eddie would give his eyeteeth to have.
    He’d seen it so many times since he’d returned, it almost hurt to visit his brother’s house. Well, almost. The kids gave him quite a welcome, too, but it wasn’t the same. They weren’t his family.
    He’d stepped up his efforts to find a nice, sweet country girl, but every time he found “The One,” something always made him back off. He looked at his brother wryly. If only he knew.
    Exhaling loudly, Nick rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, that lady’s review is important. I want your word you’ll be a perfect gentleman and keep your hands off her.”
    “All right, all right,” he conceded. “I get your point. I won’t lay a finger on Little Miss Louis Vuitton Luggage .”
    “Good,” gritted Nick through clenched teeth.
    “Even if she does have the most delectable ass I’ve ever seen.” He ducked but his brother swatted his head anyway before stalking back toward the office, leaving Eddie to follow.
    * * * * *
    “Robbie? Drew? Where are you?” Nick called.
    Eddie, right behind his brother, gaped through the window at the empty office. Where were they? Robbie didn’t strike him as a kidnapper. They’d only been gone ten minutes. The bell almost fell off the hook when Nick slammed through the door.
    “Hey, how about we play with this nice giraffe? You really don’t want to gnaw on that nasty ol’ gator, do you? Who knows where it’s been.”
    Eddie stood in the small lobby and stared at his